The Great Big Birthday Post!

 Well, yesterday was Kidd-O's second birthday and we celebrated in a really fun way over the weekend. Honestly, I wasn't going to do a darn thing. I've been so sleepy and the thought of throwing a party slap wore me out and I have also been slammed with photoshoots that I haven't been able to give a party a seconds thought. Not to mention that, with my family, it can't possibly be a small gathering, because with my siblings, and both sets of grandparents, we're already close to 20 people! But when I spread the word that I was skipping out on any party, there was mass pandemonium followed by a guilt trip.  Apparently, I've only thrown one birthday party since I've been a mom and so, it was said by some, that it is way too soon to punk out on parties

Thus, Cooper's Rootin' Tootin' 2's Party planning went underway. I was told by Mr. Clean that I was to pull this thing off on a dime. Several dimes, quarters, dollars, and a small loan later, I had pulled off a party. I can tend to be like my mom in the "go big or go home" kind of way and that was my thinking; If I'm going to do this thing, I'm gonna do it right.... I thought I had stayed on budget, but after further review and a strongly worded lecture from Mr. Clean, it turns out I didn't come close. It was decided that this would be my last party for a while.

So here it goes, a rundown of this Rootin' Tootin' Good Time and how I did it!

I'm not so good on the computer and our printer NEVER works, so I hand wrote my signs.

 The menu consisted of "Bucaroo BBQ", "Silver dollar fruit salsa," "dastardly deviled eggs," "Sheriff's Slaw," "Gold Miners Mac-n-Cheese," "Rootin' Tootin' Beans," and a few other items.

I used scrapbook paper to make labels to go around mason jars.

My kids table was a lot of fun to put together. I bought a lot of scrapbook paper, a couple of mini hay bales, bandanas and sheriff badges. All came from Hobby Lobby, along with the plates, napkins. cowboy hats and mustaches.

 I found these great little buckets from Target ($1) and I used a white paint marker to write their names.

 This Hobo goody bag was something I SOOOO wish I had come up with on my own! I found this great idea on my favorite blogger's website. They were too precious to not use. They are filled with little items from the dollar store.

 I turned our center island into "The Watering Hole" and we had sweet tea and bottled Coke and Root Beer, which is usually always a staple at any gathering I host. People love to drink out of an ice cold bottle!

 I had the "CowPoke Corner" as the dessert table with cake and ice cream with all the fixin's!

 I had a heck of a time coming up with a small activity that 2 year old's would enjoy...soooo we panned for gold. I spray painted pebbles gold and buried them in potting soil, filled up a kiddie pool and let the kids go to town. They used their little buckets to put the gold in.

 The kids enjoyed dressing up like cowboys...

 ok, not just the kids. My dad got into it too!

 

And that's about it folks, there's the nitty gritty! And let's not forget Kidd-O's long awaited gift: The Bike. I found one for $10 at a consignment shop and Mr. Clean gave it a full detail and it was as good as new. And Kidd-O's expression was well worth the time and effort...and cash flow that went into this party.

And so, another party in the books! Thanks for stopping by!!

2nd Mommyversary

As we are fast approaching Kidd-O's 2nd birthday, July 30 will always be a special day for me as well. It's the day I became "Mom". It's on that day I found out just how much I could love someone and it was also 2 years ago that I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. And while I'm excited to be a mom to more kidlets, the birth of my first will always be special because it was the day I learned to love someone more than myself. Because of that day, I am a better wife, daughter, sister and friend...And THAT is something to celebrate!

Now that I have 2 years of Mommyhood under my belt, I can say that I'm definitely hitting my stride. If I was to describe it in a running metaphor, I would say that the first year was the stretching. A slow start to find out what works, while running through the kinks and the cramps and just pushing forward. And as for year 2? I would say I've hit  a very comfortable stride. It feels good and I feel as if I could go the 26.2 to the end-- if everything would just stay the same. Key word being: IF, because we know it won't stay the same. But for today, I got this!

And to all those new momma's that are wondering if they will ever shower, sleep or eat again-- you will, I promise. Just power through those kinks, find that stride and GO!

Writer's Block...

 So, it's been a few weeks since I last posted. I don't know if it's because I'm still in my first trimester and I haven't been able to keep my eyes open long enough to even brush my hair, which is exactly why I've been sporting a hat every.single.day.... except Sunday's of course. Or maybe my lack of writing is because I haven't really known what to say, or maybe it's because this Summer is shaping up to be quite uneventful.

 I can say that I've been super busy with my photography business that I haven't even bothered to take pictures of what is going on in my personal life. I don't even have a single picture of my very favorite day of the year or proof that I completed my 9th consecutive (and second pregnant) Peachtree Road Race! I've forced myself to snap a few here and there because, let's face it, Summer is coming to an end and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't have anything to show for it! So, here's what's been going on lately:

 Auntie sleep overs with dress up....

 Watermelon eating...of course,

 Lawn mowing....

 And swimming....

 And that really and truly is about it! I'm rounding out my first trimester and starting to turn a corner, so I hope to be by more often. I do have a special birthday that is coming up, so prep work is underway for a rootin' tootin' good time! 

 Thanks for stopping by!