Frozen Birthday Party

Decorations were as inexpensive as possible. My brother brought the snowflakes from America, so I didn't have to cut anything up. I bought lace and fabric at the Fabric Market. We poured sugar in vases and placed figurines inside as well. We printed off free banner printables and hung those as well. 

I really am serious about blogging again. Why is it so impossible to find the time? So...I've been meaning to blog about Willow's 3rd birthday party--which was three months ago! Finally, finally, finally, I am staying up late to do so. During the first half of 2014, Willow was incredibly obsessed with Frozen. It seemed natural to throw her a Frozen themed birthday party. Here are some pictures from the dessert table. Later, I will post more pictures from the photo booth and candid shots taken by a friend during the party!  

The first decision that had to be made regarding Willow's birthday party was when it should be held. If we waited until her actual birthday, most of her friends would be out of the country for summer break. If we waited until they all returned, it would be a hectic time since school would be resuming and everyone would be very busy with that. So, we decided to have her birthday a month early. This way, most of her friends were able to attend. As we would later discover, it was a good thing the party was in June--since we were unknowingly destined to be in America from the end of June until the beginning of August. If we had scheduled the party for July, we would have had to cancel it. 

The invitation I made for Willow's birthday party 

The cake decorations were a spur of the moment thing. I had these lofty plans originally, but when I couldn't find a vital ingredient in time, ideas needed to change. So, as I was frosting the cake, I decided to use some Frozen toys, paper snowflakes I had in my scrap booking cupboard, and marshmallows to make Willow's cake more Elsa/Anna themed. There were also sprinkles involved, and the frosting was a wonderfully sweet and fluffy buttercream. 

We worked so hard making everything 'just right'. I turned my back for one minute, and that was long enough for Willow to finish decorating her cake. She thought that her addition of Olaf-on-his-face was awesome and was completely proud. I had trouble knowing how to react. Laugh? Cry? Correct? Leave it? Remove it? Stand it up? 

Served on the dessert table: carrot sticks and ranch, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, snowflake sugar cookies, blue jello with whipped cream, white chocolate pocky sticks, white cake, cupcakes, chocolate dipped marshmallows, chocolate covered strawberries, ice candies, blue sprite, and melted snowmen (water). 

The laden dessert table would not have been possible without a lot of help from friends who came to help bake and decorate. Thank you, ladies! Yet another advantage to celebrating Willow's birthday in June was the fact that Brad was still visiting us. So Uncle Brad was able to represent Willow's extended family. He was also a huge help in decorating, setting up, taking care of the kids while I worked, and cleaning up. He is the guy responsible for the cute photo booth props and the pin the nose on Olaf poster. It helps to have a resident artist who knows how to use photoshop.

There is very little I can take credit for in this party. My friends helped with decorating and baking. My brother hauled supplies to me from the States. My husband blew up the balloons. Pinterest lent me some cute ideas and inspiration, as well as free printables...But I DID bake and frost the cake. So I will bask in the knowledge that even in China, I can bake something in a tiny toaster oven and use imported ingredients that are hordes year round, so that my daughter can blow out three candles on a proper birthday cake.

I didn't have a cake decorating set at the time, so the cupcakes looked a little strange...

While we waited for all the guests to arrive, we listened to Frozen music and the kids could make reindeer antler crowns or Elsa/Anna tiaras. Besides eating way too much sugar, party activities included a wintry photo booth, pin the carrot nose on Olaf, and a snowball toss game. After the kids were hyped up on sugar, Willow opened her gifts and read her cards. Then, we let the kids loose outside and played at the Aqu playground until dinner time. 

I thought the "Wanna build a Snowmen" kits were a brilliant idea I snatched from someone on Pinterest. Marshmallows, chocolate chips, orange mints, and pocky sticks. 

During Willow's party, I had a friend take pictures so that I didn't have to worry about 'capturing the moment'. I could simply concentrate on hosting, and had the ability to more closely observe Willow enjoy her special day. I think 90 minutes was long enough to hit all the compulsory components to a little girl's birthday party without overly draining her in the emotional department. Every day, I look at Willow and wonder in disbelief that she is three years old! I can hardly remember what it was like to live without Willow--she adds a lot of drama and sparkle to my life and I look forward to many more birthdays celebrating her life. 

Speaking of which....I wonder what Willow's 4th birthday party will look like? 

Around the House

Just some pictures from April, which also happen to be grossly out of order and mixed up. But who cares, except for me, and I'm too lazy to do anything about it. 

Noah is obsessed with Willow's trike. He likes to play with the tassels, tries to push it around, and knocks it over so he can climb on it. It's pretty entertaining to watch him fall in love with his first set of wheels.

Noah watching me blow dry my hair. He is a like a puppy dog, according to Willow. And I would have to agree!

This was the first day he started pulling himself up into a standing position. Earlier that day, we had been putting him inside the pink tub, to keep him contained. Later on, he flipped it and stood up on his own. The next day, he was onto more challenging terrain, using the couch to pull up on. Now he's onto the kitchen chairs, which are even higher.

Getting a package in the mail is exciting for everyone. Willow screams in delight when Adam walks in the door with a package sent from family in America. She knows it means lots of yummy treats are ecoming her way.

New shoes stuffed with candy.

This is Noah's "Rocky" pose, although usually he punches his fist a lot higher and looks up at it.

Willow, the crazy-haired-diva.

Ok, so just a simple update. I've nothing profound to share. Just some pictures from the month of April. 

Eight is Great

Noah is 8 months old, and I feel the baby-days slipping through my fingers. I went back and looked at Willow's post from when she reached the 8 month marker, and enjoyed reading about what she was like two years ago.

Two years ago! How time is flying.

You might also enjoy 'comparing' Noah and Willow after reading this post. Read about Willow at 8 months here: Eight is Enough

They are actually strikingly similar in looks and development at 8 months old. The only thing Noah is not doing now, what Willow was doing at 8 months, is trying to climb ON TOP of the couch. As far as I am aware, he has yet to attempt that feat for himself. But that's probably because Willow will hand him what he is reaching for.

Up until yesterday, he also wasn't standing up in his crib. Which meant he wasn't reaching his toothbrush, tooth paste, or the wipey container. Willow had been making huge messes with those items by the time she was 8 months. Well, as of yesterday, Noah has continued the tradition of making messes in his bed during nap times. So now I have to hide these items while he's supposed to be sleeping. It really isn't smart to put the changing table next to the crib. You'd think we would have rearranged the furniture by now.

Things I love about Noah at 8 months...

• He's so chunky, thick, and tubby! Although it breaks my back to lug around a 24 pound baby, at least I get to burn some extra calories in the process. He's so huggable with all his rolls! As Willow says, while squeezing Noah's fat legs, "Noah is squishy-squishy!" 
• He's so happy! With an even temperament, and a propensity to smile at just about anyone or anything, it's amazing how content this little guy constantly is. I cannot get enough of his cabbage-patch-baby-doll face, his delightful smiles, and myriad styles of laughing. He thinks many things are funny, especially his sister and dad. 
• He's so cuddly! Enough said.
• He's so mobile! Gone are the days of the 'butterfly-stroke-crawl'. He's full-on crawling and into everything. At least he hasn't discovered how to open cupboards yet. Not looking forward to that skill being developed. He's pulling himself up on everything--growing some more muscle mass along the way. He's cruising around the furniture, and determined to follow us wherever we go. 
• He's eager and curious! Noah wants desperately to play with Willow's more advanced toys (who wants baby toys, anyway?), or to get into the trash can, or the wires and cords, or technology. He wants to eat whatever we are eating--and I'm constantly telling Willow to not give him food. On a side note, I also have to save Noah's food from Willow--who thinks she should be able to eat the baby food that is just for him. 
• He's so excited! When Adam comes home, he's ecstatic. He flails about, waving his arms and kicking his legs, grinning like a little fool--ust waitng to be noticed. He usually is pretty silent though, and waits until Willow is finished shrieking and yelling and talking in her own excited way. Second born issues are real. 
• He's mischievous! He's already learning and enjoying his role of 'little brother' which he was born to fill. Willow can't stand water on her face during bath time. He makes sure she is repeatedly splashed in the face during their short baths. He pulls her hair, gnaws on her face, and breaks her toys. He puts up with a lot of crap from the sister too. Sometimes, I feel like I'm watching some strange version of mine and Adam's lives on replay. Of course, we were not each other's siblings, but I think it's funny when Willow is bossy to Noah and orders him around. Adam is appalled and runs to Noah's rescue frequently. Adam is Noah's advocate in many ways. 

He's also teething again. The fifth tooth recently popped through, and he has probably three more close to surfacing. He's been waking up so often at night, I am more sleep deprived now than I was during his newborn days. Sometimes he wakes up as many as 8 times. I think he's in pain from teething, and also crawling around in his sleep and waking himself up that way too. It's been an exhausting life, lately.

I love this face, so wondefully and completely.

Willow cannot stand it when I take 'milestone' pictuers of Noah. She HAS to get in on the action. We actually fought quite a lot during Noah's little picture session. It was a debacle.

Noah also learned how to give kisses this month! It's so precious to be the recipient of his little kisses.

I think these pictures of Noah in his stroller with his sunglasses are hilarious. But maybe that's just me....

Noah is eating a variety of food now. I'm making most of his baby food the old fashioned way, which makes me feel a tiny bit proud. Yet another thing that China has taught me to do.

If you would like to pray for Noah, please lift up his nightly sleeping habits. I've literally tried EVERYTHING, and NOTHING is breaking the cycle. I'm praying too; I don't believe anything will change the course except for divine intervention. Also, pray for energy and patience on my part.
You can also lift up Noah's upcoming surgery. We don't know when it will be or who will be the surgeon, at this point. So we are asking the Lord for guidance and wisdom as we seek out His plan for Noah's hand. In any case, we believe the surgery will be sometime this year.

Thank you friends.
Noah sends you a slobbery kiss!