Cowboy Birthday Party!

Last Saturday we celebrated Luke turning three and Parker turning one! I still can't believe another year has gone by... they just grow too fast for this Mommy!

We had a Cowboy party because Luke is all about cowboys and westerns (Daddy has even made a lasso for him using one of his old neckties!) and since Parker doesn't really have a "thing" yet he went with the flow :)

We had a orange and navy bandana backdrop with a rustic Happy Birthday banner. Luke and Parker each had a sign that they sat under while eating their cake. We also had a Trail Mix Bar where guests could customize their own trail mix in the cones that I made. We also had mini cupcakes for dessert. 

The favors were set up like a general store, "L & P General Store" to be exact! The Cowboys and Cowgirls were for Luke's friends (3 years and up). Wild West's Wanted (adults) got mini apple pies that I wrapped in cellophane bags. The Little Buckaroos were for Parker's friends (1 year or younger). 

We used aluminum pie tins for plates and I covered cans with butcher paper and chalkboard labels for silverware. 

 We had cups with Veggies and Ranch and Fruit Kabobs and Dip

Jugs for the water, lemonade and sweet tea

We moved out our furniture and setup as many tables as we could! :)

Singing to Luke!

Singing to Parker!

We also had a photo booth which was a lot  of fun! It also documents who all came to their birthday party!

 

Trying to open presents for two is a little tricky!

We had about 40 people come and shower our boys with gifts and love!

My helpful scripts! I wouldn't have been able to write thank you cards without them!!

It was a great party filled with lots of family and friends. The boys had a blast playing and eating cake. As a party planner, it's nice to see the vision that has been in my head (since before Parker was even born) come to fruition! I'm already working up a few ideas for next years party! :)

Thanks to everyone who came and partied with us!

January

One of my New Year's resolutions is to keep friends and family updated with pictures better than I have in the past. Another resolution is to use my REAL camera more and my iphone less for pictures. So, a little late since it's technically February, but I'm doing it, right?! :)

Here's a recap of January...

Parker turned 11 months

Jonathan turned 30 with a 3 Amigos bash

Family trip to the zoo

 When brothers play...

We celebrated Jonathan's grandparent's 70th Wedding Anniversary!

 All the great grandkids!

And there's our January in review! We're gearing up for Luke and Parker's birthdays and party!

Parker is 11 months!

At 11 months, Parker

is in size 5 diapers (but they’re a little big)

is in size 12-18 month clothes

weighs 22 pounds

is drinking half formula, half whole milk

eats anything in front of him (cheerios are a favorite!)

needs a hair cut (but Mommy just can’t do it yet!)

likes to use a lego as a passy 

loves to pull out all the toys in the living room

has 2 teeth (working on possibly the top, front 4)

pulls up on EVERYTHING!

takes steps as long as he has something to hold on to

can escape from the barricade Mommy has set up

says ‘ma ma’, ‘da da’, ‘uh-oh’

signs 'more', 'all done'

nods to say yes when we ask questions :)

loves to get into anything his big brother is in

loves to swing

Parker, you are such a happy boy and such a joy to our family! We love hearing you laugh (even if it's fake!) and talk to your brother. I just can't get over that you are almost one. Stop growing up!! We love you baby boy!

Three Amigos 30th Birthday

I know it has been forever since I've posted, but I wanted to start fresh in the new year and hopefully I'll slowly catch up on updating from the holidays!

Jonathan turned 30 on January 9th! When I asked (really informed) him about a party he said he would love to have a party based on one of his favorite movies... The Three Amigos.

I thought what a perfect theme for you.. but how the heck do you turn that into a party theme without it turning into a regular fiesta? Well, I don't know if we really succeeded but he had a blast! 

I turned our living room into El Guapo's birthday scene by putting up streamers and tissue poms. We even had a mariachi band!

Then, thanks to my AMAZING mom and sister, our 3 Amigos had incredible costumes! They painted the jackets and pants by HAND!! And my mom made the cumber-buns, ruffled shirt and ties. For my little boys I bought sombreros at Card and Party and covered them with black fabric. Jonathan had actually made a sombrero before for a talent show while he was in high school and created his from a cardboard box. Then we covered it with black fabric. I bought a pack of stencils from Hobby Lobby and stenciled different designs on each of their hats. 

I dressed up as the singing bush and used a green feather boa and Christmas garland I found on sale. :) It was quite itchy and got in the way while I ate so I took it off before I got a picture of it. 

I had Jonathan pick his favorite scenes from the movie and we put together a video with all of those clips to play in the background during the party. 

I thought it would be fun to go back to our childhood with busting open a pinata. 

Of course we had Mexican food along with Dos Equis and Margaritas. But the dads decided to split a banana :) This picture just cracks me up!

We wrapped up the evening with presents.... 

And some Just Dance 3!!

Even the little ones got into it!

Bekah couldn't pass up the opportunity to compete against the birthday boy!

We had such a great time and Jonathan had a blast. He told my mom and sister that they had given him his Halloween costume for the next 5 years! :) 

Pumpkin Butterscotch Cookies

It's that time again! Even though we have had triple digit temperatures the stores are gearing up for fall. Yesterday when I was doing my grocery shopping I saw this...

My precious two year old looked at me like I was crazy as I let out a squeal in the middle of aisle 5 of Albertsons. You see, my husband's favorite dessert is cookies. And a dear friend gave me a cookie recipe that has become one of our family favorites! I probably made Pumpkin Butterscotch cookies every other week last fall (I'm sure it had nothing to do with me being pregnant). These cookies are so scrumptious you'll let out a squeal when you see canned pumpkin in your grocery store. You have got to try these!!

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and grease the paper.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt & cinnamon together in a medium bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute.

On low speed, mix in the oil, pumpkin and vanilla until blended. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing.

Mix in the flour mixture to incorporate it.

Then take a break to feed this little one... Oh wait that was just me :)

Mix in the butterscotch chips.

Scoop out about 1/4 c. of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies at least 2 1/2 inches apart.

Bake the cookies one sheet at a time, on the middle rack of the oven, until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry, about 16 minutes.

This is the hardest part! Cool them on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then use a wide metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Or just burn your tongue trying one because you can't wait for them to cool!

Dust the cookies lightly with powdered sugar.

I may have eaten 3 cookies right after they came out of the oven....Welcome Fall!

Pumpkin Butterscotch Cookies

Makes 22-24 cookies

Ingredients

2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 large eggs

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. canola oil

1 c. canned pumpkin

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. butterscotch chips

powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and grease the paper. 

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt & cinnamon together in a medium bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute. 

On low speed, mix in the oil, pumpkin and vanilla until blended. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing. 

Mix in the flour mixture to incorporate it. 

Mix in the butterscotch chips.

Scoop out about 1/4 c. of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies at least 2 1/2 inches apart. 

Bake the cookies one sheet at a time, on the middle rack of the oven, until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry, about 16 minutes. 

Cool them on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then use a wide metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Dust the cookies lightly with powdered sugar. 

The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 4 days (but I doubt they will last that long!).