The One with the Party...

Now that it's been well over a month since they turned 1, I figured I should write about Cole & Faith's First Birthday party. I already posted some pictures on Facebook, but I thought it would be nice to have it documented on here too. 

Rachel, from Sisterlee Photography, took their 1 year pictures a few days before their birthday and I love how they turned out! 

The party theme was "Milk & Cookies". I figured it was pretty gender neutral and who doesn't love milk and cookies?! 

 Everything I made was mostly made from a few yards of duck cloth, muslin, and burlap that I bought from Hobby Lobby. I either cut up to  make garland or sewed it to make banners. A huge thank you to my mother-in-law who let me borrow a lot of items she has collected over the years. She let me borrow some canisters, lots of platters for the food, table cloth, paper lanterns, and we wouldn't of survived the heat without her umbrellas. Both of Matt's grandmas are great bakers and made all the yummy cookies. We had Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, M&M's, Peanut Butter Kisses, along with my favorite, almond tarts, and chocolate-peanut butter balls.

The backdrop was the most time consuming part of all the decorations. I bought a cheap, king size sheet from Walmart, cut it in half and sewed the ends together to make it even longer. Then I took muslin and sewed ruffles every few feet. For the banner, I cut pennants out of muslin and used my Silhouette to make stencils so I could paint "Happy Birthday" in the font I wanted.

I had fun with my new Silhouette machine by cutting chalkboard contact paper I found for super cheap and made labels for the cookie jars and the kids' milk bottles. 

We saved Starbucks frapaccino bottles all summer long and used them for the milk glasses. My mom so graciously spent her night tying bakers twine around each one and attached little "1" tags that I cut out & stamped.

Matt's mom was also a huge help by making most of the food. Her pulled pork and pasta salad are my all time favorite.

 I loved the individual fruit cups my mom made. Something I've always wanted to do is a chalkboard runner. I got lucky and found chalkboard fabric that worked perfectly!

 The milk station included regular and chocolate milk, along with straws that changed the flavor of the milk.

I had so much fun making their 1 year boards. I still can't bring myself to throw them away.

They hung in the gazebo on either side of their monthly pictures...

I'm so glad I did this every month, but I am equally glad that they are over. It was so much work!

The gazebo also housed sugar cookie decorating and play-doh for the kids.

 

 Sweet & Saucy made their adorable smash cakes and I made the "one" toppers using some leftover muslin and paper straws.

Both grandparents out did them selves in the gift department. Besides tons of super cute clothes, Grandpa & Grandma Anema got them a custom wagon that even has a canopy, cup holders and an ice chest. (I don't know who was more excited, Matt or the kids ;)

And Grandpa & Grandma Rollema got them the cutest Tee-Pee! The love playing peek-a-boo in it :)

 

They were also spoiled by everyone else with many cute clothes and toys that have continued to keep them occupied daily. Thank you everyone!

We ended the festivities by enjoy awesome cookie ice cream sandwiches that Mindy Hibma made for me(which I was looking forward to most:) 

And the kids had fun finding the right string to pull to release all the goodies out of the cookies & milk pinata :)

I can't begin to describe the joy that these two have brought me this past year. There is nothing more that I'd rather be than their mommy and I thank God every day for that gift. Sometime I sit back and can't believe they are mine. That I get to spend every day taking care of them. I want time to freeze and speed up all at the same time because I love the age they are now, but I can't wait for all the fun we get to experience with them as they continue to grow up. 

Not all of their birthday parties will be like this, but this could be the only first birthday I ever throw and I enjoyed every single minute of planning it, decorating for it, and celebrating it :) 

I can't end their 12 month post without their LAST monthly picture :)

  

The One with One Month Away...

This picture was taken at this time 1 year ago and 3 weeks before Cole & Faith were born...which means they will be 1 in only 3 short weeks! I've heard it from every parent who has had an almost 1 year old and it's true, this year has flown by and they have and are growing up way too quick. 

The past few months have been filled with party prepping. The next couple weeks will be jam packed with going to Hawaii with Matt's family next week, getting my classroom ready the week after that, and then school starts and it's their birthday! I'm having fun crafting away.  Up until now, I've always helped everyone else make decorations for their kids' birthdays. I still can't believe I will be throwing a party for my own kids! 

We haven't been up to much this month, but we did go to the O.C. Fair with our good friends, 

the Scholtes 

 and the Witts.

My smiley boy...

Faith's new scrunchy nose smile :) 

`11 months`

*This was by far the hardest monthly picture to take. It took me two separate tries to get these wiggle worms to cooperate and not throw and/or eat the chalkboard.*

Cole Matthew

Your sleeping patterns: Thankfully there's nothing new in the sleeping department. You don't need quite as much sleep as your sister. You're always the first to wake up in the morning and from naps. 

Your feeding schedule: You now have a total of 5 teeth! 2 on the top and 3 on the bottom. You love and your and and all food and would probably eat all day if I let you. You let me know you want more by waving your arms up and down in the air and saying, "uh-uh-uh".

Sounds and motions you make: You have become quite the speedy crawler and the newest thing you've learned is pulling yourself up, walking along furniture. There have been a hand full of times where you've even stood without holding onto anything for a few seconds! I used to think Faith would be the first to walk, but I think it might be you now!!

Your dislikes: You're still not a fan of getting your diaper changed but distractions definitely help.  

Things/toys you love: You have found Cooper's doggy door and could sit there and push it back and forth all day. Cooper doesn't seem as amused :)

What we are learning this month: Walking is up next!! 

Faith Olivia

Your sleeping patterns: You are a great little napper and lay down right away and snuggle your head into your lovey. You now take naps in our bedroom in a pack n' play so you don't get woken up by Cole :)

Your feeding schedule: You have 5 teeth too! 3 on the top and 2 on the bottom. You also love every type of food, especially Mum-Mums.

Sounds and motions you make: You are still a wiggle worm. I'm a little worried about how I'm going to contain you while we fly to Hawaii for 5 hours next week. You love to smile and giggle. You are a getting good at imitating. When we go on bike rides I say, "weeeeeee" and you do it along right with me. 

Your dislikes: You continue to be a momma's girl so your least favorite thing is not being around me...which I do kind of love :) You go to anyone just fine, but you love following me around the house wherever I go. Definitely working on that one! 

Things/toys you love: You love books and puzzle pieces. You also love drinking water out of your sippy cup.  

What we are learning this month: Walking!!

The One With The 4th and 10 Months...

I have been LOVING being able to spend every day at home with these two! It is so much fun seeing their smiling faces waiting for me in the morning.

We spend our days swinging in the backyard...

going on family bike rides...

going to VBS...

playing with all our toys...

and swimming!

This kid can't get enough of the water.

~THE FOURTH OF JULY~

We started the morning off with a family bike ride around the neighborhood. Then, Cole decided he was going to crawl! None of this belly crawling business for this guy. He went straight to crawling on his knees. So worth the wait!

Not long after, Faith decided that she was ready to crawl on her knees too! Such a competitive little thing already :)

We had a busy, yet fun day planned. First, we stopped and The Bomgaars' house and Cole and Faith had fun playing with their "cousins" Jake, Janelle, Brooke, and Luke, plus lots of other kiddos!

Then we headed to the 2nd Annual Independence Day Block Party at the Abrahams' to play with even more friends! 

Olivia, Faith, Cole, and Seth

While the adults had fun playing in the Corn Hole Tournament, the kids had a bike parade. 

We started the night off right by listening to Kelly Sybesma, Janice Westra, and Rachel Streelman sing the Star Spangled Banner.

We ended the weekend by celebrating Matt's new job! He is the new Distribution Center Manager at ThyssenKrupp. We are so proud of him! 

~10 MONTHS~

Cole Matthew

Your sleeping patterns: Sleeping has stayed the same this month. You are able to sit up in your crib now so you love to sit and play with your lovey after your done sleeping.  

Your feeding schedule: You still have 2 teeth, but your top 2 could pop through any day now. You are eating more table food now and you still can't get enough. You love to stuff as many pieces in your mouth as possible. 

Sounds and motions you make: You are officially crawling now!! You need a little motivation to get started though. You are still very content just sitting and examining your toys. You can say, Bababababa and you love patting your hand over your mouth while you say Ahhh Ahhh Ahhh. 

Your dislikes: Other then loud noises, you have recently started despising getting your diaper changed. You need lots of distractions to keep you happy and still. 

Your favorite toys: This one... 

It has lots of things to inspect.

What we are learning this month: I think the next thing to learn will be pulling yourself up and some words.

Faith Olivia

Your sleeping patterns: Getting you to lay down has become more of a challenge now that you can pull yourself up in your crib. This week I actually started putting you down for naps in a pack n play in our bedroom which seems to help. Once you're asleep your out.

Your feeding schedule: You have 2 teeth as of today! You are also getting more table food and are a very good eater. We still haven't found anything you guys don't like. 

Sounds and motions you make: As I said earlier, you learned to pull yourself up and you just started walk along things, like the couch. You also love to climb over Cole and on my lap 

when I sit on the floor and play with you guys. Your first official word was "dada" but you say "mama" all the time and know what it means, especially when you want something or are sad. That's my girl :) You also love to "sing" Ahhhhhh and will sing along with anyone who does it too. 

  

Your dislikes: You've never liked being contained, and that has only grown more now that you can move around.

Your favorite toys: You still love taking toys away from Cole, but you also love anything that isn't a toy, like our cell phone and the remote control, both things you are not aloud to have. You think you are so clever when you happen to get your hands on them though. 

What we are learning this month: More words and dare I say...walking??

Only 2 more months till they're ONE, which means I need to get back on the birthday planning! I took a break for awhile but the theme has already planned and some things have been purchased, but now it's time to start putting it all together. Let the crafting begin!!

For those of you who stuck with me and read through all my rambling...

The next blog post will be of the 9 month photo-shoot Sisterlee Photography did for us. I can't wait to share what they captured!