Pirates and Mermaids Party

It was so much fun planning this party! So much to do for Pirates, and Mermaid ideas are just too cute these days!

Sadie was turned 2 and Dean turned 5 so we had a joint party that would work for both ages and both girls and boys, too!
 
Invites went out in a hurry as I had a "woah it is two weeks away" moment and we were going out of town! I had the design complete and had just taken pictures in a rush the day before so I just grabbed the only one with them both smiling and slapped it on the back. I like providing our family and friends a photo on the back of our invites every year. It is something they can hang on to and put on their fridge if they want!
 
The Pirate Table included pirate chest full of loot, "Fish and Chips" (ruffles and gold fish), gold doubloons (gold sprayed oreos), and pirate punch! Had to make our own pirate flag because i wasn't about to pay $30-$40 for one!
The Mermaid Table included Seaweed Dip (spinach dip), oyster cookies, and sea water (just regular water) with rock candy, forks and straws to look like coral. My sister with my mom's help did an awesome job with the balloons and streamer background! We had planned on a net of balloons but the net fell through.  

 
Activities include playing in the pirate hide-out, digging for buried treasure, pirate bounce on the trampoline, under the sea ball pit, and a treasure hunt of course! 






 
Here is the board I used to collect ideas in my planning process. Some I used; some I didn't.

Pumpkin Birthday for Dean's 4th and Sadie's 1st

I had been wanting to do a fall themed party since we had Dean, and now that we had two parties to celebrate it was the easiest theme I could think of that was fitting for a girl or a boy. When I saw the trend of the black and white stripes with gold glitter and flowers, I new I had to do that to make it girly for my princess! I made backdrops out of old scrap fencing I found and cut and painted foam board for their names.

 Hayride to the "pumpkin patch", and they picked their own pumpkin, bucket, to take home! The Great Pumpkin had their little treat bags.

 They decorated their very own pumpkins to take home.

 The pumpkins were set up and ready on the kids tables with their plate and cup with napkin and straw.

 Snacks included a this puppy chow, cupcakes shaped like pumpkins, sandwiches, and pumpkin cheese ball.

We borrowed some hay bales that really topped off the look. Even made the old cable spoil a table with hay bales as seats.

 I wanted separate invites so I could have some just for Dean's friends. Didn't want to make anyone feel obligated to buy gifts for both.

 I love having pictures for their invites, even thought it is a chore to get them done in time. I love that I can send these to family and they at least get an updated picture of them once a year. :)

Here is the board I used to collect ideas in my planning process. Some I used; some I didn't.

Sadie 6 Months

We had pictures take to mark Sadie's 6 months, and we got a few of Dean and the full family too!

Christmas 2014

Breakfast with Santa!  Sadie was completely comfortable with Santa!

 Sadie followed in her brother's footsteps as baby Jesus in the Church Christmas Program!

 So much fun at the parade! Until the rain came that is. :)

Sadie's baby dedication at the Christmas Eve candlelight service.