Grace's Gingerbread House Decoarting 4th Birthday Party

This past weekend we celebrated Grace's 4th birthday. Four?!? 

Next year she'll be an entire hand!!! How is that possible??

Anyway, I decided months...MONTHS I TELL YOU...ago that a gingerbread decorating party was going to be the theme...

for several reasons.

1. Grace LOVED decorating gingerbread houses and cookies last year. I figured she'd only find it more fun this year!

2. Who doesn't love decorating gingerbread houses...or as I like to call the activity..."eating candy"?!?

3. I came across this site...in particular her gingerbread house embroidery...and fell in love.

SO MUCH SO that I taught myself how to hand embroider and made this!

And thus a theme was born!!

Now, while I usually don't like to mix Christmas stuff with birthday stuff...I made an exception. 

I figured that Grace is too little to understand all this and that this might be the last year I could mix the two "holidays" without her understanding. It would make decorating easier as I have Christmas crap coming out the ying yang...and at this time of year?? Everyone can use something going a little bit easier...am I right?! 

So without further ado, Grace's 4th birthday party!

We invited only family to keep things small and personal. 

Even with a relatively small guest list, our "relatively small" home posed a challenge in hosting such a party. As we anticipated guests coming from out of town, we always like to include dinner, drinks - THE WORKS! - in order to make their travels worth while. 

Hosting a dinner party and providing seating - all in the shadow of our Christmas tree - doesn't allow space for much else. Sooo we transformed Grace's bedroom into the gingerbread room!

Complete with tree,

candy wreaths,

hand made decorations AND

all this!
Everything came together to get everyone in the mood to decorate gingerbread houses!

Our kitchen table was moved to Grace's room for the gingerbread house decorating and Grace's dresser became the dessert table. I hung the embroidery over the dessert table...it was the inspiration after all!

Each child got their own house to decorate made out of graham crackers. Originally, I was going to make gingerbread from scratch...but I quickly ran out of time. Then, I was going to at least make the frosting to glue all the crackers together. That proved to be too much. So I took the easy {lazy} route and hot glued them together! While the kids wouldn't be able to eat their houses - who really eats the house anyway? - it made the whole process a snap!!

I couldn't resist making a little house myself!

  

Well, I actually made it to test a theory. I didn't want to make frosting and put it in bags. Again, I wanted to take the easy route and buy store bought frosting tubes.

Everything I read online said that store bought frosting wouldn't work. It wouldn't harden and therefore the candies wouldn't stick.

FYI. Frosting out of the tube works fine!

Just fine!

Aside from frosting tubes and their own gingerbread house, each child received a little chef's hat and an apron! Just to get them into the spirt of decorating...and to save everyone's clothes!

I didn't get any great pictures of the aprons...at least the ruffle-y part...but here's an "after" picture of Charlotte's apron.

The tops of the aprons had an image of the little gingerbread house I embroidered.

Have a told you I love a theme?!?! :)

The birthday girl had a special hat made for her

as well as a special cake topper that I am certain will be treasured each and every Christmas to come!

Both were made by Patricia Minish - a gem to work with!

Total cuteness!

The gingerbread house decorating was so fun! For everyone!

It was neat to see the creativity and concentration of each child.

Charlotte wouldn't wear her hat but she was more than happy to decorate her gingerbread house...

and eat her weight in candy!!!

I'm NOT kidding!

I have 'no idea' where she gets her sweet tooth! haha

I knew that decorating gingerbread houses would be fun for the kids...but I didn't realize how fun it would be for the mothers, 

grandmothers,

and great grandmothers!! It truly was a family affair!

What were all the men folk doing you ask?

Eating, drinking and being merry of course....all while Court - bless his soul - got dinner ready!

Dinner was served at tables that I tried to make as birthday-y as possible.

AGAIN I didn't get a picture of the table! I MUST make a mental note for next time! 

But each place setting had some festive utensils and a "goodie bag" that included a sugar cookie and chocolate gingerbread men.

The kids finished dinner lickity split...their tummies full of candy no doubt! So they watched "The Grinch" while the adults finished dinner. 

Love watching these kids grow up together! Aren't they sweet?

And yes, that is Grace...fast asleep...at her birthday party!

I think asking 3,254 times earlier that day when her party would start finally took it's toll!

Not the best picture but you can kind of see the birthday skirt I made for Grace - and by accident - for Charlotte! 

Waking up Grace was pretty easy - considering we had this cake

to lure her with!

We sang Happy Birthday...


and then it was showtime!

"Prez-nets!!" as Grace says.

Grace was one lucky birthday girl!

Princesses and Barbies and stickers and Gracie dolls...

...a fish from Mommy and Daddy...

The fish was a big hit...now we just need to keep him alive!

Soon, the festivities began to wind down and soon it was time for our guests to leave.

The kids carried their gingerbread houses home in little gable boxes I decorated to look like the inspirational embroidery! 

One last surprise for the kids!

 I made an ornament for all the kids....

 each personalized with his or her name! 

So, so, so MUCH fun! It was a fun party to pull together and a fun party to watch the kids enjoy!

If December was a less hectic month, I think I would host a gingerbread decorating party every year!

A big thank you to our family members for attending Grace's birthday party. Family, school and work commitments add up quickly this time of year. Thank you for prioritizing Grace's big day. It does not go unnoticed and it certainly does not go unappreciated.

Never a Dull Moment in December...Business Party

We attend Court's business holiday party every year...with the girls.

The last few years they haven't lasted too long.

This year they were pretty excited and stayed relatively late...long enough to get some chocolate cake! (Those sneaky devils!)

 I think they liked seeing their Dad up front talking. They even joined him up there for a bit!

It was a fun evening. Chatting, mingling and reflecting on the completion of another season.

Oh so thankful for his hard work

and that of so many others!

Elfie

Elfie starts out pretty clever every year. Hiding in all sorts of places.

The favorite spot this year - the bubble bath.

The least favorite spot? Barbie's car.

Grace didn't like Elfie being in the car because 

then she couldn't play with the car for fear of touching Elfie. 

We removed Elfie from the driver's seat with some tongs and all was well!

Did Elfie hide in any particularly great spots this year? 

Please share...Elfie's gonna need a lot of help (and reminders) next year!

Birthday Wrap Up and a Sneak Peek

If you didn't know, it's December!!

I know...already?!?

Ready or not here it comes!!

Anyway, we kick off our holiday season when our trusty elf, Elfie, visits us from the North Pole. He kicks off his stay with a delicious North Pole Breakfast on December 1 and so here are just a few sneak peak pictures of what we woke up to on Saturday morning!

Grace STILL talks about our North Pole breakfast from 2011 so she was thrilled when Elfie returned...with her favorite breakfast treats! Donuts of course!

I'll be back with more of our special tradition soon!

Uploading the pictures as I type!!

Also, over the weekend Court and I were able to get away for a couple of special reasons.

First, my birthday was yesterday and I had a GREAT day!

Probably the best birthday in my 30s!

Secondly, we were able to sneak away to Seattle without the girls to celebrate! 

We had a fabulous dinner out on Saturday night where my steak was cooked perfectly, the wine was smooth and the dessert was free (and DELICIOUS!!)

Following dinner, we went to an 80's Christmas Party hosted by GREAT friends!

I {almost} felt young again!

Can't wait for everyone to share their pictures! 

So, so fun!

I slept in on Sunday to a whopping 8:30 am - might as well have been noon in my book!

I got to hit Nordstrom and get my makeup done...something I desperately needed to do!

Molly joined me so I even got in a little sister-shopping time!

Best!!

After our shopping session, Court and I grabbed lunch and RACED back to Yakima where we were meeting our girls and their grandparents at a Christmas Symphony spectacular. 

We BARELY made it!

Court was racing through snow covered passes and I when I got dropped off a block away I literally ran through the streets to make it to the theater on time.

We were sweating bullets but slipped in just as they were closing the doors!

PHEW!

And so, so, so glad we made it!

The girls were darling in their Christmas outfits and so, so, so happy to see us!

They sat and snuggled on our laps throughout the performance.

It was THE BEST birthday gift!

I must admit - I teared up a bit during the performance.

I am hard on myself that while once a lawyer I am now just a "lowly stay at home mom."

Yes, I was disenchanted - to say the least- about practicing law but there are times where I think to myself I could be more. I should be more.

But in those moments of snuggles with my girls, while the sounds of violins and flutes playing my favorite holiday tunes swirled as I sat next to a husband who had raced against the elements to get us there {safely} - the whole world stood still...

 and was perfect.

I was overwhelmed with satisfaction at knowing I was where I needed to be, where I wanted to be and where I was SO lucky to be.

Thank you to everyone who made yesterday SO special.

Kid Free and and Fancy Free

So our good friends hosted an 80s Christmas party last night. This used to be an annual thing before we all started getting married, having kids and getting jobs - ie respsonsibility set in.

Somehow the stars and the moon were perfectly aligned because Court and I were able to attend! To make this event even more spectacular we were able to leave the kids with Court's parents the night of the party, make the drive to Seattle (where the party was held), go out to a fabulous dinner for my birthday AND then do this....

[Honestly, I can't believe I am posting these pictures but it was so much fun and the best birthday I've had in years...I just want to be able to remember it many, many years from now.]

Check out my shirt. Magnum PI.

Boom!

This bottle of rum brings back memories for me, Court and a couple of other hooligans we used to run around with in law school.

Court was going for the Miami vice look. I think he nailed it!

I was just totally random and hoping Tom Selleck was enough! Not sure what I was trying to do with my hair!

While we were getting primped for our party, this is what our girls were up to!

When they are happy, I am happy.

When I am happy I tend to get a little tipsy...

and a little immature!

Felt good to just let everything go for a few hours and forget some of the responsibilities of life.

Here we all are in 2012 - post kids.

And here we are back in 2007 (?) - before kids.

Court threw my rad turquoise one piece get up away years ago without telling me.

I could have killed him! Where will I ever find something as tubular?!?

So much fun!

North Pole Breakfast {2012}

The Second Annual North Pole Breakfast kicked off bright and early this morning!

Elfie, our little shelf on the elf, comes on the first day of December 

to help us countdown the days until Christmas!

From what Elfie told me, he arrived very early that morning. Around 4 am...so I hear.

To set things up and get the cocoa and donuts ready!

Charlotte was the first to rise.

It didn't take her long to realize what was happening...and to find the donuts!

Grace woke up not long after.

These photos crack me up!

Surprise and delight all masked in sleepiness.

But she was wide awake upon spotting the donuts!

The treats and hot cocoa kept their attention for quite awhile.

They then started to notice other goodies Elfie had brought.

A special mailbox only for Elf communication. 

Elfie had brought a note to each of the girls...

...Elfie had a lot to say!

Along with a note, Elfie brought an advent calendar...the kind with the chocolate! 

I loved these as a kid and so do the girls!

Elfie also brought back all of our favorite Christmas movies!

Elfie likes to watch the movies during his off season so he 

takes them back to the North Pole when he leaves. 

[Mom likes that the movies are out of the house so that they are only watched during the time of the year where it is special...and so mom doesn't lose her mind come July!] 

Charlotte drank her weight in hot cocoa

and was a bit more fixed on the candy than anything else 

Elfie had hauled all the way from the North Pole.

We quickly discovered that Charlotte LOVES candy canes...

and Grace does not.

As soon as everyone had had their fill, we sat down - still in our jammies - for our first 2012 viewing of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

It was a special morning....but still so far from over!!

The girls didn't know notice a few additions to our North Pole Breakfast tradition.

See the envelopes below?

A new advent calendar was introduced this year and it QUICKLY became a favorite!

Each day the girls were to each open an envelope.

Inside were little goodies - candy, stickers and some little ornaments for their own Christmas trees that Elfie brought. Elfie is one thoughtful guy!

It wasn't until after showers that Charlotte noticed the envelopes. 

We quickly opened the first one as we were on our way out the door to Grace's ballet rehearsal.

Some sweet candy garland from our sweet Elfie! 

Fingers crossed that these trees do the trick and keep curious fingers away from our real tree!

Can't wait to see what else Elfie has in store for us!

Happy advent season!