Turning Two.

Last Sunday was Oliver's 2nd Birthday Party/Housewarming.

We ended up with 30 family and friends coming to our new house to share the day with us. Graham had to work in the morning, but was fortunate enough to be able to make it home 15 mins before party time. He was still in his Chef coat when he arrived and I put him straight to work finishing up the food...I had the carnitas in the oven, the beans cooking and was franctically cleaning the house and the boys. Oliver needed a bath before, but he decided to paint with poo after breakfast which meant not only a bath, but a scrubbing of his body and the chair/tray...yuck! It's not helpful that he has once again decided he hates baths...my old tricks don't work and he doesn't listen to me, that if he just went with the flow it would go faster and he wouldn't get water in his face...

Anyway, guests started arriving a little before 1pm as i finished the final touches...I wouldn't have been able to get as much as i got done if it wasn't for Dad coming to help both Saturday AND Sunday! Once Graham got home, he finished the beans, started the rice, made the salsa and chopped the components for my guacamole (he doesn't have the right touch to actually make it....)

An old friend from my childhood is now a photographer and we agreed awhile back on trading our talents...She documented the party as well as FINALLY took some family photos for us. Here are some of my favorite:

The rest can be viewed on our Family Share site here.

Cake Pops.

A former co-worker of mine from Columbia started making these. We got 2 flavors, Smores, Marshmallow icing, chocolate cake, dipped in chocolate dusted with Graham crackers and Timeout, confetti cake with vanilla buttercream dipped in white chocolate and sprinkles.

When she dropped them off on Saturday, I was surprised at their size. For some reason I had it in my head that they would be more cupcake size and realized that I only had enough for 30 people to have 2 each. So I bought an inexpensive sheet cake at Fred Meyer that just happened to be the perfect colors and the perfect place to put Oliver's candle.

 

Pumpkins Mom grew and wrote their names on.

Deep in play.

Allison, Eliot & Zoey

(Oliver was the only boy at his party...)

Baby Amelia

(our next door neighbors are expecting a little girl on Christmas Day.)

Our new neighbors, Kent & Megan.

 

 

Henri Ham.

5 Months old.

Happy Birthday to you....

 

 

 

 

 

Cousin Zoey.

 

After presents, we headed over to the park. Some family came along and the kids got to play while Mommy finally got family portraits taken, no matter how badly the Birthday Boy didn't want them to be.

The first shot, not too bad...

Meltdown.

Kid switch and Smiles.

Oliver pushing Allison on his new bike.

pep talk?

Caught 'em!

Motivational talk.

Reeling him in...

Holding Tight.

You'd never know....

Slipping away...

 

 

 

Graham's Dos Equis Commercial...

 

Headed home...