We had a great joint birthday party for Arthur (4) and Quentin (1). Today's post is my photo dump of all the fun!
Finding clues during the treasure hunt:
Outdoor activities:
Today's post is another installment of my coverage of our big joint birthday party. Of course, I had to make a ton of crafts. For Arthur's first birthday, I had made a photo board so I had to do one for Q. Instead of a board, I went with cute banner for the fireplace. Very cute!
Next up, I made the goody bags. Each bag had a foam sword, eye patch, pirate hat, bag of Pirate's Booty, pirate tattoos, a compass, and a ring pop. The baby bags had a pirate rubber duck, graham cracker goldfish, and a beach ball. I made these cute little name tags featuring images from Message in a Bottle Stamp Set.
I covered the dining room table with some kraft paper, stamped on some anchors, and put of two pirate ships in the middle. I later added some chocolate gold coins, bags of goldfish and pirate's booty, and ring pops to the table.
Time to decorate the kitchen aka main party area.
I bought this huge pirate flag to hang on our back door. (The flag will find a permament place somewhere in our house).
I grabbed these awesome pirate signs, fish net, skeleton, and great white shark for decor.
I also couldn't pass up this fun Happy Birthday banner.
This table was used for eating during the party. I added the other pirate ship for decoration. The baker's rack served as our present holder during the party. I featured my cute crafted letters, a pirate book I bought Q, and a fun stuffed parrot. Pirates have to have a parrot!
I conquered my fear of piping to frost some vanilla cupcakes. I added some gold rocks and homemade pirate flags. These cupcakes were so yummy! You can just make out some skull plates in the background. Very cute!
The cake came from Costco, because nothing can beat $18.99 for half sheet of actually good cake. I did buy and add these cute pirate decorations.
For the food, I made fun pirate themed placards and tags. We featured:
Along with cleaning for the party on Saturday, I pulled all my Christmas supplies. Here you can see my two boxes of random Christmas card related supplies and the stack of DSP leaned up against my holders.
Reading: The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick -- Been meaning to read this one for awhile. Loved his other histories.
Watching: The Good Place Season 2 -- Holy cow! We were worried about where the show-runners were going to go in Season 2, but they have thankfully invented the show. Loving it.
Listening: Lots of Pod Save America podcast. Their anger at the current political climate is very cathartic for me.
Making: Dove into my fall foods this week with chili and cornbread, but more importantly pumpkin bread!
Feeling: Don't know if it's the weather or what, but I've been very stuffy lately.
Planning: Saturday's the big Arthur and Quentin joint birthday party. So much to do before then, but most things can't be done until Friday...
Loving: The cooler temps and fall weather have been great lately.
Prepping birthday party thank you cards. Doing the assembly line method.
Reading: The Lost City of Z by David Grann. Loving the nonfiction adventure.
Watching: Arthur has been loving the Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated tv series. Even I've been kinda watching it. Pretty decent show.
Listening: Catching up on Sam Sanders's It's Been a Minute podcast.
Making: Finishing the last of the birthday party crafts. I still need to make a sign for the door and the treasure hunt.
Feeling: The temperature has gone back down to a reasonable level. I'm much more comfortable now...
Planning: I'm finishing planning the birthday party details including our games. Almost there...
Loving: Q has been taking a daily nap and it is glorious! I have been getting so much done during his hour-ish nap.
Somehow I haven't done one of these since January? Is that really true? My goodness! So here's the current state of my craft area. Yep it's a total disaster. I've got so many different projects happening at the same time. I hope to be able to clear this off sometime this weekend. But first I have to get through tonight's class and Saturday's stamp club...
Close up of my main crafting area. So much stuff! I need to dig in and clean.
Reading: Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff, finally starting September's book club selection.
Watching: We've made it into Supernatural S2. It's our fun show...
Listening: Randomly putting this one multiple times this week.
Making: Focusing on making a few Halloween cards before the holiday arrives.
Feeling: Still have a lingering cough, but most of my sickness has gone away.
Planning: Arthur and Quentin's birthday party is a month away. Buckling down to plan. I have my first Amazon supply order coming today. I need to start making the homemade items.
Loving: Trying out some nutella brownies this week. Yum yum!
Reading: Simply Love by Mary Balogh. Needing a bit of fluffy romance for this week...
Watching: J and I finally dove into Ken Burns's The National Parks. Really enjoying it, but man these episodes of long.
Listening: Lots of podcasts, but specifically enjoying Pod Save America this week.
Making: Registered for 30 Days of Lists in September, so I'm busy pulling my Project Life cards to decorate and use. I've pulled the cards, now on tot he decorating.
Feeling: Started getting sick this weekend. Now I have a full blown cold.
Planning: Fall Bingo Party is coming quickly! I need to finish putting the final touches on the make n takes and prize bundles.
Loving: It's Bout of Books 20! And I'm sick, so not really running out for activities. It's the perfect week to read a ton and thankfully I've picked some good books.
Reading: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James -- never read this classic!
Watching: Finally! Rick and Morty S3 is here!
Listening: After hearing their Lollapalooza set, I had to download Blink 182's newest album. Really digging it.
Making: I used up the leftover strawberries and blueberries and made scones. Oh so yummy!
Feeling: Lots of ouchiness. My scar tissue has been acting up this week and it can be painful.
Planning: After a trip to Sprouts yesterday, I'm rethinking our entire meal plan this week. I impulse bought some chicken kebabs (last night's dinner) and scallops.
Loving: Q is really babbling now and it's so cute. Loving the baby babbles.