And I’m not even the one leaving!

My good friend (both on the interwebs AND in real life, which in itself is pretty amazing) Amanda is moving to Virginia in two weeks and I am sad. Her stupid husband is making her go. Ok, the Navy is making them go but it’s hard to be mad at a giant government institution rather than one guy. Even if he is a giant dork super nice.

Amanda is the kind of friend who says stuff like “One of these days we should go check out that museum” or “This summer, let’s go to the lake” or “There’s an apple festival in Salem this weekend that looks fun” and then ACTUALLY DOES IT. I am baffled by that kind of motivation. 99% of all my “Oh, we should totally go…” end with me sitting on the couch stuffing my face with Goldfish and watching a Law & Order marathon (yet another reason canceling cable might be good for me). They have made us let us tag along on so many fun weekend outings that last week when we WEREN’T with them, Madison, Amanda’s daughter (age almost 4),  turned to her mom and asked “Where’s Miss Suz?” unable to understand how it was possible to do stuff without us.

Besides inviting us to parties and barbecues and parks and beaches, Amanda is my magical porch fairy/hand me down baby toy provider. For the whole past year at least once a week we find presents/baked goods on our porch, always from Amanda & family, always delicious & useful. ALL of Baby Evan’s favorite stuff came from them, including a super duper awesome playhouse we’ll be taking ownership of after their going away party next weekend, where I plan to throw a giant fit and beg them to stay. But not before stuff that awesome house into the back of our minivan. It keep the kid entertained for FOUR HOURS last nigt.

OH. AND. WHO IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE A CAKE FOR BABY EVAN’S SECOND BIRTHDAY? I couldn’t even attempt something like the one Amanda made for his first birthday unless I am 100% prepared to cut off a finger/get very drunk/end up lying on the floor in tears after three hours.

Amanda introduced me to Twitter, to blog giveaways, to Gardener’s Lake, to the church we (sporadically) attend, and to a zillion other things. They play marbles with us and don’t even mind that E yells and I call people names. Madison loves Baby Evan (she’s started requesting her own baby brother) and does an amazing job of playing and sharing with him when they’re together. Their friendship has meant so much to us during the past year, especially in the transition from DINKs (dual income no kids) to Dad works, Mom stays home with a baby all alone and desperate for someone to talk to who doesn’t want to chew on her nipples.

I jokingly threatened to slash some tires to prevent their leaving, but I think Amanda’s a little afraid I wasn’t joking. But of course I was. Slashed tires would barely slow them down at all! Pulling some random bits out of the engine, now THAT would take a few weeks to straighten out.

Still kidding. Mostly. We’ll miss you guys!

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p.s. Today is the LAST DAY to vote in the BlogLuxe awards (bebehblog is nominated in the funniest category!) so if you wouldn’t mind clicking right over there on that little black button I would love you forever and ever too —–>

Blerg. That’s really all I have to say about Friday. For some totally unknown and mysterious reason my blog stop working at some point Thursday night. Of course, by the time I noticed I was already out of the house and although my iPhone is an amazing little piece of technology is was NOT HELPFUL in determining which of the eighty jillion lines of code held the error. By the time I got home and started working with my host service 90% of my readers had already given up on my blog so my pageviews for Friday are hovering right around 13. That is no way to become rich and famous. Sorry internets!

I think things are all straightened out now, besides the one error my Aunt Katie keeps getting which warns her about some sort of virus. Which my host service assures me is NOT THERE and even if it WAS it’s GONE NOW. Plus I always remember to cover my mouth when I cough and am totally addicted to hand sanitized so don’t worry. You won’t get it.

In actual news that someone might find interesting, Baby Evan ate three pieces of pepperoni last night. Ate. Just like he ate a pretzel on Thursday and some puffs Friday morning. Either he’s just been screwing with me all along or he’s finally learned to swallow his food, since I’m pretty sure pepperoni doesn’t just dissolve in your mouth. I don’t want to suddenly push him into three meals a day but I am going to make an effort to provide actual baby-appropriate food on a more regular basis. I’ll just steer clear of his know enemies: oatmeal, avocado and toast.

Besides a sudden improvement in his diet, Baby Evan seems to have aged several months in the few days since his birthday. As if KNOWING my baby is 1 isn’t traumatic enough, my baby isn’t even very babyish anymore. He’s started listening and following directions, which is both adorable (when he helps me put away his toys) and VERY USEFUL (when we’re in a yarn shop and he’s thinking about pulling all the yarn off the shelves). He can understand the word and the sign for “gentle” and was niiiiiiice and geeeeeentle today when he reached down and pet a 4 month old at playgroup. I suppose next we need to work on the difference between a baby and a cat.

And just for the record, 28 years ago today my teeny tiny mother gave birth to a giant baby without a single drop of pain medication. She’s an amazing mom and an overall wonderful person. Happy Birth of Your First (and clearly best) Child Day Mom!

I couldn’t find a good spot for the photo booth so ended up hanging it in front of my china cabinet. The lighting was not the best and I didn’t manage to get everyone but it was still a super cute idea. I would recommend assigning someone to catch all the guests as them come in the door and forcing them to engage in your fun photo opportunity. Including the noses!!

I don’t even know how many people came for the party but it was AMAZING. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family! I’ve never had such a successful party before, including all my own childhood birthdays. I wasn’t the most popular child. Maybe this is a good sign for his elementary school status, although if I have to throw a party this elaborate every year for the next decade I’m going to need access to a much larger budget. And also some high quality pharmaceuticals.

p.s. If you want a copy of your picture let me know!

Although my plan was to save money by making all the decorations for Evan’s circus birthday party, it didn’t take long for things to get out of hand with my budget. (Or at least that’s what WOULD have happened if I’d had a budget to begin with. I’ve never been good with numbers.) I would have been better off ordering a couple banners off Etsy, picking up paper plates and cups at the dollar store, plopping a hat on everyone’s head and calling it good. So don’t come around here looking for cheap party tips because I don’t have any. If you want inspiration, cute ideas or hints on where to find circus themed stuff, then by all means keep reading.

I decided I needed a wreath for the door at 9 pm Friday night. It’s tissue paper on cardboard.

Banner on the front porch. Craft paper from JoAnn Fabric.

Playbill font on craft store paper.

I pushed our buffet in front of the fireplace to keep the kids out and used it as a cake table. The photos on the mantle were done by Nina Benjamin, a local photographer. Tablecloth is just a couple yards of fabric from Joann’s. Circus tray is vintage from my grandmother, crown is from Michael’s crafts with a little felt badge I made glued on.

I used “Coffee Tin”, a free font I downloaded, and printed on paper rectangles I bought at the craft store. No cutting involved!

Popcorn boxes from the $1 section of Target, wind up clowns, gumball machines and pin wheels from the dollar store.

Prizes for the older kids, although the games were so disorganized I just handed them out to whoever I could find.

Origami circus animals from Michael’s.

I bought a 50-balloon helium tank from BJ’s for $22 and used ALL of it. Balloons outside, balloons inside, balloons on the ceiling, balloons on the staircase.

BALLOOOOOOOONS!

My proudest and most frustrating decoration – I cut every single one of these tiny triangles out by hand and sewed them together one at a time in a looooooooog streamer.

Clown noses ordered from Oriental Trading Co, free circus font downloaded from internet, tablecloth is fabric from Joann’s

Napkins from Celebrate Express (seriously, they had some good stuff)

Games: clothespin drop, pin the nose on the clown, coloring pages of (non-scary) clow faces

ALL those little circus graphics are actually from favor boxes I bought at Christmas Tree Shops. I cut them up and used them as my theme and color scheme. The silverware holders are actually pencil holders from the $1 section at Target. Tickets from iParty.

I ordered a photo book from Snapfish with a 30% off coupon code and left a few pages blank in the back to use as a guest book. The photos are a recap of Baby Evan’s first year.

Bean bag toss – the cloth was purchased at Target on clearance, E built the backing. Extra bean bags bought at Christmas Tree Shop.

More fabric from Joann’s, top hat and mustache from local party store, baby suspenders from Belt Outlet online.