CTBaker in the Acres: party planning

Thursday, August 30, 2012

GAME ON

It's game day, y'all!

You can feel it in the air! Everywhere you look there are Gamecock fans of all ages, shapes, and sizes decked out in their Gamecock spirit wear {including the Bakers}. It's an awesome sight to behold. Last year, I actually started a post on this particular phenomenon, but never uploaded the pics. Oh well! If you live anywhere near Cola., SC...you don't need my pics to understand.

Any who... I haven't posted about CTBakerDesigns.com in a while. And I realize I'm a little late in posting this, but I have recently created some fun theme invitations, as I had a client planning a tailgate engagement party. And NEVER FEAR! If you are not a Gamecock fan - I can change the culahs {colors}!!!

No need for fancy tailgate spots for a great party! Why not have a team spirit shindig in the comfort of your home?!?

Go for it! And GO COCKS!

Monday, August 27, 2012

40th Fanfare

I have been reveling in these amazing morning temps the last few days. It's been almost fall-ish! The 90 degree heat of the afternoon is a little more tolerable when you have a brisk morning. I guess I can thank hurricane Isaac for sending some kookie weather pattern our way, but I sure hope he takes it easy on the Gulf.

Any who, we had a great weekend! It was very productive, yet relaxing for the most part. We knocked out a few to-do list projects, which always feels good. And we went out for a yummy dinner in Harbison with Shan's family for our annual celebration of his and his brother's birthdays. It was a beautiful, crisp night and we literally had to drag the kids to the car kicking and screaming from playing in the fountain and on the playground outside the restaurant.

Thanks to my S-I-L for taking a couple of pics that I stole from her FB.

Should this caption be...The 3 Stooges or Like Father, Like Sons?

I love Fulton "eyeing" the cake. Mrs. Baker had a cute reason why she put a 12 on the cake to honor both Shannon and Randy. Shan's is the 14th and Randy's is the 24th. She also said she didn't think it'd be safe to put 81 candles (38 and 43) on there. ;-)

Poor Kirstin.

We also celebrated the 40th birthday of my dear friend Anne Stuart on Friday night. Her hubby, sister, and sisters in law threw her a fantastic BBQ and party. My slack self didn't take the first picture either. Sometimes I'm just too lazy or having too much fun and I forget. I got a great but very dark video at the night's end, but will NOT be sharing that! ;-)

{source)

In the last year or so we've started attending and hearing about lots of great 40th birthday celebrations... trips, fabulous parties, surprise gifts, etc. It kinda reminds me of when everyone was getting engaged and there was so much pressure for the guy to come up with the most creative scenario. So I'm saying it now...the heat is on! Shan and I have two years to get it together.

Our birthdays are 2 months apart and we celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary that same year so we want to do something out of the ordinary {for us}. I love that we get to celebrate that milestone together. We've thought of doing a once-in-a-lifetime trip together, individual parties, surprise/no surprise, a joint party for the 2 of us, a group party with several others who turn 40 at the same time, a mountain/beach weekend with friends...all kinds of stuff.

So many great options! What to do, what to do???

I'd love to know how other folks celebrate milestone birthdays. What's the best you've ever heard about or attended?

XO,

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Let the Games Begin!

We are LOVING the Olympic games in the Baker house right now! The boys have been staying awake way too late to watch as many events as they can. Our favorite events so far have been swimming, synchronized diving, mens gymnastics, and ladies gymnastic trials. I am so impressed by the talent the young athletes possess. Simply amazing. And by young I mean...y.o.u.n.g.! Missy Franklin and Gabby Douglas... Yeah. I could be their mom!

Any who. We were so excited about the summer games that we decided to have some friends and neighbors join us for the opening ceremonies on Friday night.

We had a spread of barbecue and some awesome summer sides - coleslaw, hash brown casserole, fresh watermelon and berries, fresh baked sourdough bread, and cupcakes! Our friends gave their dishes Olympic names.

I made some "Gold Medal Surprise" pineapple punch for the kids and Shan whipped up some festive "Johnny-All-American" blue cocktails for the adults. We also served water with raspberry and blueberry garnished ice cubes. (I was kinda slack about taking pictures. Sorry! This is all you get.)

I made some simple decorations and had little trivia game for the kids. I made a wreath of the Olympic rings. Easiest thing EVER! I should have done a tutorial, but oh well. In case you can't look at it and figure it out and you want to know exactly what I did, just comment or shoot me an email. I made a "torch" with a glass cylinder and some tissue paper, and I made some cupcake toppers from some flags I found on a home school website.

Our trivia question was "Guess the number of countries participating in the 2012 Olympic Games. (Hint: It's the same amount of gumballs in the jar!)". Our precious winner who guessed the closest said 180. Can you guess correctly without Googling? ;-)

As with any Baker function, children are always welcome! They played so hard outside and inside, ate lots of watermelon and cupcakes, and guzzled their signature punch. They even held out until the USA was on parade.

Overall I thought the Opening ceremony was fantastic and filled with great symbolism of the history of the UK with impressive theatrics and music. I loved hearing tributes to Queen, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles. And the Mary Poppins scene was awesome! Who couldn't appreciate that?

The boys are really enjoying the games. They like to act out each event. It's so funny! I think it's a great source of inspiration for them. Fulton has expressed that he'd like to take gymnastics...I think that's pretty cool. Oliver, however, may have to join him...(here's a video clip.)

I just love that he "sticks" the landing does the gymnast's salute! Tweet-potatuh!!!

I hope y'all are enjoying as much of the Olympics as we are. It has given us something exciting to look forward to during these last couple of hot weeks of summer!

XO,

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Ollie turns 3!!!!

It's so hard to believe that this precious chunk of love, born with black hair and just shy of 9 pounds just turned THREE!

January 15, 2009

Oliver Shannon Baker

I just want to kiss those cheeks and snuggle with that sweet baby one more time!!!

2011

You're getting big so fast!

I cannot begin to tell you how much joy he has brought to our family.

Here's Oliver at 3...
Personality: He is spunky, sassy, feisty, and so incredibly sweet. He listens very well and minds the guidance we give him. He is helpful and compassionate. I have been told by his preschool teacher and several others that they are amazed by his good southern-boy manners. He's not so fond of sharing, but he's learning.

Toys: His favorite things are his set of Cars2 cars and racetrack, monster trucks, and Toy Story figures

Activities: His scooter! He loves his scooter that Santa brought. He'd ride it all day if I let him. His big brothers...he loves any chance he gets to play with them. Coloring and painting with watercolors seems to be a new fave too.

Foods: He really likes Mexican, but if he had his druthers, he'd eat breakfast food all day long! He loves chocolate milk and sweet tea!

Friends: He loves all his buddies, but his best bud is Hampton "Hanton" Dubose. He is the younger brother of one of Fulton's BFF's. They are so precious together!!

Books: Snowy Olie and There's a Wocket in My Pocket

Sam and Fulton continue to be the best big brothers to him. They all look forward to seeing each other when we get S & F from school. Oliver just lights up the second they get in the car!

He was really in to Snowmen and Santa this year. And when I asked him what kind of party he wanted, he said a "snowy rollie party" (after the book he loves). Since he's a January baby, that wasn't that hard to pull off.

We had a family-style party with family and friends who are close to Oliver. It was great fun and the kids had a blast! We had a snow party indeed... we had a {styrofoam} snow-ball fight, we made it snow in the den with packing peanuts, there was a delicious hot chocolate bar that was the BIGGEST hit, and marshmallow snowman party favors. We had a yummy pizza supper with a big salad and ambrosia. Even though it was pretty chilly out, the kids bundled up and played the entire time. They didn't seem to mind at all.

For his actual birthday, on Sunday, we took him to his place of choice for lunch. Then later that evening, mom and dad had us over for burgers and a chocolate chip cookie sundae! I think it's safe to say that he was well celebrated and had a great birthday!

Here are a few {thousand}pics...