Hurricanes

Technorati Tags: Hurricanes,2011,Inception,Weather

 

My husband loves hurricanes and made this trailer type thing.  He is so proud! 

Sesame Street 1st Birthday

Oh where do I begin...

My nephew Dominick's first birthday party was fabulous!  Everything went smoothly, he was happy and even the weather cooperated. Which I know it is hard to believe that the cold reached down here in the NO to LA but it seriously did!  2 days before his party we had sleet!!  I was at work and heard it tapping on my window.  Goodness gracious, I remember thinking, this is so not good, I have a party to set up for in 2 days.  Well on Saturday the cold and rain had passed through and the sun broke out.  It was still a little chilly for everyone to be outside (our original idea) but not cold enough so that everyone had to be cooped up.  The party was at my parents house and my dad had some propane heaters going on the patio and even lit a little bonfire for whoever wanted to hang outside.  So that was really good and people were happy to have the option.

We had great food, good company and great cake!!  My sister in law and I had been planning this party for her little one for a while now.  I guess we started chatting about it in October and then in December, we really cracked down with the ideas and all of what she had wanted for this party.  The party turned out to be one of my favorites.  *I'm warning ya, this is a very heavy picture post.  (Click here to see my previous post about planning and to see some of the projects as I worked on them.)

Is that not the cutest, most adorable cake ever!?

He couldn't stop looking at it.  He would look then smile.  SO cute!

You can see sorta in this picture the tv there.  Cari (sister in law) had combined a ton (about half an hour) of Sesame Street videos from youtube and had them streaming on the tv.  This was a really neat idea. 

She also took pics of Dommie every month on his birth date (the 5th).  Since his party was on his actual birthday, for the last picture, she took a pic that morning and had it sent to the one hour photo!

 We had played one game.  Count the cookies in Cookie Monster's Cookie Box.  The little card said, "123 how many cookies do you see?  Hurry up and take a guess before Cookie Monster eats the rest!  Remember these cookies are small in size, whoever guesses the closest (without going over) wins a prize!"  

One person guessed the exact number and she won a $10 g.c. to Chick fil a.  Yum!  btw:  That is my momma in this pic.  :)

I had made little napkin cover thingys and also a sign that said, This party was brought to you by, the Letter D and the Number 1

Sugar cookies, white, milk and dark chocolate chip cookies

Some of the food options

Some of the family in character tshirts

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He really wasn't all that interested in his cake, he kinda just picked at it

Sister in law and Brother in law with Dommie

Jesse and I with the little guy

Cake pops!!  They came out so much better than my first attempt. (awful)

This time my awesome hubby helped me. I dipped and he decorated.  The power of teamwork, it's a beautiful thing!

SEE  :)

Well that is about it for this party, I did post more pics on facebook (album) if you would like to go see.  Happy 1st Birthday my little stinker!  :) 

Next on our plate is Valentine's day, which we don't really do much and will be low key...probably cook and just chill.  IN March we will be celebrating our anniversary by taking our very first cruise!  We are heading to the Bahamas for 3 days.  We are so very excited about it.  Eeek!!  We are driving to Orlando on a Thursday and spending the night at my sister in law's house and then driving to Cape Canaveral Friday morning where we will be departing.  We will return Monday and spend the rest of the week with husband's family.  So ready for this vacation!

Today's Post Was Brought To You By...

...the letter "D" and the number "1"

Ahh, another party within our midst.  The theme, do I really have to tell you?  Sesame Street!!  I gotta say, I am super, duper, ridiculously excited about our nephew's 1st birthday party coming up in February.  The theme is just adorable, the colors are so vibrant and all in all, it's just totally fun! 

Here are a few pics of the projects that I have been working on.

 

 First the invitation...I think out of all the invitations that I have done, this one is my favorite.  :) 

 I think the birthday boy likes them...

I found this above image over at  Hostess with the Mostess and completely loved the idea of using frames in the decor for this party.  So I went out to Michaels and found these (see below) $1 frames and $2 pack of S.S. monsters and with a little paint and card stock, I give you this...

Cute huh?!

 

What else, what else, oh I made some little wrappers for water bottles.  I have always seen this done while searching blogs and all so I figured why not do it for this party!  

Favor Baggies.  So simple and inexpensive.  

Which brings me to another subject, the favors.  We are doing a small simple candy table and I told my sister in law I would like to give some cake pops a shot.  I love Bakerella's website and saw these guys one day while browsing and knew I had to try and make them for this party.  SO over the weekend, hubby and I went out and bought all of the ingredients needed to make them.  I wanted to try them out prior to the actual party to make sure they don't look like monsters on crack!  Haha!  Bakerella's are so pretty and so perfect and while I wasn't expecting them to look like hers...

 

I'm not gonna lie, I didn't think mine would look, well....you be the judge...

I know, I know I'm not a professional and this is why I did a "test run", but good grief, look at these poor things!  The main thing that I learned is that I have got to give these guys CHINS next time!!  Their mouths need to be moved up just a tad to expose more color under.  Anyhow, I think when I do them for real, they will be better.  Cross your fingers!

Well that is pretty much it for now.  I'm still working on a birthday banner, a welcome sign for the front door, complete with Big Bird feet that will lead guest from the sidewalk up to the front door...and some little Oscar signs to put on the trash cans. Am I going a little bit overboard...  yes, yes, yes I am.....naaaa!  ;)

New Year's

During the week of Christmas, Jesse and I had discussed possibly going to visit Vinnie and Cari in Orlando during New Years.  We agreed we could swing it, so we did!  I left with V, C, and D on the 27th which was a Monday and then Jesse drove in on Wednesday 29th.  We spent the rest of the week with them and then came home on the 1st.  Dominick had a little cold which made the evenings and nights a little rough.  On Wed. the day Jesse drove in, what do you know, I got sick.  It sucked!!  Nothing worse than feeling so bad and not having your own bed to sleep in and your own home to feel gross in!  haha!  I pulled through and starting feeling a little better until I got home.  I wound up having to go to see the doctor and after 2 shots and an antibiotic, I feel much better.  The only thing that I have left is that darn dry cough!  Uggh, I can't seem to shake it!  Anyway, here are a few pics of our mini trip.

We stopped by a Taco Bell on the way to FL

This was taken in Downtown Diz

Such a cute smile!

New Year's Eve we ate out at a Mexican restaurant

V and C

J and A  Happy New Year!!

Christmas!

Well, I feel pretty awful that I haven't touched this blog since before Christmas!  It got so darn hectic around here, I was sick during New Years and it still is lingering a tinge.  Finally it seems everything is getting back to normal.  Let's see, let's see, I'll start with the day before and the day of Christmas Eve.  Every year during the week of Christmas we gather at my Grandma and Grandpa's home with the whole family.  Aunts, uncles, cousins, and 2nd cousins!  It's always a good time and it's so nice to see everyone and especially my little cousins to see how they have grown.  On Christmas Eve I spent a good bit of the morning preparing my desserts for Christmas.  We then headed to my father in law's home.  Had a really wonderful time spending with the family and we also found out that Jesse's step-sister and her husband are expecting!  She is due towards the end of August.  So next Christmas we will have 2 babies around! 

Christmas Eve dinner.  That's my father in law holding our nephew Dominick

Vinnie, Dommie, and Cari (Jesse's sis)

Dom, Ashlie (Jes's step-sis) and Ro

And us with the little guy!

Christmas morning, Jesse and I woke up and together we prepared the ham and other fixings that I couldn't finish the day before.  We had our families over for lunch except Vinnie, Cari and the little Domster.  They went to go visit with Vinnie's family and then when they were finished they headed on over to our place. 

Preparing the table for lunchy

After we ate, we put away everything and it was present time!

Good thing we have a pretty big living room!

One of the gifts Jesse got me...  (it's my favorite, cuz we all know it's true!)  ;)

V and C showed up and we opened our gifts with them

Another great Christmas as a married couple!  2 down 98 more to go!  ;)