Storm clouds are coming to bring a good soaking pour.
Surely a rainbow will follow...Bailey and Owen are turning FOUR!
It was only a matter of time before my sister-in-law and I finally planned a party together. And with Bailey and Owen's birthdays being only weeks apart...this was it! HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY to Bailey and Owen!
The party had a third component - sort of an inaugural get-together to show off Nana's new house! Welcome! (The sign says "Let's Party").
Happy * Fourth * Birthday * Bailey * And * Owen
(Anyone need to borrow a sign?)
Because once you have a theme ("rainbow colors") it's hard not to try to make everything somehow fit the theme...call it a ridiculous obsession, call it craftiness overload, call it party awesomeness...
Mel's rainbow fruit cabobs.
My rainbow veggie tray (FYI: dying cauliflower blue using water and food coloring does NOT work - hence the cauliflower was replaced by mushrooms.)
The spread. Complete with (once again) way too many subway sandwiches.
THE MARGARITA MACHINE. Available for rent...
But here's what we're really at the party for - THE CAKE(S)!
Bailey wanted vanilla. Owen wanted a square chocolate cake. They each got a rainbow extravaganza.
This was Owen's cake. It did NOT end up like my pinterest-inspired vision...but it fit Owen's bill and I just have to learn that I'm really the only one who notices all the details that do or do not come together for these things...
It weighted approximately 2 tons, of which 1.7 tons was icing.
That is a LOT of chocolate cake.
Here is Bailey's cake. White. Perfectly round, smooth, structurally sound, some might even say a little plain...
SHAZAM!!! Rainbow surprise!
Isn't that gorgeous? Look how uniform it is? (Can you tell a builder was involved?)
Level, like the floors in my dream house - six beautiful multi-colored layers.
Okay, so this was no competition. What I mean is that it's NO competition that this cake wins the most-awesome-cake award. Looks like we're on the hook for the margarita machine next time...
The kids, Alison, what about the kids? Isn't this about them? Hehe - or course.
About to blow out candles.
Noooooooooooooo! Don't blow out the candles on MY cake!!!
(What were we thinking sitting them down in front of each other's cakes?)
All is well now. Yummy!
Our invitation promised water games. And we couldn't just pull out the sprinkler and slip 'n slide again without a little something special...we call it "The Kid Wash".
Think drive-through car-wash but toddler-sized.
All the credit for building this party-maker goes to Uncle Luke, who when he was complimented on his incredible craftsmanship and building skills said, "I also build houses". Right on!
Owen's favorite is still a big truck.
Bailey filling up a bucket for some unknown purpose.
This last little project is because I am obsessed with taking fun pictures. I have a LOT to learn, but I thought it would be cute... it's a hot air balloon. Can you tell?
Very quickly gave up the idea of getting a group shot of the kids in there together. What was I thinking?
But some of our little friends had some fun playing in the box.
Owen humoring me.
Rebecca humoring me.
An attempt at getting the birthday kids together.
Owen is flying.
Now Bailey is flying.
Birthday hug.
Birthday kiss.
This was followed by a birthday tackle, but I didn't get a good picture...
Shots of the party-goers.
Maggie pretty much slept through the party (back in Nana's bathroom) and R did her own thing.
The MOPS girls
The Murrays
Sidhya and Katie
Owen and Bee
Pam and Dahdo in his uniform (Tevas, Gap jeans, black Gap t-shirt)
Nana (our gracious hostess) giving Blakers a little sugar.
The Fabulous Foshea Family, aka Foshizzle.
It's worth saying that my favorite new site - Pinterest - should get lots of credit...the paper garland (who knew you could sew paper?), serving ice cream in pre-scooped cupcake wrappers, all the rainbow food, cakes, homemade rainbow crayon party favors, t-shirts, even the hot-air balloon...all inspired by stuff on Pinterest. Love it! But the vision Mel and I had for the party COULD NOT have been executed without these two worker-bees. Thanks Men!
Our family of five. Drats - we're missing one again!!! We just can't seem to get a picture of the whole family. Sweet Maggie - we'll get you in one of them soon - we promise!
Thanks to all of our friends and family who came (and endured the chaos) in order to celebrate our sweet Owen and Bailey.
