Liberty's 4th Birthday Party!

Liberty really wanted a FROZEN themed birthday party.  Not since Cinderella had a movie captured her like FROZEN.  I was fortunate enough to have my friend Maria offer up some of her decorations since she threw a Frozen party a few months ago.  As any mother with a daughter knows, FROZEN stuff is sold out everywhere, so the only decoration I could find with the characters was a huge cardboard cutout - the rest we did with a winter wonderland theme and it turned out magical.  So magical in fact, that I couldn't resist having someone with a decent camera come to capture it all!  Julie Griffin took the photos, so I could sit back and soak up my little girl's celebration and all the memorable fun.  So worth it!

I was really feeling the love this day.  My family pitched in so much to pull it together, everyone that was invited came, Liberty spotted this "Elsa" dress for me to wear at Target and insisted I looked fantastic in it....I trusted her...and was giddy I fit into a size small - hasn't happened since high school!, Liberty was so excited to have her best girlfriends come over and she actually remembered to be thankful during present opening time (my parental anxiety moment)....it was just a beautiful day that Liberty enjoyed so much, I'll remember it forever.

Henry's First Birthday Party!

Party time.

Our mellow boy didn't want anything to do with his cupcake.  I predicted as much.

Easter Farewell Party for Martis!

We've celebrated Easter with good friends a few times in the past and this year we celebrated the weekend prior because our good friends Kelly, Ben, Adalyn and baby Nora were moving back to their beloved St. Louis.  We have a lot of good memories of meeting at bookclub and married women's meetups, GNOs, boating, Kierland Staycation, Flagstaff road trip, celebrating pregnancies and births - and simply starting a new friendship from scratch in 2008? 2009?.  We will miss them and their great family.  The Heppner's hosted as usual and outdid themselves again with another potluck feast that included Samineh's dessert like White Chocolate Cheesecake and the best sugar cookies I've ever had (that the kiddos decorated).  She also crafted bunny ears/tails for the girls to wear for a bunny hop race.  The Easter egg hunt was a ton of fun and it was great to sit outside and enjoy our growing families. Cameron was away in California getting his Project Management Certification from Stanford so he missed out on our farewell party - but Samineh took on the roll of photographer, thank goodness, to capture some of the fun.

Liberty turns 3!!!!!!!!

Liberty's blue/Cinderella Princess party was a hit - she wore a blue/green dress and headband she picked out, had some of her favorite people over, bounced in the bounce house, decorated cupcakes (her request - but never again!), and enjoyed the generosity of so many friends and family members.  Uncle Andy even flew in from SF again, which is becoming one of the most treasured parts of her birthday parties.  Liberty is a bright, thoughtful little girl now - no more baby... she has been a loving daughter and sister and we are as proud as parents can be.  I'll end up doing a separate blog entry to mark some milestones for our own memory...but for now - the BIRTHDAY ALBUM!

Liberty's 2nd Birthday Party!

What a party! Elmo, bounce house, all our family (except my traveling dad), and tons of friends...it was such a special party! Liberty was so happy all day long - she woke up to Uncle Andy and ended her day going to the park via her new scooter. And in between we felt the love. My personal favorite part of the day was Liberty enjoying the singing of Happy Birthday to You. We actually heard her singing it to herself on the monitor right before she fell asleep that night. Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate Liberty on her birthday.

Devil With The Blue Dress

I went a little camera crazy while getting Liberty ready for a birthday party. I got her this cute blue dress thinking she would wear it next summer (size 3T?!?! HELLO!). But she rocked it and I kept thinking of the song Devil With The Blue Dress. A few family self portraits turned out cute...



Then we went to Kayla's 1st birthday party and played and played. (sorry the pictures in this album are not so great).

Mother's Day Weekend

Busy, beautiful weekend...Birthday celebration with friends(Adalyn turned 1!), I showed a bunch of properties and wrote an offer for clients, and we biked around the neighborhood with our new ibert! Mother's day was great...Handmade card & DVD from Liberty (and Cameron), a new diaper-bag, ibert bike seat, dinner/dessert at PF Changs, lots of sweet cards from family...it was a glorious weekend!

Off to Flagstaff we go...

We went to Flagstaff to celebrate my dad's retirement! (WOOHOO for 37 years in the Fire Dept Chief Wheeler!) and to celebrate my nephew Charlie's #2 birthday! (WOOHOO for 2 years of being adorable!)

Didn't get any pictures of the retirement party (boo) since we were chasing around Liberty (the dance floor was calling her). I did however play paparazzi at the Thomas the Train birthday bash.

1st Birthday Party!

I was really touched that all my family and Liberty's closest friends came to celebrate with us. A few shout-outs.
UNCLE ANDY! Thanks for jumping on a plane to be with us this weekend. Everything would have been about 95% less fun without you here.
AUNT KELLY! Thanks for leaving sicky Charlie and still driving from Flagstaff to help me put on the party and love on Liberty.
GRANDMA JO AND GRANDPA TED! Thanks for all the slicing and dicing food prep and all the amazing love you showed Liberty this weekend.
GMA & GPA WHEELER! Thanks for braving the snowy road conditions to celebrate with us. And for the liquor chocolates:)
JENNY AND JASON: Thanks for coming to the party while Jenny was in labor. Welcome to the world baby Reed!
EVERYONE: Liberty is loving all the generous gifts. Thanks for making her 1st birthday such a memorable moment.

Happy New Year! 2011

We hosted a "kid-friendly, early and short" New Years Eve potluck with a few friends. Liberty's pals Sienna (14 months) and Adalyn (8 months) came over and even newborn baby Jack made a short appearance (too bad I forgot to take the group picture when Chelsea and Jack were here! dangit!) Thanks to the Marti's and Heppner's for the good food and good company. My oh my what a difference a year makes.

From New Years 2011

From New Years 2011

From New Years 2011

4th of July Party!

We had such a fun swim/cookout Independence Day bash! It was our first 20+ people party at our house and we had such a good time. Three of Liberty's little friends came too - including Adalyn who is 1 month younger than Liberty. They were sporting the same festive outfit so we had to snap a few pictures of that! Our neighbors also managed to shoot off about 20 real, professional fireworks without Gilbert police showing up - which was an added bonus. Liberty was a social butterfly right up until about 7pm when she decided to take a cat nap in the middle of the party. 4th of July is my favorite holiday and I was so happy to be able to spend it with so many good friends.

Baby Shower!

My mom and sister hosted a wonderful baby shower, complete with homemade baby cupcakes by Kelly. Friends Samineh and Kelly M. helped with decorations, Jenny helped with the cake, and everyone certainly showered this little girl with lots of love and things we'll need for her arrival. She also has quite the extensive library now thanks to everyone bringing a favorite children's book. I can't wait to unveil nursery pictures - my daughter will no doubt have a love of reading if I have anything to do with it.

I can't thank our family and friends enough for all the support and the showering of gifts. It was a day I'll remember forever! Thank you.

Cookie Exchange

I hosted a wine tasting and cookie exchange party for the East Valley Married Women's meetup. Fifteen ladies attended and I had a great time having company over in the new house - the kitchen worked so well for this type of event! Feel welcome to come over and help me eat some cookies:)

SES Company Christmas Party

The SES Christmas Party is always something I look forward to each year. All those Irish employees are so nice - they always have an open bar - and they know how to throw a good party. This year was no different. It was a formal 1970's theme at the ultra-snazzy W Scottsdale resort. We had a 4 course dinner, a full bar (Shirley Temple for me please), and a band that encouraged lots of 1970's grooves. We left before the tequila shots started - but it was still fun to meet all the SES people that so admire Cameron and all the hard work he puts in.