Otis' 6th Birthday Week

Otis was a really lucky boy this year.  He had a birthday week with two birthday parties and a birthday dinner.

The first party we invited our family and friends to celebrate with us.  I forgot to get the camera out for this party and almost didn't remember for the next. There was way to much food thanks to Pinterest and nonna.  My favorite discovery was Fried Bocconcini, Yummy!!!

One of my favorite moments from this party was at cake time.  Nonna was trying to get his attention and said "Otis you have to come over and make a birthday wish."  He then pipes in "I already did I wished I was a superhero."  to add to the story I later was recounting it to someone and he corrects me to say "I didn't wish I was a superhero.  I was a superhero!"  While striking a superhero pose.  Amazing!

His actual birthday was on a Tuesday.  We have made it a tradition that on your birthday you can eat whatever it is you want for dinner.  Otis had requested we go out for chicken wings.  Both kids had a fever, Otis was determined to go out for wings.  Nanny was down for the week so she watched Marlo so we could have a nice dinner out.  He had a blast we drew all over the table and took pictures of course.  The servers brought out ice cream and sang him happy birthday.  After dinner we had a surprise for him.  Nanny had given him birthday money for him to go shopping.  He had no idea until we got to the store.  He got to pick out all kinds of things.  He did a really good job figuring out how to best spend his money and get a variety of things.

At the second party we invited his friends to come over and play.  Last year Otis was not able to invite anyone from school as we were in Niagara for the passing of Big Nonno and could not get any invites out in time.  This year he invited way to many friends we had 22 kids including Otis running around in and out.  Thank goodness the weather was nice and they were able to be outside. I have no idea what we would have done if they all had to play in our house.  I spent a fare bit of time stressing over the weather.  It would have never worked if it was raining.

This years choice of themes was Star Wars.   I made up an invitation and had it printed at Staples as my printer decided to break.  Other then that I had so many ideas, yet I felt there were just to many kids to really plan anything.  Plus I just didn't want to spend a fortune.  8 Star Wars plates were $5 just to be thrown in the garbage.

I managed to find a Starwars back drop to use as the main decor and then added blue and white balloons, plates, tablecloth and cups.  Most of the boys that have Starwars shirts wore them.  It was so cute.

Last but not least cupcakes were in order as I needed to make both gluten and gluten free cupcakes as there were 6 kids with dietary restrictions.  I bought a pack of sticker and made my own cupcake toppers.  We even had a digital candle.  I had no idea there was such a thing.  Is there really even a need for one?

Happy 6th Birthday my big boy.  I love you!!!

Super Hero Birthday Party

Otis' birthday fell on a Sunday this year.  He was lucky enough to have his party on his actual birthday. I managed to get everything I planned done even with being out of town for the week.  This was the first year he had a kids party and a family party.  I won't lie by the end of it all I was exhausted.  My mom brought enough food for 50 people as usual.  

It seemed like all the kids had a lot of fun.  The kids played for awhile as everyone got here. We had snacks and played a few games.  Birthday cupcakes were for dessert and then the gift opening exploded. Otis seemed to have a great time and was very happy with being five.  He had counted down everyday from 10 days down.  Telling most people when he saw them that his birthday was in X amount of days.

Dave and I gave Otis his gifts first thing in the morning.  We tried to hold him off until 9am but only made it to 8:30am.  I find he has an easier time processing all of his gifts when he gets them through out the day compared to all at once.

Etsy was my friend for all of the party supplies this year.

• PARTYonBOUTIQUE makes personalized paper products.  The Cupcake toppers and all other super hero stickers were from her.  She sends you a PDF File and you can print as many as you need.  

• theangryrobot makes buttons.  I was able to get a set that had different sound effects on them.  Like the old school Comics.  

• ClickityClack supplies unfinished wood items.  I got wood peg people.  and made them into super heroes.  

• I went to Google images to get pictures of super heroes to use in making garland.  

Overall I would say it was a success.  

Party Planning

It is birthday season around here.  I am in planning mode.  I think we have finally decided on a theme.
Otis has determined he would like an Avengers party.  No not just a superhero party an Avengers party.

I was thinking of even playing some party games this year.  The only one I can think of is Pin The Tail on the Donkey or maybe I will call it Pin the star on Captain America's shield.

The options are endless I just need to get myself organized so I don't run out of time.

Sushi Birthday Party

Just before Christmas I had asked Otis if he had wanted a rocket birthday or a sushi birthday.  He chose a sushi birthday.  Just to be sure I would ask him regularly what kind of a birthday party he was going to have and he would answer a sushi birthday.

This year I decided to have a party just for Otis and for go our Annual Family Birthday Event #4.  I just didn't have it in me.  I guess it was best as I was bed ridden for almost two days with a bug afterwards.

I tried to make a large sampling of food as I knew not everyone would like sushi.
Jaz made deviled eggs, My father in law brought cheeses and my mom brought home made spring rolls from a lady she works with.  To add to the theme I steamed up some edamame. I made mostly vegetarian and crab based maki. There really wasn't anything to be afraid of for those who have never had sushi.  I even got my dad to eat sushi and he said it was OK.

The kids seemed to have a good time.  For the most part you couldn't tell there were six kids in the house.  Otis had all of them downstairs watching him play video games.  We had a marching band go through the living room with many drums and a guitar. They all played really well with each other. Most of them did not know each other, they only knew Otis.

Otis' cake this year was Cupcakes made to look like sushi.  I borrowed a steam basked from Jasmine and put the cupcakes in it.  I used white candy sprinkles for the rice, red sugar for roe and black licorice as the nori(seaweed) and of course you can't forget the fish.

Then came the presents.  Otis received some very amazing gifts this year.  Nanny bought him a netbook.  He is one very lucky boy and we are thankful for everything that was given to him.  Dave and I were at a loss on what to get the boy that has everything.

(Emily is wearing the skirt I made her.  I love seeing the things I make being used)  

We finally decided to get him a hodge podge of things.  Every holiday and birthday I try to make sure to get him a book.  This year I found three at the warehouse sale.  Dave picked up a cover for his DS.  We got him a pair of Pirate rain boots since he has outgrown the frog boots he wore for almost two years. I can't forget the wheel barrel.  It is proudly in our back yard with a bunch of dirt in it.  I love how it is a miniature version of an adult wheel barrel

 I also try to make him something as often as I can.  I made him a car wallet (pictured above). I just need to finish a few things on it.  It will be great for restaurants and sleepovers etc.

I ordered Sushi Printed Fabric from luckykaerufabric on Etsy. I cut out pieces of sushi and used it on the table cloth and on the Favour boxes.  I also made a little gift for each kid out of the sushi fabric.  More on them later.

I have been saving these Takeout boxes for almost 4 years.  Good friends of ours gave these boxes with CFL light bulbs in them as wedding favours.  At the end of the night they had so many left over we ended up with a stash of light bulbs and take out boxes.  I knew I would find a use for them some day.

I was going to order these chopsticks online but the shipping to Canada was way to much for me to justify.  Luckily I can across these clothespin chopsticks in town.  I love when a plan comes together.

This is how Otis fell asleep that night.  I think he had fun at his birthday party.

Happy Birthday my little boy.

IV@#$O Family Birthday Event #3

Last week we hosted our 3rd Annual I. Family Birthday Event. We went to the Andy Warhol Exhibit at the Children's Museum in town. I am pretty sure the adults had more fun then the kids.



There was a forehead injury just before the cake. This year is the first year that Otis was able to blow out his own candles. All of the singing freaked Otis out a bit. He was very excited about having a birthday cake though.

The Cake. Lets talk about the cake. It turned out fantastic. I have been waiting a long time to make this cake for Otis' birthday. If you are interested you can find the instructions here.

I originally used a vegan recipe for the cake. I should have doubled the batch it turned out the thickness of a Frisbee. I then decided for the sake of my sanity a boxed cake would have to do. It was a hit. Everyone gobbled it up.
The party turned out to be small and wonderful. There many other events like weddings and proms scheduled for the same date so many Friends weren't able to make it. In the end we got some good quality visiting in.


This picture is of a sight I have seen many times which has been missing as of late. The three boys on the couch enjoying life. We also found out that (Little) Shawn and Ana will be getting hitched at the end of Summer. Yeah!!! They will be hosting the event at the Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto. I have always wanted to go to an event there.

Otis' Birthday Trip

So I asked Otis what he wanted to do for his birthday.

He quickly responded that he would like to go to Ikea to see the big toy Section.

So a phone call to Jazz and an hour or so later we were on our way.

Oh and there was a catch he didn't want to take off his monster P.J.s.

Well, it was his birthday and he gets to do whatever he wants on his birthday as all little boys should.

We went Ethel's to play with the Balls (Pool Table). By the way it has been fixed and now we have to pay for him to drop the balls in the holes. $6 later he had had his fill.

I was happy to make all of his little dreams come true.

A lady there asked if he was ready for bed I then answered "Nope it is his birthday." She gave me a stange look. But I didn't care.

Birthday Message

Ohdeedoh posted a Happy Birthday to Otis

Check it out

JEEP JEEP

It took a whole five minutes for him to figure out how to forwards and Back. He just needs to get the steering.
While we were up for dinner all he wanted to do was "mumble mumble stairs buttons" I asked him do you want to go downstairs and he said "O.K."


He basically lived in the Jeep give or take the three minutes at the piano and the speed bath. Back to he Jeep naked.

The Jeep did cause some issue with reverse. Otis adjust by just revving it and feeling the wheel role under his hand.


He calls the Jeep Buttons