BABY FOKKERS: 2015 Birthdays

I've just dropped the girls off at school, put on some washinng and found just a few minutes to sit down and catch up on my blog somewhat.

I just came back from a lovely Girls Spa Weekend. Rod and I were looking for some getaway specials for our anniversary and Rod came across a special at Pinehurst for a girls getaway A weekends accomodation, paint and wine event one night, 50 minute spa treatment, a yoga session one morning and breakfast each day. Definitely an awesome deal, and who doesn't want to take up the opportunity to experience a stay at Pinehurst (so much so that Rod was considering how he could get to go). I messaged my friend Nina and asked her if she'd like to join me, again who wouldn't want to go?
So we booked and before we knew it, it was time to go. Only an hours drive from my house, we felt like we were transported to a different point in time. Such charm the hotels and little village has. Overall a great experience, painting on canvas for the first time, a great opportunity to just relax, worry about myself and get to know my good friend even more! The one night we were done with dinner by 6:30 and we just decided to head back to the hotel room and try find a show or movie to watch, turn down service even asked why we weren't at a bar or something, Our only bad experience was a horrible massage therapist for my first treatment (thank goodness it was my first treatment and the second was done by a more experienced therapist, so it ended the stay on a good note, you can't just assume that a therapist at a resort like Pinehurst is going to be excellent!)

The girls were excited to have me back, I was transported back to reality very quickly as soon as I drove up our driveway! It amazed me that just 2 nights away felt longer and my girls looked slightly grown.

The initial purpose of this post was to catch up with the girls birthdays, thought family would like to see more photos as I didn't post too much on facebook! The 2 events I get to plan and go crazy with my planning! I love their birthdays and fulfilling the girls requests.

Emma this year asked for a painting party. Ruby introduced the girls to Color Me Mine when we were in California about 2 maybe 3 years ago?!), They got to paint ceramics which gets glazed and you can pick it up a few days later. We were at a shopping center one day in NC and happened to see one open, we enquired about a party and before we knew it, we reserved a party date. Emma couldn't wait, I think we booked about a month before, so she had to wait a while. We carried out the paint theme, and made an artitst/color splash cake. All the kids got to paint their ceramic and instead of a having a slice of cake to eat, I made everyone a cupcake to decorate, presented on a paint palette with various sprinkles in the partitions to decorate the cupcake with.
It seemed like everyone had a great time - actually when I went to pick up the guests artwork, the owner said she's taken my idea and now offering the cupcake decorating at one of their party themes! I asked for Royalties, but she just laughed!

As for Addison's birthday - she had it all planned out! A Barbie Mariposa birthday cake, face painting and balloons, sandwiches, popcorn, cookie decorating and a jumping castle. So we did just that minus the jumping castle - I could only imagine kids in dress up, painted faces and jumping, going wrong! I added on a game of pass the parcel, dress up, a photobooth and a yummy spread of food besides sandwiches. It seems like Addi and the guests had a good time.
I've always wanted to make a princess cake so I was excited about this theme and having the opportunity to experiment! Thanks to Youtube, Pinterest and the like for tips and ideas. Every birthday I'm always taking my chances experimenting with a new type of design for the cake - I'm grateful they turn out each time - I'm waiting for that one party where I'll have to fall back on buying cupcakes or a cake from our grocery store - which is so much easier and guaranteed to taste good.

Addi's birthday was crazy this year with the party and halloween both falling on the same day. A lot to prepare and handle in one day, but all fun in the end. Eventually during trick or treating, Addi said she had enough and just wanted to go home.

So much candy and cake to eat in the week...obviously not all was consumed, still so much candy lying around, probably still be around next halloween.

Here are some pics of the 2 special events - another birthday in December...I see a chocolate cake coming up to bake!