calling all superheros

my favorite from the day, photo booth fun

the inspiration was nathan. he told us he wanted a superhero party, so that's what we did. we asked him which superhero specifically + he said, "SUPER NATE!" with enthusiasm!  this helped us to decide that we would highlight each kiddo's inner superhero.

the invitations

favor bags/ gift table + superhero entrance

my mom made a sign like this every birthday...love carrying on this tradition

decorations were simple + easy. a blue + red color palette + the kids' capes highlighting the backyard party with bright, vibrant colors. everything was handmade, from the invitations + decorations to the photo booth + capes. 

each kiddo got a personalized cape

mask making station

yummy + healthy snacks

we made sure to have the party at 1pm so that we didn't have to feed everyone a true meal, we just offered a few yummy snacks + drinks 

nathan gearing up for his party

handmade photo booth props

nate + daddy having fun in the photo booth

superheros taking over the backyard

the lab's truck backing in was almost as exciting as what was inside

to entertain these superheros we hired, the lab @ lakewood/ play dallas. everyone (parents included) really seemed to enjoy building + creating with the oversized blocks. the lab @ lakewood is definitely one of our favorite local companies! (might have to talk to Melissa about doing a feature soon) 

nathan building away

it was a great day for everyone!

a special thank you to my sister + bryant for coming in town. my parents were out of town (in italy), so having my sister around to help was amazing! she took nathan that morning for a special birthday lunch, which gave brian + i time to set up + get ready, uninterrupted. thank you also to all of our friends who came to celebrate + stayed late to clean up + open presents together. we love you all!

tired + hot faces at the party

cookie time with the birthday boy

nathan is not a fan of cake, so cookies is the way we go for birthday parties. i called upon mama jud's cookies. she is the mom of an old friend/ co-worker + makes the most unbelievable cookies. they not only look exactly how i imagined, but they taste wonderful! if you are in the area + need decorative themed cookies, call mama jud.

nathan, 

it is so hard to believe you are already a three-year-old. we love watching you grow + watching your personality take shape. you are a very sweet boy. cautious in everything you do. you tell amazing, imaginative stories + are the funniest kid we know. you truly are our best friend. we love you big boy. we are so proud of who you are. always + forever, mommy + daddy

happy birthday allison.

i am not sure how many of you have a sister, but if you don't i feel very bad for you. 

while ours hasn't always been the perfect relationship + is still far from that, it is a special one. 

i know she can attest that i have not always been the easiest person to grow up with. i am a very emotional + stubborn person, those personality traits don't always mix well.

 every joke + comment i took straight to heart in my younger years.  while im being honest there are still some days i am a little more sensitive than others. only now my sister doesn't have to deal with those days. instead she helps me move through those days quickly + with grace. 

allison is beautiful, smart, + driven. she is passionate about her friends + family.  she is trust worthy + caring. i am very proud of her. i don't always tell her that, instead i think i sometimes give her greif for being so far away (NYC),  but i am very proud of all the drive she has in what she does.  she has worked very hard to get where she is + deserves the wonderful life she is living. we just miss her. 

we hope you had an unbelievable thirtieth birthday on saturday. i sure wish we could have been there celebrating along side you. keep celebrating, we will be there in the fall.

al, thank you for always being there when i've needed you lately. when mom is gone or impossible to get a hold of, you are my fill in mom.  thank you for making special trips to dallas just because you miss us or for nathan's birthday. thank you for being there the most through one of the hardest/ scariest times of my life three years ago. you talked to me every night until you got here and helped calm me down and told me everything was going to be okay. thank you for being my family in that moment, thank you for no judgement, thank you for keeping everyone calm around me. i hope i can pay you back for that week in some way, someday.

so maybe we don't have the picture perfect sister relationship, but i love how we are + wouldn't change having you as a sister for the world.  i love you. 

birthday love

the day is finally here. tonight we celebrate my birthday with a fiesta!

here's a little tune that gets me in the party mood:

i will have DIY's and posts about the party up this week and next. 

hope you are enjoying your weekend!

xx

a little mexican fiesta

as my 26th birthday approaches (the end of this month, incase you want to send me something *ha) i get into an excited planning mode! i have no problem at all throwing my own birthday party- with brian's help of course. i think i was a party/event planner in another life (maybe a new ten year plan for me?) we have been loving having friends over to our new house, so any excuse to throw a party is a-okay with me! 

a party i have been longing to throw, but have never had the chance is a mexican fiesta! i love being able to decorate with bright, bold colors (perfect for spring!) + if queso + margaritas are involved it would be birthday perfection!

my plan so far is to make spicy pulled pork tacos (if you have a great recipe- please share), guacamole, + queso. easy, right? 

for decorations, i want to make bright colored pinwheels + those huge colorful flowers , to tape behind the food table and out back on the fence. the perfect photo backdrop.

i also love the idea of using cans for the flowers, i might have to head to fiesta mart soon and get some cans of tomatos to start cooking with. 

if you are a reader of Luella + June + follow bradley on instagram, you might have seen her engagement party involving a tequila donkey, this was very inspiring! we will definitely have a tequila + margarita bar at the party. a night at home without kids + without having to drive anywhere, you better believe i'll be having a few drinks to welcome my 26th year. 

now it is time to get creating!

photos via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

happy birthday

happy birthday uncle mark.

there isn't a day that goes by when i dont think of you

we all miss + love you so much. 

celebrate in heaven with a long ride.