Celebrating Fitz & Alex: One Wild Year

I am going to just ignore the fact that it has been nearly one month since Fitz and Alex's big birthday, and cut right to the details.

The Saturday after their birthday, Mark and I welcomed family and friends to our little space in the world to celebrate One Wild Year.

It was everything I thought it would be and more and nothing like I thought it would be. Isn't that how parties usually go?

The food was easy and fantastic. We leaned on local barbecue maestro Johnny Ryan for smoked chicken wings and Boston butts; pasta salad sides and coleslaw from The Fresh Market.

The dessert table was one of my favorite elements, local shop Cake Designs did both smash cakes and the large sheet cake for guests. My fabulous and favorite "cookie lady" Ellen Hamilton did the most adorable animal faces and monograms for the sugar cookies.

The Watering Hole offered bottled water, Coors Light and Jungle Juice. After all, it really has been a wild year for everyone so Jungle Juice seemed MIGHTY appropriate.

I originally stressed hardcore about this party but then ended up doing everything décor-wise super last minute. I ordered a obscene amount of inflatable animals, thanks Amazon!, and they were the main focus for the party, besides the birthday boys of course. Paper products were solid green for main course and giraffe print for dessert, also from Amazon.

At nearly midnight the Thursday before the party I was up giving myself glue gun burns so we had a wreath that matched the party, and knotting jute to make a banner for the mantle.

 

I am my mother's child, without question.

As a party favor, guests had their choice of lollipops and/or zoo animal shaped bubbles. "This year has really blown us away." I can't help myself, I'm a writer. 

I wondered for months how the smash cake thing would go. In fact, I was extremely rigid in NOT giving the boys cake before their birthday. I wanted that picture. You know the one, with the glee on the kid's face as they dove head first into the icing.

Well, obviously, Fitz and Alex's plans always trump mine and we ended up with so many great pictures and videos. It warmed my heart.

 

I mean, these kids of mine? They really have a way of making sure you forget about the 5am wakeups or the constant stress on our budget or my constant worrying over Alex.

Or the fact that I about drove my super crafty mother crazy handing her a bag of remnants from Joann's four days before the party, saying, hey, you can do the highchair banners, right?

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Party details:

Invitations, menu cards, thank you cards: Shelby Berry

"Party Wares": Mantle banner, plastic ware, napkins, balloons, etc.: Amazon, Michaels, Dollar Tree
Fabric for tables and high chair banners: JoAnn's
Inflatable Animals: Amazon, Amazon, Amazon
Alligator Ring Toss: Amazon
Smash Cake, Sheet Cake: Cake Designs

Animal and Monogram cookies: Ellen Hamilton (she ships!)

Smoked Chicken Wings, Boston Butt: Johnny Ryan's

Pasta Salads, Colesaw: The Fresh Market

Candy Buffet: Party City
Zoo Animal Bubbles: Amazon

**Photographs by the talented Shelby Berry**

Celebrating Fitz & Alex: Their Sacrament of Baptism

 I must be nuts, because Saturday over 40 people packed into our little Pre-War cottage…Doesn't that make it sound fancy? I feel like it does…and we brunched and celebrated Fitz and Alex entering the Catholic Church.

After months of "putting it off," terrible, I know, I finally just booked it. Surrounded by love, Fitz and Alex received their very first sacrament!

The party was a blur. I know I had fun, and I think everyone else did as well, since we ran out of food and booze by about 3 p.m.

I knew the crowd we were inviting was a eatin' and drinkin' crowd, but sheesh, we killed a nugget tray, chicken salad tray and 14 bottles of champagne in three hours.

St. Therese, that idea to have both a candy bar for the little kids and a mimosa bar for the big kids was a great idea!

Gave everyone a lot of energy when it came time to get the glitter chalk out!

I ran around the night before and the morning of like a crazy person, and I am so, so, SO thankful my best friend from forever (and art school grad! and newly minted godmother!) was there to help. She did the most beautiful flower arrangements cobbled together from things purchased at Costco, Walmart and Winn Dixie.

I wasn't emotional like I thought I would be, and I wasn't as stressed as I thought I would be (during the party at least). I was completely at peace, and that 10000% has to do with my continued prayers to Mary's intersession for a successful sacrament and reception.

 Plus I had dove shaped cookies, so the Holy Spirit was on my side!

Maybe I have this mother thing down?

Maybe not.

I can't wait to share my faith, and our wonderful Catholic Church, with Fitz and Alex.

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Party details:

Invitations, menu cards, thank you cards: Shelby Berry

"Party Wares": cross confetti, mantle banner, plastic ware, napkins, balloons, etc.: Party City, Costco & Michaels

Serving pieces: My momma's stash!

Glittered champagne flutes: IKEA, with glittered stems of course!

Dove shaped cake pops: TK Cake Pops (they ship!)

Dove and Cross cookies: Ellen Hamilton (she ships!)

Chicken Salad Sandwich tray: Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Nuggets: Chick Fil A

Fruit, Salad, Cheese: Costco

Candy Buffet: Party City & Fresh Market

**Photographs by the talented Shelby Berry**