{2012 Flashback} Katelyn's 2nd Birthday Party

I've been really struggling with how to handle the zillions of pictures that I missed out on (read: dropped the ball) sharing and journaling about. I really want to blog in real-time so that I don't continue to be behind, but I also don't want to forget all the things that happened in the past year, or just skip over them. So, I think I'm going to post things as they happen (or try to!) and also try to fill in here and there with flashback posts. I figure I'll start with the big stuff, birthdays, holidays and all that. Then I'll try to add more random day-to-day stuff if I can. Honestly, I don't want to set goals that are too hard to attain, because I already know how easy it can be to get overwhelmed. I'm going to do the best I can, and just remember that my goal is to have this blog serve as a sort of family scrapbook, to preserve memories for generations to come. Well, that might be taking it a little far. The way technology is going these days, who knows what will exist down the road?

So, for the first 2012 flashback... Katelyn's 2nd Birthday party. We did a Rainbow theme, because at the time coloring was just about her favorite thing in the world. Well, it's still a favorite, pretty much only overshadowed by playing outside these days. It was definitely as smaller scale party than her first, but still a pretty good bash! When it comes to party planning, I get so many ideas in my head, and I really have to force myself to take it down a notch. Well, that and the whole time/money constraint thing. Yeah, maybe that's the bigger factor;)

Katelyn had a blast pre-partying with the beach balls we had for the yard. She made up her own game. We'll call it "1,2,3, Wheeee!" I'll let you guess how it was played:)

This year, I played it smart and had most of the party catered. Thank you, Emidio's! The food was delish, and it cut down on the amount of work I had to do by an immeasurable amount.

I had pictures from Katelyn's second year on the rainbow ribbons over the windows. Even though we're not doing the "growth chair" thing anymore, there were still plenty of pics to show how much she changed over the year. And the name sign in the corner? All Brian. One of our neighbors works for Budweiser, and he's always giving us fun promotional stuff. I believe this started out as a Corona sign. Brian painted the whole thing and stenciled on our names. At the time, Baby Maddie was just a teeny-tiny nug, so we left her spot TBD. It has since been added. Guess I'm not the only one in the house who knows how to get crafty;)

Personalized coloring pages and crayons on the tables. I had the coloring pages made on Etsy. I love Etsy! You can find almost anything on there, and so much of it is personalized and/or unique.

I tried to stick with the Rainbow theme for the desserts. Rainbow fruit, Funfetti cupcakes and Fruity Pebbles rainbow treats. Yum!

Simple party favors for the kiddos. Rainbow pails from the Dollar Spot at Target (love me some Target) filled with a coloring page, crayons and some playdough.

Birthday fun with Grandma:)

We decided to go for it and buy a bounce house. With the price of renting, we figured we could justify the cost of buying if we used it more than twice. We've used it more than twice;) Including setting it up in the garage over the winter so K could bounce with her little girlfriend. This thing is awesome:)

Coloring fun with the Iannini girls

The Plotts came up all the way from Dennison. We were so happy to have them there!

Mr. Eric, Mr. John and Grandpa

Uncle Nathan, Lola and Daddy

Blowing bubbles. Or, at least, trying:)

(Cup)Cake Time!

Someone got a little shy during Happy Birthday singing!

But she knew what to do with the candles:)

Our family of three, with one on the way!

Coloring fun

Good-bye hugs for the boys

Auntie Megan and Uncle Doug. You can't even tell Megs is seven months pregnant. 

Try not to hate her;)

Some of our favorite playmates, the Clearys!

Wyatt and Ripley

Baby Bishop. Love that hair!

Checking out her pics

Good-bye kisses for Olivia...

...and Mayne:)

Love this one. Don't worry Mayne. Someday the tides will turn and she'll be clinging on to you.

Enjoying a juice box treat:)

The aftermath. Tired mommy and fired-up baby. Can I still call her a baby? Cuz I do.

She'll always be my baby.

Can't believe I'm now a mom who says that.

Happy Birthday to my first baby.

OK, one flashback down, 500 to go. Let's not talk about the fact that we're now about 2 months away from her 3rd birthday. I can't even wrap my brain around that one!