DIY Sesame Street 2nd Birthday Picnic

image

As you know, little O turned two this week.  I keep asking myself where the time has gone, but now even I am getting tired of the question.  Move on, Mares.  Move on.  OK.  So…I figured I would save my pontification for another piece and give you a good old, DIY post.

O’s birthday party was a laborious task only a mother would undertake.  Or, as in this case, two mothers.  Yes, we shared the celebration with O’s second cousin, Nora (born 2 days later).  Number one on the suggestion list is to co-host your celebration.  You cut the work (and cost) in half…and it’s so much more fun to share it all.  We had a head count of about 35 people.  Mostly adults.  So the menu reflected a more mature palate.  This was not a peanut butter and jelly crowd.  It was a picnic/cookout, but we wanted something a bit different.  So we went with a more sophisticated version of the traditional fare.  The menu was almost exclusively lifted from Pinterest..of course. We did a gourmet burger with guacamole, bratwursts, and a blue cheese coleslaw (that was out of this world, if I dare say so).  We made thematic tags for the food like Oscar the Grouch’s Gourmet Burgers, Sunny Days Slaw and Big Bird’s Brats.  We added some smaller sides, as suggested by the pin.  Here is the link for the menu.  We followed it pretty much to the tee and found it to be the perfect amount of food and drinks.

We served beer and wine and either bottled water or pink lemonade for the non alcoholic choice.  We set up a separate drink table and used a 3 gallon dispenser for the pink lemonade.  I then printed out a cut out of Abby Caddaby’s face from Pinterest, laminated it, and double stick taped it on the dispenser.  It was super cute!

image

Decorations were pretty simple.  Balloons & Balloons. Different colored table covers (throw away). Different colored paper plates and napkins.  And a  Sesame Street Happy Birthday Banner from Party City.  Oh, and more balloons.  My cousin (Nora’s mother) made a party play list for the music, including the Sesame Street theme and oodles of happy, fun music, but not specifically children’s music.  It was a party for two children, but it wasn’t a children’s party, per say.

image

 

image

The dessert table was where I got creative with the Sesame Street theme. Of course, Elmo’s Goldfish were included.  And Abby Caddaby’s magic wands (chocolate dipped pretzel rods). Chocolate Chip cookies were served, as well as alphabet cookies and extra Cookie Monster fudge (more on that ahead).

image

image

image

image

Our Aunt Fil offered to get the cake which was a tremendous help.  So number two on the suggestion list…..when someone offers to bring something, say YES.  It could have said “Happy Retirement Sal” on it and it would have been great.  But as you can see, she kept with the Sesame theme beautifully!

image

I mentioned the Cookie Monster Fudge.  Again, Pinterest! Super cute.  Pretty easy.  And quite tasty.

image

I doubled the recipe and made enough to give as favors for the guests.  Found some small cellophane baggies at the dollar store and a cute Sesame Street pack of stickers ($ store) and used a label program on my computer to write the “Thank You so much for coming.  Love, Nora and Oliver.”  Soooo cute! Everything stuck to some construction paper squares, I punched some holes and used some ribbon.  Viola!

image

It was a really lovely day.  I dont recommend doing it yourself if you are the type who wants to relax and enjoy the party.  The whole time you are waiting on your guests, you are also running after a two year old…or at least trying to. Both sets of parents were wiped out by the time the last guest left around 8 or so. Like a truck ran over our bodies.  But it was lovely, nonetheless.  We held it at my parents home as it is so much closer to the bulk of the family on my side.  Maybe that’s why it reminded me so much of the picnics my Mom and Dad used to have summer after summer while we were growing up.  In a private moment of pause during the party I made my husband promise to remind me next year how hard it was so it would discourage me from wanting to do it again.  But, a lot like childbirth…you kind of forget the tough parts and remember the sweetness of it all.  Happy Happy Birthday my sweet O.  You have changed me for the better. Xoimage

Until next time, keep fighting the good fight and remember, behind every great kid is a mom who is pretty sure she is screwing it up! Thanks for reading! Xo

 

 

Turning Two

image

You would think after having two years experience (that’s 730 days) of watching my child grow and develop, I would have come to terms with him inevitably getting older. I have not.  I have made strides in the right direction (acceptance), but my heart still aches a bit with each inch and milestone he conquers.

O’s second birthday is approaching, and if I let myself breathe that all in, it could seriously knock the wind out of me.  My husband has been asking me what’s wrong with me lately.  He can tell something is “off.”  I keep saying it’s my stomach.  I just don’t feel right. Well, when something is bothering me, that’s where the stress goes.  Right to my gut.  I’ve not been purposely lying to him.  I actually didn’t realize the correlation until I started writing this post.  But that’s what’s “got” me.  My baby is growing up and there is no way to stop the clock.

That’s not to say that I want to actually stop the clock.  Of course not.  I want to see him grow and thrive and become the man he is meant to be.  It’s just the pangs of loss that hit me occasionally.  Sometimes gently and sometimes like a smack across the face.  Like now, as this 2 year marker approaches.  I understand how precious this whole process is.  The act of raising, caring for, and unconditionally loving this being that was created with such love.  It is awesome and truly the best thing I have ever done in my life. And it’s all flying by so quickly.  I believe this is one of the big reasons why people have more children.  The feeling is so wonderful, at times, euphoric.  Of course you want to  make it last.  So you have another.  And maybe another.  Unless you can’t.  Unless it maybe just isn’t in the cards.

Ah, and there it is.  The crux of the matter.  I didn’t really think about O’s birthday coinciding with the end of our “have another baby” project.  But the months have passed and with each one came a reminder that I’m not going to have another child.  I promised I wouldn’t be upset.  I promised.  But as I sit here wiping away my tears, I’m finding my promise is proving to be empty, however well intentioned.  I won’t let myself spiral into a dark place over it, however.  I have far far too much to be thankful for to let that happen.  But I think my not allowing sadness over it was a mistake.  That’s a ridiculous notion, really.   Not allowing sadness?  It’s just silly.  As if my heart has a choice.  Ha.

So I’ll go on, filling my my mind and days with work and projects.  I’ll spin more plates than usual, no doubt.  But I will be aware of my particular sadness and honor it.  And I suppose, if I need to cry, well then, I’ll cry.  At least I won’t be denying my feelings.  If you read my blog, you know that I believe everything happens the way it is supposed to.  And I don’t believe in regrets.  I believe in lessons.  But this advanced maternal age mommy wishes perhaps she didn’t wait quite so long to have a child.  Maybe there would have been time for another?   A tough lesson to swallow in hindsight.  But then, perhaps another child was never in the cards.  You can really think it to death.  Who really has time for that?

So as my little O gets ready to turn two, we will celebrate his time so far on this earth and the immense  joy he brings us….with a Sesame Street theme, no less.  We are having a combined birthday with his second cousin, Nora, who was born two days after him.  Lots of Elmo and Abby Caddaby!  Alphabet cookies, crayons and Cookie Monster fudge!  I’ll take lots of pics for a fun party blog.  And I won’t forget for a moment all that I have.

Until next time, keep fighting the good fight, and remember, behind every great kid is a mom who is pretty sure she is screwing it up.  Thanks for reading. Xo