Avery's Official 1st Birthday Bash!

Jordan my decorating assistant... hes proud of his work.

Well we finally had a chance to have Avery's first birthday. Between moving and family schedules it turned into being over a month late... but she doesn't know the difference! Jordan's Mom had a fitness conference in town so Avery's Grandpa and Nana Heavenor and Uncle Mike were in town from Vanderhoof. We had most of our immediate family and some extended and some close friends. It was a very fun time!

Uncle Cole, Grandpa and Nana Heavenor, Uncle Mike and Blake Hyde

Stefanie Hyde, Jordan, Uncle Jason and Auntie Kamry

Avery playing with her toys with her cousin Casey (Casey is actual my cousin - My Aunt Kerry's little girl but closer in age with Avery, so seems like a cousin.)

My Nana and Grandpa Pizzey

My great Grandma and Grandma

Me, Jordan and Avery

Lighting the candles, we striped Avery down to her diaper, we really didn't need to cause it wasn't that messy.

Avery wondering what everyone is singing?!?!

Avery's friends Casey and Jonah Chiu helping her blow the candles out. I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the cake, it wasn't amazing, but it was 2 big balloon on top (orange and purple) of a pink base. Kind of cute and funny with balloon candles.

Enjoying her cake, she wasn't as messy as I'd hoped!

Yum! All done, time for presents!

Opening presents with Casey to help.

Sporting her first gymnastics body suite (present of course from Auntie Taren) and enjoying her chair from Auntie Kamry.

Twins B-Day and Fathers Day fun

Well the day for my sweetie pie started with breakfast in bed. I used the tray that came with Avery's high chair! ha! His favourite is blueberry pancakes and REAL bacon. Because of being health conscious we usually only have turkey bacon, so he got a big pile of real bacon. And his favourite candies (don't worry he didn't have them for breakfast.) I think he really enjoyed himself.

Now the funnest part. This day was also my twin sisters birthday! They turned 23, so I saw this AWESOME idea on Bakerella's (see her blog under "Sites I Enjoy" on the left) for these cupcakes treats that look like slider hamburgers! How cute hey! I was literally giddy when I put them together cause they were just too fun!

So I just make some vanilla cupcake batter and made some cupcakes the night before. And then cut them in half. The beef patty is brownies. I just made a 9x9 pan of brownies and used a circle cookie punch to make the shape. My browns were thicker, so I cut them in half.

The icing was the funnest! I was impressed with myself because I made these colors using only primary colors (red, yellow & blue.) I must say in school for our Color Theory class we had to make like 50 color wheels, so I've had some experience making every color you can think of with just primary colors. So I had some fun mixing colors. I suggest putting the icing in the fridge for a while cause it gets thicker and easier to play with for the toppings!

Hamburger slider army!

Birthday cupcakes for Kamry and Taren!

Enjoying the fruits of my labour, and they taste great too!

Bows, Bows & Flowers!

Well, one reason I love having a girl (there are so many) is all the fun hair accessories out there. I had a box I was keeping all of Avery's bows & flowers that I've collected, but I've never loved having then in a box. They sometimes get squished or I can't find the one I'm looking for.

So yesterday I had a free afternoon and decided to finally make a decent holder for all her bows and flowers. I had seen this idea on etsy.com. It looked pretty easy so I took out my glue gun and went to work. It was lots of fun! Especially cause I had everything for it and didn't have to buy anything.

I used and old frame I've kept that the glass had broken for and used the cardboard backing to attach some fabric too. I had the leftover fabric from a blanket I made for Avery. The ribbon I had leftover. To tell you the truth I don't love the ribbon with the fabric (I wish I had more plain ribbon to pull out one of the colors in the fabric) but again I didn't want to go out just to buy that. And once all the bows and flowers were on after, it really didn't matter because you don't see very much of the ribbon.

The outside ribbons have Velcro on them because most of Avery's bows and flowers attach to head bands with Velcro. And then the inside ribbon has nothing on it because that is where the bows and flowers with clips just clip on. I've started liking the clips more now because they stay on the head bands better and now that Avery has some hair I often will put a clip in her hair without a head band.

I really didn't notice how many bows and flowers I've bought or made! Most of the ribbon bows I've made with my trusty glue gun. And then the flowers and some small accessories I've picked up at random places (either ordered online or picked up at trade shows.)

Fun with Paper

I've had some fun doing some "old school" scrapbooking lately. I joke, because obviously lots of people still do the traditional way. I do as well, but just for projects and cards.

I found this brag book resource here http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/squash_book/

Its really not as hard as it looks! She calls for the covers to be made of restaurant coaster... I did not have any of those and didn't feel like going out to get them, so I used old cereal and cracker boxes and just cut to the shape of coasters. Once you do a couple its a breeze and you know it by heart.

The reason for these brag books is for Mothers day for my mom and Jordan's mom. SO MOM AND KERRI - DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER!!! PLEASE!!! Okay thanks, you can scroll past this post onto the next.

So I filled it with pictures of Avery over the last 8 months, its fun to see how much she has changed!

Its lots of fun to co-ordinate papers and embellishments and do a fun title. I worry my title is a little crazy and hard to read, but oh well!

Back of book, cute paper hey! Sorry I can't remember the maker, I've had it for a while.

opening the book...

little sneak preview of whats to come...

Avery everywhere!!!

This is the first (and practise) brag book I made. It turned out great so I'm going to give it to a girlfriend who just had a baby boy as part of her gift. I've since made a few more Mommy brag books for some friends who are pregnant and due this year (including my sister, so sorry to ruin part of your surprise for you Kamry & your babe, there will be other surprises and not just this, don't worry. And I know you... I'll fill yours with pictures for you ;) )

Back of book tied up

I just LOVE orange lately. I've really never been a orange fan, but lately I'm seeing clothes and scrapbook supplies with this nice orange color! Not like Halloween orange, but a more softer muted orange. I've made a few things lately with orange.

Brag book with no pictures, all ready for momma to fill

Baby shower card (boy)

Mother's Day card