Party Time!

Part of the excitement of celebrating a birthday around our house is actually figuring out what kind of party we will have.  This year, no great thoughts came to mind so pajama party it was.  In fact, it was a great idea!  Cara-Li enjoyed it tremndously!  10 girls for her 10th birthday!

Home made birthday banner in the party colours.



Potted veggies and dip.

Girls decorated their our fluffy slippers with foam flowers.

I needn't cook as they made their own pizzas!

Cake pops for the dessert bar.

Dessert bar = fruit skewers, cake pops and 'smores cookies.

The birthday girl with the birthday cake.

Opening present is always fun!

They're staying!

6 girls left behind to sleep.  It was not quiet!

Fruit platter for the morning after.

The Big Ten

Someone I know turned 10 years old today.  That someone is my baby, Cara-Li!  Hope that this landmark birthday lives up to her every expectations.  Love you, Cara-Li!  Enjoy your day.

And the celebrations begin...

Tonight we celebrated a couple of birthdays.  SQ who turned 9 on the 21st and Cara-Li who turns 10 on the 26th.  The cool part of their relationship is that they are from the same orphanage and were both adopted one year apart by 2 Montreal families.  So we always make a point to be part of each others lives and frankly, we've done a great job!  We see each other all the time and are always there for each other's important landmarks (and other stuff too!).  This happened to be an impromptu dinner at the cottage and a grand time was had by all!

Alexia's Cupcake Birthday Party

This year's birthday party them for Alexia's 5th birthday... a cupcake party.  And since I was not in town much prior to it, off to Loblaws we went!  I must say that this was my least elaborate attempt at party planning.  Must get back to it next year...

While waiting for all the guests to arrive, the kids jumped in the bouncy castle.  Funny.  The older kids enjoyed it as much as the little ones.

Then, Alexia, dressed up in her baking outfit, decorated her little cupcakes, one to eat right away and one to bring home.

The busy little bunch.

What else would you have as a cake at a cupcake party but a giant cupcake made by Auntie Loula!

Mommy and Daddy with the Birthday Girl.

Dinner that night was at Alpenhaus for fondue.  Yummy!

Alexia turns 5!

I made it home just in time for my little monkey's 5th birthday.  Happy Birthday my sweet littel Alexia!  May you always be this precious!

Cara-Li's BD Party

Finally, we got around to celebrating Cara-Li's 9th birthday and with her cast off!  Yay!  We decided to have a Mosaic Madness party.  This is where you hire someone, J, and she comes to your house with all the stuff necessary to make beautiful mosaic mirrors that the kids got to keep of course and hang in their rooms.  Truly beautiful pieces of works were created by these talented artists but it did not come easy.  They really had to work hard for their cake and ice cream sundae bar!  For the mommies, all we had to do was help out a little but that didn't stop us from going into the kitchen for a little sip of wine now and again!

After the party, a quick change and we were off to a potluck party that were invited to.  In fact, these are our new neighbors at our new house.  We didn't know who they were but our friends N and S do and they got us invited.  They figured that we should meet sooner than later!  Great idea.  Now we know who we will be sharing our garbage path with  :)  Great couple with  great daughters.  I smell some new babysitters....

Look whose Nine!!

That's right... my baby Cara-Li is now 9 years old!  No longer a baby I would say :(

We had some friends over at the cottage for the weekend to help us celebrate this special day.  Her actual birthday party has been postponed due to the broken arm situation.  We had 'make your own pizza' night as well as a chocolate fountain.  What a hit it was with the kids!

Happy Birthday my sweet Cara-Li!  Love ya!

October 31st - Halloween and Alexia's 4th Birthday Party

What was I thinking when I agreed to have a Halloween Party for Alexia's birthday ON Halloween Day???  Both events are highly draining... could you imagine both on the same day?  I think I am still recuperating and the reason why I haven't blogged in so long  :)  Alexia said she wanted a Halloween birthday Party and frankly, it was fun!  Lots of scary foods and decorations and well, loot bags, that was super easy and a no brainer!

We carved 24 pumpkins for the event.  Who am I kidding?  We do this every year!  I LOVE pumpkins!

Alexia wanted to be a tooth fairy so out came my sewing box to add a 'tooth' to the fairy dress we already had and a 'tooth' to the star wand.  Voila!  Super easy!

My friend C was reading the Martha Stewart Halloween magazine and decided that our girls would dress up as Jellyfish.  They turned out really, really well.  Anyone want a jellyfish umbrella?  I have two floating around in my garage!

The Jellyfish Girls.  They were the talk of Montreal-West!

My frien L was dressed as an Egyptian while I was a Bat.

Other adults also joined in on the fun by coming in costume as well.  Thanks guys!

We had a Magic Show as entertainment which the kids loved.  Alexia was his assistant and a good one too!

See how intrigued they were.

How did he do that?

For dessert, we had lots of scary stuff PLUS a candy bar.

Alexia with her Ghost cake made by Auntie L.  It was a red velvet cake. Bloody!

Some of her friends waiting for their piece of cake.

And of course, after the party ended, we all hit the streets for a couple of hours of trick-or-treating.  Too bad it didn't rain as the girls were equipped!

After a most tiring but fabulous day, I just wanted to let my little girl know how much I love her.

Alexia, I love you with all my heart and Happy Birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday Alexia!

The day has finally arrived that Alexia is a BIG girl!  This is the day that she has been waiting for for I don't know how long.  She popped out of bed this AM announcing that she grew so much during the night since she turned 4.  She proceeded to have us all look at the size of her hands and feet and how much bigger they were today.  How cute!

My dearest Alexia,

You never cease to amaze me with all the smart things you do and say.  You were such a little baby when we first met you in China.  It is so hard to believe that you are already 4 years old.  Where has the time gone?  Alexia, you will always be our little baby girl no matter how old you are.  We love you!