Loot bags for daycare

We are going to do an intimate party for your birthday with just family, but I want to make sure I have something prepared for your daycare as parents normally get a cake and loot bags prepared for all the kids. I don't want you to feel like we neglected your birthday this year. I got an idea of picking up zip bags from Ikea as they are prettier than the Ziploc-brand bags and stuffing it with dollar store goodies for your friends. 

I got all the names of your daycare classmates from your teacher so I made personalized labels
and stuck them on the top right-hand corner. I used purple for the girls and blue for the boys.

There was actually an Ikea logo on the top right-hand corner, but I made labels that were big
enough to cover the logo.

Unfortunately Ikea didn't have the same sized bags for the blue bags as the purple ones. So the blue
bags are a bit bigger.

Here's a close-up of the blue version.

More party décor

So I finished a few more things off my list for your birthday party. Here's what I've been working on so far:

I spray painted all the mason jar lids- mint green, pink, purple, white. I'm going to be filling these
jars with flavoured popcorn to give out as favours for all the guests.

Here's a close-up of the spray painted animals that I glued onto the lids.

I picked up votive candles and glass votive candle holders at Ikea yesterday. I taped washi tape
around the sides of the votive candles. I think it adds a nice dimension.

Here are the different votive candle designs.

Aren't they pretty?

My favourite is the floral print.

I'm going to put 2 candles to a table and the mason jar mug will be the flower holder.

For the flower I want to put fresh cut peonies. I picked these peonies at Whole Foods. I'm hoping
that I can still pick these up near your birthday date.

Peonies are one of my favourite flowers, if not my favourite :-)
I also love ranunculus.

Pictures of Kendall on manzanita branches

I've crossed another thing off my checklist for your birthday. Yay!

I wanted to do something to display your pictures at the party and I immediately thought of using my manzanita branch to do so. Initially I wanted to stick 2" round punches of your photos (that I got printed at Costco) on 2.75" scallop circled punches, but I couldn't find any at Michael's that were that size. Then, I found a package of wooden doilies that were on sale for $1.99 for a set of 3. I thought that these would make the perfect back drop to stick your photos on and hang it on the branches like an ornament. Well, I finished this project today and I'm really liking how it looks! I might change some of the photos to pictures of Aidan so that I can keep them on the branches after I'm done with the party.

Here's a close up.

I love how the doilies are different shapes and sizes. I was thinking of spray painting it in the colour
of your birthday colour scheme, but then I thought it would take away from the photos. It also
blends in nicely with the branch colour.

How cute are you in this pic!

And here is a far off view. It's much nicer in person.

Last Korean school class

Today was your last Korean school class. The teachers requested that all the students wear white shirts and blue jeans as I think they planned on getting all the kids to do a performance for the parents. Instead of dropping you off we stayed for service and the performance. I had no clue as to what the teachers had prepared so I was pretty excited.

Here's your outfit of the day.

You love going to Korean school. This was you in the car going to Korean school. 

Kendall was eating her seat belt as usual. This girl can't keep anything out of her mouth these days!

Getting ready for the performance.

Your friend Asher was not having a good day. He didn't even want to go up to the front and sit
with you and the other classmates. He didn't end up going on stage. I felt bad because Asher's
aunt came to see him perform.

The good news is that you went up on stage. The bad news? You stood there squinting your eyes
(you tend to do that when you are uncomfortable and shy) the whole time. People in the audience
actually laughed at you because they thought you were so funny squinting like that.

Asher's little brother, Austin, was being silly.

You were getting pretty cozy with one of the teachers.

In a better mood after we went to your class. The teachers wanted the kids to play while the
parents watched. They also handed out report cards. They said that you were shy at first, but
in the end you opened up.

Later in the evening we went to your Toronto grandparents' new business as they were throwing a grand opening party for their friends and family. I also wanted to finish some bits and bobs that I didn't get to finish the last time I was there. Here's what everything looks like now:

The finished shelving

I love the teal punches of colour

A different angle

I added a couple of candle holders and a new frame with a print that I added

A different angle

Here's my paper medallion frames

And here's a close-up

Sitting in Bumbo and constantly flipping

Daddy took Aidan out for breakfast this morning while he was running some errands so it was just you and me. I've got to say that you are one dream baby. You sleep early, wake up late, hardly cry and constantly smile. I'm truly blessed. Today I sat you in the Bumbo while I was checking some email in my office and you were just sitting there contently watching me. Your neck support is getting much better now. You can't sit it the Bumbo for too long, but your neck isn't snapping forward like it used to when I tried sitting you in the Bumbo a while ago.

Our 2013 calendar arrived in the mail today! We always order 4 copies- 1 for us, 1 for your
Toronto grandparents, 1 for Auntie Jane and 1 for your Vancouver grandparents.

I had to change your clothes this morning because you have a habit of spitting up milk right after I feed you. Here's a video of you flipping in your play pen. 

New blog layout!

So you may have noticed that the blog looks a little different today. I decided to change the blog up a bit since Kendall is arriving any day now. I decided to rename the Dear Aidan blog to Aidan & Kendall. I know it's not that original, but I couldn't think of anything better. I'll be slowly adding more cute elements to the page later on. Hope you guys like it!

Our couch came!

Our new leather sectional that we had ordered from Decorium came today. It's in a beautiful taupe-y gray colour called Mushroom. I absolutely love this couch. It matches our basement perfectly and it's so comfortable. We took you down to the basement after your nap and you were like, "Woah! A new chair!"

Here you are enjoying the new couch while watching TV. Oh, we also got a new TV for the basement.

Here's a video of you watching TV. We were watching the Blue Jays game against the Boston Red Sox. This was the game that your Toronto grandparents went to watch because we (the Han sisters) got them tickets a while back.

Jess' baby shower

Today was Auntie Jess' baby shower. Both Auntie Sara and I had planned a lot to make this day special for Auntie Jess. I'm still in awe how Jess is doing so well considering the circumstances. I hope that when Emma is born that she will know how much everyone loves her.

Emma Shin's banner. I made this for Jess so that she can use it to hang in Emma's nursery after she is born.

Jess and I had painted doilies to use instead of streamers. I think it turned out nice.
I used the colour scheme of Jess' baby shower- pink, yellow, and orange.

Here is Auntie Sara prepping the food to go on the table. We tried to make everything an hors d'oeuvres.

This is the wonton cups with smoked salmon, cream cheese, and chives.

These are endives with goat cheese, croutons, and bacon.

This was one of my favourites- french baguette with bocconcini, basil, and cherry tomatoes.

Who doesn't love sliders?

And here is the full table display. Pretty, no?

This is the dessert/candy station.

Auntie Sara made these delicious mini cupcakes. 

And see how everything looks in context.

I seriously think the Han sisters should go into a party planning business!

Another view of the banner.

You Toronto grandpa helped with some dishes as well. She made the sandwiches and the fruit platter.

I designed these flowers with lollipop middles to give out as favours for all the guests. Auntie Jess wrote personalized
notes for everyone and Auntie Sara helped me put these all together.

We had more desserts by the living room area.

Here are the game prizes. I picked these Pantone inspired cups at the Real Canadian Superstore for $2 each.
We stuffed these with candy and Auntie Jess wrapped it in cellophane and tied it with a ribbon and a flower.

Auntie Jess is talking to some of the guests.

Here's Ye-Ah. We knew her when she was in grade 6.
It's kind of amazing how she is now a mom. That's her son David.

Some more guests having fun and chatting.

After the gifts, Auntie Jess shed a tear while she was thanking everyone for coming. She basically was so thankful that
she was able to have a baby shower when the chances of her not carrying her baby to full term were so high.
Praise God!