Vintage Hot Air Balloon Party...

We wanted to have the family over before we left (moved out of Arizona to Kentucky) and Brody's third b-day was coming up so I pretty much threw it all together in one big shindig.  It was a month earlier than his actual birthday so I'm pretty sure he's confused about this whole birthday thing.  Presents have lost a bit of their special...ness.  Seeing is it was a going-away/Brody-birthday-party I was a little selfish on the theme and didn't ask B what he would've wanted (and anyway it would've ended up being a Max and Ruby party- which in my defense, isn't exactly in all the party stores).  Vintage Hot Air Balloon it was.  "Vintage" because I came across the hot air balloon images/turned cupcake toppers) and went with them.  And "hot air balloons" more symbolically since we were soon "taking off".  I'm pretty deep and everything...

I also incorporated an atlas I had in most all of the decorations... since... again...moving.  This feels like old news to me but here it is:  (you'll notice there is not a woman's touch to this party at all;)

The invite I made via photoshop and just emailed to the fam (Bahaha):

The colors were going to be orange, light blue, and yellow (inspired by the candles I bought at Sprinkles)... but thanks to the drinking straws red got thrown in, brown, white, green, pink (thank you strawberry frosting).  So there ended up not really being one.

Sigh.... I already miss our family.

Other things to note:

-i'm pretty legit and stuff since I made those photo booth props.  ME!

(well i guess i made everything at this party. quintuple legit)

-didja notice my mason jar collection?  They come from jam I buy... who can resist those cute handles?

-we didn't mow our lawn or pull our weeds... it added to the shabby effect :p

-paper straws are so hot right now

-that frosting was the shiz... maybe I'll tell you where I found it

-brown paper packages tied up with string. told you I'd do it.  And now you have a song stuck in your head. sucker.

Here's a clip of the party as it was winding down... just because (when am i NOT posting videos now).  For some reason Tony cracks me up in it.  I did it mostly to show the awesome piano music we had playing on my record player the whole time.  Gah!  Can't wait to listen to it again (I'm in D.C.!!)  Be back to catch up on everything else...soon (;

three

Happy Birthday today to my sweet little man, Brody!!

Where do I even begin, Brody?  You have taught me so much.  So much.  Your latest lesson to me was, "be happy mommy!.... SMILE!!!"  If I get a little down it doesn't last long with my sweet Brody teaching me to forget my troubles and to just-smile.  All you ever want is to see people smiling... happy.  I've taught you how to say please and thank you but you teach me even greater lessons.  I couldn't be more grateful to be your mommy.  You call me mom now mostly- I guess that means I'm growing up too.

My baby is three years old (even though you always tell me, "i'm not a baby!").  Seems like just yesterday I saw you for the first time.  It was the most amazing moment of my life up to that point.  And then there's me, a three year old mom.  So many what-if's or should've-done-betters, on my part.  But I wouldn't change a thing- I've learned a lot!  Thank you for always loving me and needing me- even while I'm learning how to be the best mom I can be:)

Looking back on these little videos since you were born made me super emotional- the reality of passing time hit me and I just want life to slow down!  I miss those times when you were learning to crawl and then walk... or when you learned how to give kisses.  But even though I miss those times, I'm excited for all the years ahead.  The last three years have been so wonderful.  I'm in constant awe at you!  I hope you know and feel my love for you... and of course, as you've been taught- don't forget the love Heavenly Father has for you.  You are amazing and special, I love you so very very much.... happy third birthday sweetheart.

our three day drive

I was not really looking forward to the drive out to Kentucky.  I was actually pretty much dreading it.  But suprisingly to me it went well!  In fact it was actually fun!  My boys were so good only a few fits and tears but I think since Brody is getting older he is more reasonable about stuff like this (at least he was better than last year and this was a longer drive by far- times it by two).  Could've been that we told him he'd find his "James" train in Kentucky so he was pretty excited everyday when we said we were getting closer.  I'm so glad Hyrum has been liking little toys lately- made the drive a lot more bearable for him (and us).  

Here are a few little things from the drive:

1. pretty arizona (and goodbye)

2. it was SO WINDY everywhere we went! (that was New Mexico)

3. Brody

4. St. Louis- last day of driving.  We were going to stop at the Arch but wanted to just be done! (I've already been to it anyway;)

5. Tony getting out of a ticket with his Iphone (we had an expired insurance card in the car but it really is current- so he pulled it up online. (thank you VERIZON for service in the middle of nowhere!)

6. St. Louis had bridges everywhere

7. Brody at our last hotel stay... he asked for a backpack for his birthday and loves it (I still need to blog about his party- we had it a month early)

8. I call him "happy hyrum"  it's true.

9. more St. Louis- arch in background

10. cool very old houses were seen

11. Tony happy as ever- I think he was also happy that he was able to weasel out of TWO tickets (we got pulled over twice in one hour- bored cops or something;)

12. we ate our weight in fast food- literally.

I'm so excited for this new adventure we are on...

I love my family.

Oh... and enjoy this video of all the well, videos I took on the road. (: (and at the end you'll get a preview of our new house!)

Brody really did sing that song over and over- still does (;

An especial thank you to my in-laws who drove our U-haul truck (complete with car dolly and car hitched to it.)  Couldn't have survived without them helping us!

I can't believe our whole world fits into a 24 foot truck :p