Preview of 2014 calendar

I wasn't planning on making a calendar this year because we are trying to be more frugal as a family since I don't have a job… However, your Toronto grandparents were asking me last week to make one and I know your Vancouver grandparents will also be disappointed if we don't do one this year. So, I gathered all the photos I took of you guys (not too many this year sadly…) in the past week and here's a sneak peek of what's to come. Isn't the cover so cute?

Birthday girl

Happy birthday sweet Kendall!

Mommy woke up super early today to finish assembling the fruit platter that I made for your daycare birthday party today. I also had all the loot bags packed and ready to go. 

Here are just some of the loot bags I made for your class. They got popcorn and bubbles.

Here's a better look.

And a better look of the bubbles.

On Saturday we will be having your birthday parties with our family. Good night! Gotta get some sleep…

Birthday boy

As I write this, I'm dead tired and basically running on adrenaline. I'm in the busiest time at work, but I've been staying up late every night to make Kendall and your loot bags for your daycare birthday parties. Never have kids with birthdays 1-day apart! #deadtired #whydoidothistomyself

Yes, I could have gone to the dollar store to pick up loot bag items in their party section and I did do that, but nothing was good enough for my taste. My occupation is a graphic designer/art director so I can't put my name on something that is not up to par for my liking. I decided that I would again, hand make something. Of course, once I start something I go all out. I hardly got any sleep this week, but it was all worth it. You were so excited to see the finished product and super excited to go to daycare this morning to give them all out to your friends.

It all started with me seeing something on my Instagram feed. I follow a crafter, Sharilyn Wright and she
posted something not too long ago of her handmade notebooks with washi tape spines. I thought that was
such a great idea. I modified the notebooks I made by adding the names of all the kids as well as some
more personal details that they could fill out at the bottom- age, birthday, favourite colour. Since your
writing skills have drastically improved as soon as you started junior kindergarten, I noticed you are always
drawing and writing. I figured a personalized notebook would be the perfect gift for all the kids. I scored
the cover stock a 1/4" on the left where the washi tape ends so that it would open easily. 

Just a close-up of some of the washi tape patterns. Aren't they pretty stacked like that?

Instead of just plain, blank pages, I printed grid paper and lined paper to give it more of a custom feel.
I also added a page at the beginning where it had a box that you had to draw a picture of your family. 

As well as the custom notebooks, I added a bag of flavoured popcorn- white cheddar popcorn or butter
popcorn to the loot bags. 

If I had more time, I would have added one more thing to the loot bags, but I didn't have anything left in
me to design something else.

I love the Ikea-brand ziplock bags (purple bag behind the notebook). I covered the Ikea logo with the
tags of all the names of the kids. This is your loot bag.

There were 26 kids in your class, so you can imaging just how many I had to do. And that's just for your
daycare. I worked on Kendall's daycare loot bags too. The Longo's bag on the bottom right had peanut-free
cupcakes to bring to your daycare this morning.

This was you after I picked you up around 3:30pm. You guys were all eating the cupcakes when I picked
you up. When you got the car, you declared that this year was the best birthday of all. 

Waiting on our front porch for daddy and Kendall to come home. BTW, since Kendall's birthday is on
Monday, I will be giving out Kendall's loot bags then. Yours falls on a Sunday this year, so I had to do your
birthday party today.

While we were waiting for daddy and Kendall, you enjoyed eating your popcorn.

Welcome home Kendall!

She had show and share day at daycare where she had to bring in a teddy bear so she brought Muk Muk,
one of her large entourage of stuffed animals that she carries around these days.

My cutie patootie.

Watching Aidan eat his popcorn.
"When can I have some???" —Kendall

I end this post off with a cute video I took of Kendall today. She is constantly saying no these days. 

But it's not just a short "no!" It's a long "Nnnnnnnnnnno!"

Will you be my Valentine?

I couldn't sleep last night because of all the stuff that's been going on. I decided to take my mind off things by creating personalized Valentine's Cards for your school classmates. I used a template that I saw online (http://camillestyles.com/valentines-day/diy-printable-valentines/) and modified it. You aren't allowed to bring candy to school for some reason so I wanted to make special cards for all your friends at school. I printed the cards and left an area for your name blank so that I could get you to handwrite your name. 

Since the weather has been terrible this Winter, we've been staying home a lot. Today was another snow day- a perfect day to get you to write your name on the cards. 

I got you to write your name on 19 cards.

You knew how to read all 19 names of your friends on the outside of the cards. 

Here's how it looks like all folded up.

Another view.

So proud of his work.

Here's how one of the cards look.

And opened up.

And here's a video of you writing your name on all the cards.

Happy 1-year birthday Kendall

Today we celebrated your 1-year birthday party. We had a more intimate party than when we did Aidan's 1-year birthday party. We only invited our closest friends. It was more enjoyable that way.

Your outfit for the party. Your Vancouver grandpa took this photo of you at home before the party.
I was at the venue doing some last-minute decorations.

The head table set up.

The banner started to droop a bit so I wasn't too happy about that, but I'm happy how it turned out.

Here's the manzanita branch with your photos. I also arranged all the flowers myself. I initially
wanted to use peonies, but they were not in season by the time it was your birthday so I went with
my backup flower- hydrangeas.

I got Flour Studio to bake 2 dozen cupcakes. This is the vanilla cupcake with strawberry buttercream
swirl. I stuck my handmade cupcake toppers on top.

My friend, Jenn, made the Goim towers. I gave her directions on what to put on the towers as well
as the spray paint colours. I gave her the dragon reference photo as well. I think it turned out beautifully.
I'm planning on keeping these Goim towers and displaying it in your room.

Isn't the cake beautiful? Flour Studio also made the cake. I gave them the cake inspiration shot.

I love how classy it is. I know lots of people do animal themes, but I wanted to do something different.
I love the rainbow theme.

The other cupcake flavour was chocolate cupcake with mint buttercream swirl.

Another view.

For the tables I made a flower arrangement of white hydrangeas with craspedias.
I put votive candles all around decorated with washi tape. I also scattered my paper medallions
that I made.

Here's how I displayed the popcorn favours. I used them as table seating cards as well.

Aidan was being a little sore sport. He didn't want to take any family photos. This is the best
one we got of him.

Your Toronto grandma and grandpa.

I wanted to take lots of photos at the party, but I couldn't. Your Vancouver grandpa took this photo
and he shot us in such a low angle. I have a double chin!

You and your Vancouver grandma.

Look how cute you are eating.

Everyone was trying to get Aidan to cheer up.

You and daddy.

Aidan was watching videos while eating lunch.

Getting ready for the doljabi. Because I was holding you I couldn't get any good photos of you
in your hanbok grabbing the 2 items. You ended up choosing the ball and the microphone.

I think Auntie Sara took this photo of Emma and Uncle Wayne. Maybe Emma ate something sour?
She's such a cutie.

The 3 boys- Austin, Nate and Asher.

Cake cutting time. I was sad to cut into such a beautiful cake.

The cake was so delicious.

The party wrapped up at 4pm.I was ready to crash when we got home, but there was so much to do!

Here are all the cards you received from your birthday party. I'm planning on keeping these.
I also kept Aidan's 1-year birthday cards in a box.

Some of these cards are Aidan's 4-year birthday cards.

Aidan got a pretty rad sweater from Asher and Austin for his birthday.

He was much happier at home than at the party.

Aidan got tons of gifts, but I forgot to take pictures of everything he got :-(

He got a Spiderman bike from Auntie Jane, tons of clothes from his Vancouver grandma, helmut and protection gear for his bike from his Vancouver grandma, a garbage truck toy from his Vancouver grandpa (Aidan asked for that), gift certificate and money from his Toronto grandparents, a tent and Lightning McQueen book from Auntie Jess and Uncle Wayne, movie certificate from Nate, and a sweater from Asher & Austin. Lastly, Auntie Sara and Uncle Dan got Aidan colouring books and roller skates. He was so happy. I was able to take a video of him trying on his skates. I think we'll go out tomorrow to try out his skates. 

I can't believe it's finally over. It took a lot of work, but I'm happy I was able to do this for you for your 1-year birthday.