Tag: Birthday Party

Let’s Party Like It’s Ellie’s First Birthday!

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Its Ellie’s First Birthday and its time to party! It was actually a small celebration with close family and friends but fun was had by all. Ellie seemed a little overwhelmed by all of the people in her house, but she warmed up eventually. Shaun and I had planned to have people enjoy our patio as well as the house, but unfortunately the day turned out to be a scorcher! Nearly 100 degrees! We still BBQed, but most of the party stayed inside where the AC was going full blast. Thank goodness we kept things small otherwise no one would have fit in the house!


It is very obvious that there is a lot of love for our girls. Ellie was given a lot for her birthday, including a handmade hat from Jackie Escobar. Her hat matched her birthday dress perfectly and Ellie looked adorable in it.


Birthday cake time was a blast. Ellie wore her birthday hat, well… just for a moment. When the cake was first brought out, Ellie went straight for the candles and of course looked around at us like we were nuts for singing. We werent that bad! But once the candles were blown out it didnt take long for Ellie’s fingers to find her way to the cake. Once she realized that it was ok to tough the cake, she was all over it. It didnt take long before the cake was demolished and all over Ellie. Abby, Emily and Harrison helped a little too and snuck a taste when they could.







After cake was done, it was time for presents. Once again it was obvious how much Ellie is loved. She recieved a lot of beautiful things from clothes to toys and a few cute dolls. Ellie played a lot and loved her presents, even though she had no interest in them as we opened them. She was more interested in a puzzle that Abby had received from Grandma Zoe. Boy, was she great at that puzzle!


While it was a hot day and a small party we all had a wonderful time. My parents made it all the way from Montana and had the chance to see some people they had not seen in quite some time. Friends and family talked, laughed and had a wonderful time. It was yet another successful birthday party!

Party Like Its Abby’s 2nd Birthday

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What a wonderful birthday for our little girl. Today Abby celebrated her birthday with family and a few friends. Shaun and I decided that instead of having a huge party for her we would do something small and take her to Disneyland the next day.

Abby had a great time hanging out with Grandpa and Nana and her Grandma Zoe as well as her Uncle James and his girlfriend Sammy. The Guerreros joined us as well and Abby had a fun time playing with Harrison. Harrison on the other hand was smitten with Sammy and wouldn’t leave her side. He was heart broken when it was time to go home. I hated to see him so sad but his crush on Sammy was very cute.

Stealing from Harrison’s plate… Im not sure that Harrison knew what to do with this aggressive little girl.

The food was yummy, and the cake even yummier! I made it myself and it was certainly fun trying to do that. I have learned a thing or two for next time but I think in the end her cake turned out great. Her plates and decorations matched it… kind of. This year Abby had a great time blowing out candles and laughed hysterically as people sang Happy Birthday to her. She loved the attention understood it a little bit more. On her first birthday she seemed a little creeped out by the fact that everyone was standing around her, staring and singing. What a difference a year makes! Although her process of consuming her cake was pretty similar to last year. What a messy little girl.

Abby’s Birthday Cake made by yours truly… No she is not 4 I just wanted Abby to have fun blowing out candles.

MMMMMM… CAKE! Not much has changed in a year has it?

Grandma and Grandpa Taylor and her Auntie J had the chance to watch her blow out her candles via web cam, which I know made their day. Even though they are not close to us they still had the chance to be a part of Abby’s special day.

After cake, Abby opened up her birthday presents. She opened her cards, kind of and then tore through her gifts. The clothing she received was given an “OHHH CUTE!” as she opened them and of course her attention was lost on toys, wrapping paper, boxes and more. Abby is a very lucky girl and will be well dressed for that matter. What a great birthday!

Being a good girl and opening her cards first… kind of.

Surrounded by wrapping paper and the remnants of some great birthday presents, now strewn about our deck.

Hau`oli Lā Hānau Emily!

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The Wharton’s were invited to another fun birthday party this weekend. Well, its more like Abby is the popular one. You know, come to think of it… She isnt even two yet and she has been invited to more parties then Shaun and I have. Not sure what to say about that. Today was Emily’s 2nd birthday and Abby was definitely ready to get her hula on.

From what I have been told, Emily is obsessed with Lilo and Stitch and after a trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, where she saw hula dancers, she loves to hula as well. As if this isnt cute enough, Jackie and Emerson have taught her to dance and sing Don Ho’s “Tiny Bubbles”. What a crack up. Therefore it only seemed fitting for her birthday party to have a luau theme! Even better, her birthday cake looked exactly like the cake from Lilo and Stitch!

The party was a blast and despite the heat, Abby played until she couldnt play anymore. As I thought, the girls spent a lot of their time near the “refreshment pool” trying to eat the ice when mommy and daddy werent looking. They were inside and out, haveing a blast. The icing on the cake though, were the dancers that came to perform. They were great and really… it was the birthday girl that stole the show. Emily got right up there and danced with them! Abby somewhat followed suit, although she was very interested in showing everyone a deflated balloon she found too. Harrison came over as well and he had fun playing with one of their dolphin pool toys. He was so cute because to him, it looked like a shark and he kept calling him Bruce from Finding Nemo. As things calmed down, Emily, Abby and Harrison all played together. It was such a fun day!

Abby and Emily “chatting it up” as we first arrive. Love her little hula outfit!

Emily with the dancers who are dressed in their Tahitian costumes. She was ready to dance!

Emily is born to hula! Someone get this girl to the Big Island already!

Oh boy… two two year olds armed with wooden sticks. This could either be really funny or a tad bit scary. Maybe a little of both perhaps?

Keeping cool on a very hot August day with some popsicles… yummy!

Lost in balloons… This kept him happy for quite some time!

Abby is ready for candy combat. Let the sugar rush commence!

Happy Birthday Harrison!

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Happy 2nd Birthday Harrison!
Today was a gorgeous day to celebrate a birthday! Harrison’s 2nd Birthday. Abby was very excited to go because it meant she got to play at the park and the park means swings. She also had the chance to play with Emily and Harrison and let me tell ya its been a while since they have been able to do that! I had a feeling it was going to be a great day.

Boy was I right! Abby had a blast and let me tell you the nap that she took after this fun filled day was a good one. That party was fun and relaxed, which allowed the kids to play and do what they wanted. I love parties like this! Emily and Abby ran around like they were old friends, talking in a language no adult knows, spending a lot of time playing in the little pool where all the ice and drinks were and chasing bubbles produced by the coolest bubble machine ever. Abby, as usual, spent a lot of time on the swings and finally learned to let go of the sides of the slide. In all of this we were introduced to a new park that I know we will be spending a lot of time at in the future. Ellie enjoyed the day as well, sleeping and being fed in the shade of a beautiful tree. It was a glorious day and a wonderful birthday party!

Enjoying the party the only way she knows how… by sleeping

Abby loves the swings… not sure you can tell though.

The handsome birthday boy!

Marching around… these two were a riot!

Taking a much needed hydration break… She is such a character!

Finally… NO HANDS!

Fun Filled But Relaxing Weekend….

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This past weekend was fun and packed with plenty to do, but relaxing all at the same time. Is that actually possible? Or is it just that it wasn’t quite as busy as the last few months so it seemed relaxing? Who knows, but it was fun and certainly enjoyable. I know that despite still having a bit of a cold, Abby had fun as well!


On Saturday the three of us headed to Chase’s First Birthday Party. I cant believe he is one! The party was a fun Pirates theme and the weather that day certainly gave us the feeling of a tropical island. Unfortunately it was about 89 degrees in Camarillo and just as humid! Because Abby was still recovering from the sniffles we couldn’t stay long as the heat was bothering her too much. We did have the chance however, to watch Chase enjoy his birthday cake and watch a very cute slide show that Stephanie, Chase’s Aunt and my friend, had made. Boy oh boy do they grow fast. I think the one thing that Abby enjoyed most about the party was the watermelon… Yummy! Its no surprise considering that the one thing I craved the most when I was pregnant with her.


When we left the party, Shaun and I decided to head out to Ventura where it was definitely cooler and enjoy some time at the Harvest Festival. Abby had the chance to nap a bit, Shaun and I had the chance to eat and we certainly found some great things to take home with us. I have to say most of it was food related! Dips, Jerky, Tea and Cocoa mix. And its all very yummy too! We had a great time, cooled off and enjoyed the nice ocean breeze. It was also nice to enjoy something that I used to do every year with my parents and sister when I was younger.


After leaving the Harvest Festival, Shaun decided it would be nice to take a drive along the coast up to Santa Barbara and then head home. Abby passed out the minute we started driving and the sun was close to setting. What a beautiful drive! Its the scenes like that one below that remind me why we moved back to California. It was a perfect sunset and a wonderful drive. It didnt hurt to stop at Fosters Freeze for some ice cream and then Ottavio’s in Camarillo for dinner. A perfect end to a lovely day!


Sunday was relaxed and time was spent visiting. Grandma Pat had been in town since Abby’s party and we wanted to see her before she had to head back to Pocatello, Idaho. After shopping for Abby’s Halloween Costume (thats a secret until Halloween) we went to Mary and Tom’s to visit with Great-Grandma Pat, Mary, Tom, Grandpa, Nana, Uncle James and his girlfriend Samantha. Time was spent chatting away and just enjoying each others company. Abby tried her hand at walking… but it didnt quite happen. She was however, fascinated by Grandpa and his ability to blow bubbles with his gum.

Another great weekend! Busy but enjoyable… I am sure I look forward to the week ahead!

Abby’s First Birthday Party Invite

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Birthday Parties!! Who doesn’t love a birthday party!! Today we were invited to celebrate a first birthday and it was Abby’s first official birthday invitation. The Guerrero’s, who are friends of ours had their little boy, Harrison, only a few months before we had Abby… on August 8th to be exact. Today was his 1st Birthday celebration and we had a wonderful time!

Harrison’s party was in Calabasas at the park on Lost Hills and Los Virgenes. It was a warm day, but the Guerrero’s had it all covered, including covered seating! The party had a Sesame Street theme and Abby seemed to love that, especially the jolly jump that matched. Unfortunately she is a little too small for something like that, but she sure enjoyed watching all of the kids inside! When we arrived we found the birthday boy making his rounds with Byron and Erika. The two of them were so cute in their Elmo and Cookie Monster t-shirts!

We enjoyed watching everyone play and Abby enjoyed some of her special treats for the day. Shaun gave her a cinnamon and sugar cookie, which she loved and ate like crazy and she had some juice to wash that down with. After we sang to Harrison and he had the chance to make a mess with his cake (managed to get Byron with a full fist of cake) Abby was given an adorable cookie monster cupcake. She loved it! Abby loved the actual cupcake and ate some of the frosting! What a mess, but what fun!

The day was very special and we had a wonderful time! I have to give Erika some major credit! I wish I had taken a picture of Harrison’s cake because it was amazing. Shaun and I made sure to ask where they got it… ideas for Abby maybe? When we asked, we found out that they didn’t buy it… Erika made it!!! The cake was delicious and it looked like a professional cake! Great job on that one… you certainly had us fooled!

All in all it was a wonderful day and Abby seemed to enjoy her first friends birthday party! And so did we!