Welcome to Caroline’s Nutcracker Birthday Party! As always, this will be super long and picture heavy.

This is Caroline’s 5th birthday, which means it’s her last big everyone is invited party before we switch to family/special day/maybe a couple friends/sleepover parties. I can’t say she’s quite accepted that fact, since she told me today she wants an ice skating party next year, but I’m pretty happy I only have one kid to plan huge parties for (at least for the foreseeable future). I really do love throwing these huge birthday events but fall is my busy season for photography so doing a birthday on top of that is a tiny bit overwhelming.

With a December birthday and a daughter who has been in ballet for several years already, I’ve been dreaming of a Nutcracker Birthday party for a while. For those who haven’t been reading my blog for 5+ years, her previous themes were: Winter Sparkle Snowflake, Woodland Fairy, Princess and Mermaid. They were all really fun, but this year was the best.

I’m going to put in a page break after a couple of pictures because I just looked and I have 177 edited photos from the party and I’m going to have a hard time cutting that down to an acceptable number. I’ll round up sources at the end and link recipes in the food section, although a lot of the recipes are stuff I’ve linked for every party since her first (because I cannot have a party without thumbprint cookies).

Despite the fact that it is December in Connecticut, the weather was in the mid-60’s for her party. I would have done a lot more outside decorating if I had known the kids were going to spend ALL DAY in the yard or on the porch, but at least I got lights on the house and a couple of Nutcrackers for the planter boxes. I found those at Lowe’s. The sled and wreath are just my standard Christmas decor. It’s really nice that the first act of The Nutcracker is just a Christmas party, so all my decorations were already on theme.

Decor:

I made the wreath using Jill’s tulle wreath tutorial. Super easy and super cute, although glitter tulle is the fabric of the devil.

PINK five balloon from Party City.

Candy cane garland from Oriental Trading, who was kind enough to give me a party budget and send me some of my decor for free because they’re awesome and I am a very, very loyal customer.

Little house from Ikea, circa 2012

Christmas card holder made by my very talented husband. You can see a bunch of Caroline’s invites I used to fill it in until it gets full of holiday cards from friends. Those invites were done by the AMAZING Becca of Jumping Jax Designs. I cannot recommend her more highly – she is creative, talented and so fun. She turned my very vague ideas (“I’m doing sort of all the colors, but girly? And a little vintage? But not too cartoony, still classy. But good for a 5 year old?”) into the CUTEST invitations. The ballerina in the middle has red hair and glasses. I mean.

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Caroline’s 5th birthday party is DONE! Today, she and I went to see The Nutcracker done by the ballet company where she takes ballet. Next Saturday, on her actual birthday, we’re going on the Polar Express to see Santa at the North Pole. I’d say she’s turning 5 absolutely in style. This last week was crazy but now it’s over and all I have left on the to do list is wrap one million presents before Christmas.

Sunday:

Tree decorating at church

Making lemon curd

They look so nice, but they’re terrors

Tuesday:

E’s favorite method of babywearing

Trying to see how close he can stand to the edge without falling off

So, Many. Desserts.

Wednesday:

Santa baby thinks he looks HILARIOUS

PARTY MENU PREVIEW

Never tired of looking at our tree

Thursday:

So dark, no one wants to get up in the morning

Who needs a coat, it’s only DECEMBER.

Grandparents are so good at reading

Friday:

The day started a little foggy

But the sunset was pretty spectacular

Like I said, grandparents are super good at reading

Saturday:

Babies are very helpful when it comes to setting up bounce houses

DECEMBER BIRTHDAY IN NEW ENGLAND WHAT

Such a super fun day with my girl!

Because my parents are the best, almost all of the party stuff is already cleaned up and my only job is eating leftovers. And maybe making time in my schedule for some exercise, because it’s too nice outside for me to already gain my winter hibernation weight. I should go jog on the beach or something. As much as I love the idea of a White Christmas, the longer it stays mild the lower our heating bill and the less school the kids miss and I don’t want to sell them to the circus.

Stay tuned for an epic party post – the photos are done so all I have to do is get them (and the links to alllll the places I ordered from) into a post!

Sorry, planning a party, no time to remember anything else including my blog, my children and where I put my keys.

Sunday:

CUTEST PRINT EVER

My town can be pretty cute

Driving directly into the sun – scenic but inconvenient 

Monday:

The only time he is EVER still

We introduced Evan to video games

SO HELPFUL

Tuesday:

He’s pretending to be the more mature one

I MADE THOSE WHICH IS NOT AT ALL CRAZY

Editing and watching Arrow, two of my favorites

Wednesday:

HAPPY PEPPERMINT SEASON (ignore my nails)

Thank goodness he loves sleeping

Caroline is in that box

Thursday:

Doin’ important baby work

SURE HAVE A COOKIE JUST STAND STILL

She’s very excited Darth Vader is on her pajamas

Friday:

Post-flu-shot faces

She got send home from school for “feeling sick”

Hot chocolate stirring spoons: chocolate marshmallow, white chocolate peppermint, salted caramel

Ok, be back next week when I can think straight again and not spend all my time trying to imagine Nutcracker themed names for various cookies.

We stayed home for Thanksgiving again this year, which it fine by me. My kids hardly eat any of the traditional Thanksgiving food so I don’t bother with most of it. I made potato bites and bacon wrapped tater tots instead of mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing and canned cranberry sauce because I love those, and 16 crescent rolls. There were no leftover rolls. I am thankful I only had to cook for my immediate family.

Linc missed the entire meal because he was napping. I would say that was super sad, but I would be lying. Trying to eat at the real dining table with a 1 year old is not the calmest experience, He woke up for pie, so it’s not like he missed the WHOLE holiday. I am thankful I have a baby who naps really well (MOST of the time).

After we ate and relaxed and watched football and ate some more, I ended up a Target in a really long but very pleasant line to get in when they opened at 6 pm. E and I decided we wanted to buy the kids a video game for Christmas and after much debating picked the Disney Infinity system. They were super on sale and I figured it didn’t hurt to try and grab one. While I was there I finished Linc’s Christmas shopping with a Little People set and a GIANT teddy bear. I cannot wait to see his face when he tackles it.  I’m thankful for everyone who worked on Thanksgiving so I could get a good deal (and I’m thankful everyone I saw that evening was in SUCH a good mood).

Also, I am thankful for wine.

Buy tater tots, wrap them in bacon, roll them in brown sugar, bake at 400 for however long it takes for the bacon to cook, eat with joy.

I’ve done bacon-wrapped, fried, Martha’s recipe and traditional. This year I covered it in a butter-soaked cheesecloth. They’re all good, but fried wins.

In case I needed to say it, that’s sparkling cider. The kids didn’t get wine.

My grandmother’s silver, my wedding china, the dining room table E built.

He’s so patient when he thinks he’ll get fed.

Football

Proper feet-up, post-Thanksgiving relaxing

I am thankful for my messy house, because it means it is full of children (repeat, repeat, repeat)

I am thankful Evan didn’t really like pie so I got to eat his piece.

My photos this week are terrible because I used my actual camera so much I kept forgetting my phone. I promise to post a whole bunch (probably way too many) of those photos as soon as I finish my client editing.

Sunday:

Lincoln really loves Caroline

Pimp my Cozy Coupe

I caught craft herpes from glitter tulle

Monday:

Outlet shopping in style

Very important iPad work

I wore this baby so much this week

Tuesday:

My face is horrible, but Linc is waving goodbye to Target, because Target is our BFF

The pre-Christmas toy purge

Ballet waiting room selfie

Wednesday:

15 Month check-up

Poor Brutus misses his kids when they’re at school

Pie maker

Thursday:

Fascinated by the parade, AS THEY SHOULD BE

I escaped my family to photograph a brand new baby

My 8 lb turkey looks so sad on that huge plate

Friday:

Christmas Tree farm selfie

Dinner selfie

Walking home in the dark selfie

Saturday:

Early Christmas present

The dudes really like the new Star Wars game

You can’t see the mess in the dark

Despite both grown ups in our house being sick at least part of the holiday weekend, we managed to get our tree, decorate, and do a large number of Christmasy-things. I have a bunch of cleaning to catch up on, since that’s always the first thing that goes when you’re not feeling great, but I’m feeling super motivated knowing I have less than 2 weeks until Caroline’s party. Fingers crossed I can get the early prep done so I have time to actually make food. It would help if I started a menu…