Tripp turns One

This morning there was a deer walking around in our pond... splashing around and climbing up onto the little island in the middle of it all. I love looking out the window and seeing unexpected happenings taking place in nature.

Here inside the house, though, the "completely expected" is happening right now in human nature: I am polishing off the last of the rice krispie treats from the party last night.
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THE PARTY- the one where we celebrated my baby turning ONE! Coming down off of the holiday rush, I feel like we've still been going full-tilt ever since: birthdays, the birth of a niece, a mild case of the flu, a funeral, school, Jeff editing his video 24/7, and dr. appts, dr. appts, and more dr. appts.

At any rate, the party got put-off until the last minute, but I am glad we were able to make it happen! I felt like Tripp needed his own special day- especially with his birthday being so close to Finn's (and most likely in the future they'll be sharing parties), and the new baby arriving in the next few months. I saw a cute vintage newspaper-themed party online, so that became the idea hack. Thankfully, everything came together pretty easily with some help from friends and family... and a BIG thank you goes out to my sewing machine, who kept working even while Boone tried his best to strip it. Lovely.

With multiple children, I am constantly reminded that it is HARD to get good photos. Somehow, this one photo was captured and melts my heart. I absolutely, 100% love it. Every single thing about it.

My "Newsies"

Laying newspaper as a tablecloth made for a cute decoration, and made clean-up a cinch! Tripp's name banner was also made out of newspaper, and Finn helped me duct tape it to the underside of the table.

 

Homemade mac n' cheese, fresh salad, and fruit was the simple, easy menu

Dessert included rice krispie bites, chocolate-dipped peanut butter ritz, and pie

The birthday boy got his own little smash cake. He didn't do much smashing, but all the kids helped him finger the frosting. Eventually, he ended up just full-on face planting into it...

A favorite for all the little guests- rock candy!

A few things to note:

1. You must make some of the chocolate-dipped ritz cookies! They are phenomenal! My sweet friend Whitney made them and happily obliged to share her recipe

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 cups milk chocolate chips

32 ritz crackers

Mix peanut butter and powdered sugar together. Smear onto ritz crackers and make a cracker sandwhich. Place them in the freezer for 30 minutes (so they don't slip apart while dipping). Melt chocolate chips and dip away! 

2. The blue punch drink was iffy, at best. My husband loved it, as well as the kids... most adults didn't touch it. So drink at your own risk... 

1 container of blue raspberry koolaid

2 cups pina colada mix

6 quarts water

1 liter sprite or 7-up

I ended up using a LOT more pop, since it tasted so flat. I just couldn't put my hand on what tasted "off"... the blue raspberry or the pina colada, or the sprite...

But if you're willing to try it- you may just love it. (If you want to be called a kid)

3. If you are planning on making a white cake, don't decide to make it healthier by using 3 whole eggs, instead of 3 egg whites... especially if they are farm fresh eggs. That orange yolk will most definitely turn the batter a bright shade of carrot. And don't even think about adding some gray food coloring to make it gray batter. It will just end up the most hideous shade of vomit green, and then you'll be so grossed out you'll toss it and start all over.

Happy Birthday, Tripp! 

We love to celebrate you.

*Visit Tripp's BIRTH here!