Monday, April 28, 2014

Jimmie's Early Birthday Party

Jimmie is going to be 11 months in just 2 days. On Friday, after graduation, we had planned to do an early birthday party for him. It's extremely rare that we have family with us, so since we had my family, Grandma Foulk, and Aunt Kim out here...I thought it would be a great time to celebrate together!  No one will be out here next month on Jimmies real birthday and we wanted to do a party with family while we could.  (Don't worry, we will do a small celebration on his real birthday too)

We decided to do a Super Hero theme. It was pretty dang fun, if I do say so myself!  I didn't get to do all of the superhero things I had planned with the craziness of graduation and moving right around the corner, but it still turned out great.  I've found that Dollar Tree is my best friend and a great way to do a very DIY birthday party.

Here are our invitations:



Of course, I realized after the fact, 2 p.m. is totally Jimmie's nap time.  So we pushed it to 3 p.m.   A good thing to consider if you're planning a little one's birthday party ;)

His Super Highchair... birthday crown and all!

Super Fruit Skewers... All of our foods gave you different super powers :)

The set up for our "Photo Booth".  I thought it was a fun way to remember who was here to celebrate with us.  I made all of the props just from paper and popsicle sticks and the backdrop is just tri-fold cardboard presentation board ($1) that I spray painted and took an exacto-knife to it.  

A few decorations to celebrate Jimmie's Birth

Some of the food before it was all out.  And of course, flowers from graduation..haha

Testing out the photo booth.  
For the photobooth, we just had the display shown above and stuck the camera on the tripod.  We set the camera to self-timer so you had 10 seconds to push the button and get situated.  Sometimes, part of the picture got cut off since no one was "taking them".  But I think they turned out pretty fun!

Evan and I

Grandma, Aunt Megan, and Jimmie

Uncle Evan and Grandma Foulk

Uncle Evan taking the "KaPow" sign a bit too literally with Uncle Nathan :)

Great Grandma Foulk and Grandpa Foulk.  Grandpa's sign that you can't see says, "We Love You!"

Mom & Dad getting in on the action.  

Jimmie sharing his gift to us...

A family picture

Aunt Megan taking her secret identity very seriously

Aunt Megan and Uncle Evan 

Love this shot.  Too bad Super Tall Uncle Nate sat on the tall stool.  

Uncle Evan 

Aunt Meg and the birthday boy!  Caught in the act...

But still so dang cute!

Great Aunt Kim, Daddy, and Jimmie... looking way, way too cute!

Aunt Kim and Daddy!

"I'm finished with these pictures, Dad!"

Daddy and the boy with his "Super One" crown.  It was pretty durable.  He's still playing with it!

Grandma & Grandpa Foulk with Jimmie

Opening some birthday presents.  He actually really didn't like the paper.  He got tired of opening presents after just 2 of them, hah!

Liking his little couch

Looking way too big!!

He liked to pound on the boxes more than open them

Not too sure about this...

Woohoo! A fun toy!

Lucky skunk trying some birthday pizza with Dad

Trying out a toy

Some party guests

Something was very exciting

Lookin' good, Nate!

Here's the banner I made.  It's just construction paper and yarn.  
His superhero-ed name will hang in his new room for the next year!

Monthly pictures... Birth-10 months.  Crazy to see how he has grown each month!

Playing with some toys

The birthday cake!

Cutting the first piece... very, very carefully

Not sure about this...

Hmm... It's actually not so bad I guess.

THIS stuff is DELICIOUS!

After cake was bath time and bed time.  We had so much fun all getting together, talking, taking pictures, opening presents, eating cake, and of course, playing & watching Jimmie.  He is getting to be quite the entertainer and, as always, is just Mr. Personality.  

To go along with his birthday party, Jimmie decided to add to the "firsts".  The very next day, I happened to feel inside his mouth and realized that his first tooth had finally broken through.  He's just trying to catch up to his cousin, Karsten, who has 2 teeth (even though he's 5 month's younger!).  

Overall, it was a very fun & exhausting day.  Between graduation and a birthday party, everyone was definitely ready for bed on Friday.  So grateful to have been able to celebrate with the family that could be here and look forward to being able to spend future birthdays with even MORE family!!

Can't believe how big this boy is getting.  He is so incredibly funny & we just love him to pieces.  There aren't even words to describe how blessed we are to have him.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Graduation from BYU

As many of you know, I've been finished with my school work since October-November 2013. I officially graduated in Dec 2013. It has been a whirlwind of a journey with many highs and many lows. I have made some wonderful connections, friends, and overall "decent people" (-Prof. Tim Morrison). I have blessed to spend time with family who have lived far and near while in Utah. I have loved learning new things everyday and growing as a person. I came to BYU in the fall of 2009 with the expectation of finishing in April 2013. Instead, I walked at graduation a year later. I thought for sure I would meet my return missionary husband I'm some General class at BYU, be married in temple sometime around graduation or shortly after.  Instead, I met the love of my life in the summer of my Freshman year as I visited New Jersey.  After a baptism and a year engagement, we were married in the temple...2.5 years ago.  Not only was I married by the time I graduated, but I spent the last 2 semesters of classes, 2 teaching practicums, and half of my student teaching VERY pregnant. I finished the first half of my student teaching 13 hours before my water broke. And though it felt nearly impossible after spending 3 months with my baby boy at home, I went back to school every day to complete the practicum for my minor and the rest of my student teaching. Without the unbelievable amount of support, encouragement, and guidance, I probably would not have been able to accomplish all that I have.  So thank you to all of you. Since finishing school on Halloween, I have since gone back to Foothill Elementary and have been working as an aide and PE teacher. Without my education experiences at BYU, I wouldn't have been introduced to my current job. It has been years of experiences that I will never forget. 

So, thank you BYU! It's been real. 

Jim's Aunt Kim came to visit for her Spring Break. It's been so fun getting to spend time with her! My family drove down from Idaho on Thursday for graduation. It's been really great to have so much family around!  Here are some of my favorite shots: