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It’s been a couple of weeks since I last posted. I hate it when I get behind on my blog; there are so many things I want to write about! With everything else going on in my life-my sewing classes, my etsy shop, my non-profit, and most importantly, my family-I just can’t seem to fit it all in. I absolutely love blogging but when something has to be set aside, unfortunately it is this. The past couple of weeks my kids have been on spring break, so I took a step away so that I could spend quality time with them during their spring breaks. Somehow I need to figure out how to keep blogging while they are on summer break! It will be here before we know it!
This is a busy season for me. For one, I have a lot of gala planning for my non-profit and for two, birthday season is in full swing! We started the season out with my youngest baby, who just turned 8 this past weekend. Say what?? I can’t believe that my baby is already 8! Where does the time go? Everyone says that these years go by quickly and boy were they right. Just a couple of years ago I was a brand new mom, so unsure of myself and feeling like I was just playing house because there was no way I was an actual, real-life mom to an actual, real-life baby. A few years and two babies later, that first baby is getting ready for high school next year and my youngest is looking more and more like a boy and less and less like a baby. I am no longer playing house but doing this real-life mom thing, still unsure of myself, but with a little more experience and wrinkles in the corner of my eyes. Even though I love the phase of life we are in (and all the fun things we get to do now with older kids) it makes me really sad to know that in another blink of an eye my babies will be full-grown and fleeing the coop.
Okay, let’s wipe the tears and talk about my birthday boy, Ryder. Turning 8 in our family is a special age; it’s the age where our children can decide if they want to be baptized in our church. We have been going to church and teaching our kids about the gospel of Jesus Christ since they were born and this year we have been focusing on studying The New Testament every week. Ryder has been very excited about turning 8, knowing that he would be able to be baptized. I have been so impressed with how he has been soaking up all that he’s been learning. Even when I think he’s not paying attention, he has the answers! He has been so excited to get baptized and follow Jesus. Here’s a picture of my little cutie, all dressed in white and ready for his big day. I made him his special baptism towel that he can now hang beside brother’s and sister’s towel.
As far as his party goes, I honestly didn’t know what I was going to put together until three days before his birthday. I had thought about it, but I was coming up blank on how to decorate. A lot of people from our church choose an “8 Is Great” theme for baptism celebrations and typically they do rainbow colors, but rainbows aren’t really Ryder’s favorite so I decided [finally] to keep the “8 Is Great” theme but revolve it around his favorite colors: red and blue (of course he picked those colors for his towel as well).
I looked on Etsy for printable cupcake toppers and was thrilled when I found some in a red/blue theme! This etsy seller has the cutest supply of cupcake toppers, not only for “8 Is Great” but for all different party themes. I highly recommend her! I only paid $5 and it came as an instant download that I was able to print right away. I cut them all out by hand which was a little bit of work; next time I will buy a circle cutter (I’ve linked one at the end of this post).
I used some of the cupcake toppers and glued them onto long skewer sticks to use in my Dollar Tree centerpieces that I picked up at the last minute. It was simple but cute!
I decided at last minute to do a mini cake along with the cupcakes. Cake making isn’t really my thing; I know how to do a little (my mom was a great cake decorator, as was my grandma!). I love decorating and making things look pretty, I just don’t have the time and patience to perfect this skill. But this little cake was super simple. I actually found red and white striped string that I’d used for another party and put it around the edge of the cake so I didn’t have to pipe a border. Ha! While looking through our box of gift bags, I found the perfect blue and white curling ribbon topper so I thought why not use it on the cake? How’s this for a last minute, simple cake?
I really wasn’t going to go all out decorating and I don’t think I got too crazy at all, but once the ideas were finally flowing I decided to recycle this backdrop idea that I’d done for Maurina’s baby shower and make a cute little backdrop for Ryder’s cupcakes. A few Dollar Tree tablecloths and pom-poms later and voila, I had a cute background for pictures of his cake.
I was going to pipe the cupcakes but it was getting to be late Saturday night as I was finishing up and Ryder really wanted to help, so we just slapped on the icing and added sprinkles. It made him happy to help and it was easier for me. We also made some mini brownie bites that we frosted.
Let’s talk about this adorable Rae Dunn silverware holder that my hubby and kiddos bought me for Christmas! How perfect that the colors are red and blue?? I love not having to put our utensils in a paper cup, ha ha.
I was really happy with the way everything turned out and Ryder was a happy boy as well, which is what matters more than anything! We had our closest family and friends with us to celebrate the special occasions-his birthday and baptism. It was a sweet day; one that we will always remember. I will forever be grateful that we had “just one more” baby. My pregnancies were rough and I didn’t plan on having any more after Cody, but thank goodness we listened to that prompting that we had one more child to join us. I can’t imagine my life without my Ryder!!
Things you might need for your 8 Is Great Party:
