Ryan's 30th Birthday

In October Ryan turned the big 30! He kept saying he felt old but since I'm ALREADY 30(ish...) I was just happy for him to join my in the 30's club. It's also cool to think that I knew him for almost his whole 20's. I can't wait to see how the next decade of his life grows him.

The week before we met up with family to celebrate. We went bowling and then everybody (minus me because I had a bachelorette party) went to eat at a local park. I love this family photo. I know my parents in-law really enjoy when they have all of their kids (and their kids' kids) together.

On his actual birthday we hosted a small gathering of some church friends at our pastor's house. We had a fabulous dessert table and lots of people that we care about to hang out with.

 My birthday stud. Also my favorite fall outfit.

Thanks to the friends and family who loved on Ryan and made his thirtieth birthday so special.

Eva's 5th Birthday Party

Our sweet girl turned FIVE years old back in September and we celebrated big! I made her a 6 LAYER cake that Ryan and I stayed up late into the night throwing sprinkles all over. PS Throwing sprinkles onto a cake is one of the most fun feelings ever.

Birthday presents! She got some fun gifts, we are so grateful for our generous friends and family.

 When I asked Eva what she wanted for her birthday, her one request was a rainbow pinata. I decided to be crafty (and frugal, because let's face it, it was just going to get smashed), and made my own but sewing crepe paper (super easy!), and hot gluing it to re purposed cardboard from cereal boxes.

 Party favors! She made each friend their own rainbow bracelet.

 Living room decor. This took a while to hang on the ceiling but I loved how it turned out and we left it up for a few weeks.

Play room decor: a rainbow of paper plates from Dollar Tree plus crepe paper.

Eva and her crew. She got to pick a few friends from school plus a couple from church. These are her people, y'all. She LOVES this group of friends. It's so cool to watch her actually develop her own friendships.

{A note on party invites...I am not posting this on Facebook, because I don't want any one to feel left out. Our house is not huge. We love lots of people, and wish we could invited everybody, but we couldn't. Hopefully there is nobody reading this that feels left out. We really just had to limit the guest list due to space and party funds.}

Sister cheesing it up with her girl friends!

Eva's other special request was outdoor party games. Mama delivered. Parachute? Check.

Egg race? Check.

Bean bag toss? Check.

Smash the heck out of the pinata? Check. Those kids went at it but in the end it was Mama's turn to smash it enough to break the candy free.

Getting her cake on in the playroom with her friends.

One more party shot with the littles included.

That same night we had our family over for Birthday Party 2.0. Sadly the photos on my real camera got lost so this is all I have.

One of her gifts was a karaoke microphone so the kids sang their hearts out.

"Letting it go" with Mallory! Thanks to everyone who celebrated Eva. She loves you so much!

5 years old

Dear Eva Kate,
Tomorrow you will turn FIVE years old! I keep thinking that I should feel that the time has gone by so quickly, but from my perspective it actually hasn't. In the most wonderful way, I can look back and think about your first five years and see how each year you have been growing up and turning into the kid you are now. It is the most unique experience to be a mom who gets to see all the seasons of her child's life in one continual glimpse. In my heart you are still that little toddler, yet you are also this five year old ready to become your own person. Eva, you are passionate. Some days you give me gray hairs and drive me to chocolate. Daddy says it's because you and I are so alike. I am, however, so extremely grateful that I have gotten to be at home with you every day for the past five years. I've gotten to live through the hard and see the ways God is shaping you. 

You are kind. Your heart has so much compassion towards any one who is hurt or sick or sad. A few weeks ago you made a bag to give to someone in need, full of snacks and toiletries, and Daddy and I gave it to a man we past by, even though you weren't in the car with us. We called you right away and you were so genuinely happy to have made a bag that somebody needed, and so interested to hear about the man you helped.

You are a friend. I love your great big social heart. You love your preschool friends, your church friends, anybody random we meet anywhere. And then there is your best friend...Jensen. Oh goodness do you love him. Of course you have normal kid moments, but your love and concern for his safety and happiness shines through. 

You are smart. You are learning to read and about all sorts of cool math and science things. You are also an expert negotiator. You are perseptive about people and situations, always listening and chiming in from the back seat.

You are funny. Sister, you are your Daddy's girl. You know how to make us laugh. 

You have big feelings. Sometimes this makes life with you more challenging, but I never want you to change the way you feel things. Maybe just your reactions :) But truly Eva, your feelings are a blessing, because they make you sensitive to the world around you. Your feelings are part of what makes you such a good friend. I believe God has some sort of wonderful plan for you where he can use the big aspects of your personality to help others. I can't wait to see what that is!

You are a little diva. For your birthday Daddy and I are surprising you with a ballet and tap class. I know that you will love it. You love to sing and dance to Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Ashley Gatta Albums, and even Rent (yes, we are those parents that let our child sing along to Rent). You are so dramatic and expressive. I guess that comes from me, but I promise that I never led you to be this way, you figured it out all on your own! The other day you asked me when you would be old enough to be in a play...so maybe there is a bright stage in your future.

Eva, there is so much more I could write. I think I'll end with my greatest prayer for you. Love the Lord with all your heart. If one day you are looking back at all my letters to you, know that I love Jesus and I want you to love Jesus too. We never want you to be perfect, just to know that you are perfectly loved. You put the crazy fun in our lives. Daddy and I love you so much and are so proud of you.

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY, Eva Kate!!!!!

love, Mama

Jensen's First Birthday Party

I'm so happy to be sharing photos from Jensen's first birthday party. You know it was a great party when you just look through all the photos smiling and remembering every sweet moment. We did a firetruck theme but kept things really simple - just a few decorations, family, and of course, CAKE! 

I knew from the get go that I wanted to set the stage for a cute first cake backdrop. We hosted the party at Ryan's parents house so I thought the fireplace area would be just right. I painted the firetruck canvas on the mantel to go in his bedroom back when I was pregnant and the pennant banner was also already in his room. I borrowed a wooden high chair, crafted a "ONE" banner and we were all set! THIS PHOTO was the look I was originally going on.

Our family of four! Why is it so hard to get a good photo with two kids? We took a ton and this was probably the best. 

The cake table complete with balloons (fun fact, I really love balloons for a party)!

'

I made a vanilla cake. I used scraps of paper from his "ONE" banner to make the "JENSEN" banner for his cake, got a sparkly 1 at Hobby Lobby and topped it with one of his favorite fire trucks. THIS CAKE was my Pinterest inspiration and I was pleased how it came out.

Papa grilled up the hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone to eat...just like they do at the real fire station :) 

With my birthday buddy. Ah, how can he be one already? I want to squish him and make him stay small and chubby forever. 

One of my favorites with Aunt Amanda! 

Everybody just hanging out after dinner. I know this isn't the fanciest but I love it. I loved that the party was easy and we were lucky to have all our family there to celebrate. To me that is what makes the early birthday parties most special. 

Then it was present time! My parents were clever and wrapped his gift in the sports page from his birthday.

Mickey Mouse car! Jensen and Eva both LOVE this ride on toy. They can be found zooming around our house all day long.

Opening more gifts - new clothes, socks, shoes, a bath toy, a few other toys and a cool overnight bag. What more could a little man ask for?

All of his cousins helping him to open his gifts. 

 She would have gladly opened every gift for him but did a good job letting this be his moment.

 Finally it was time for cake!!! I made him his own little smash cake.

So serious. When he is in louder situations he tends to be more quiet and observant. It was sweet because he was happy and could tell this party was for him.

Then he picked up the WHOLE cake and just went for it! I remember Eva taking tiny pinches of her first cake but this little guy just wanted it all!

 "Yummmm, my first cake!" He had never had anything with sugar in it before but don't worry, he liked it!

 We also celebrated Papa's 65th birthday. Look at those handsome Bradley men.

"I did it! I turned one! Who's proud of me?" {He did NOT eat that whole cake...}

We had a great birthday party! Thank you to all the family who made it such a special day for us! Jensen likes all of his gifts and loves all of his family even more.