Posts by Mel McLellan

Depending upon how long you’ve followed this blog, you may or may not know that I have a thing for over-the-top birthday parties. There are many Martha Stewart-esque women I know who put me to shame in this, but I love a good theme and putting together details for an event. Seeing how my last big birthday bash was Seven’s 1^st birthday party, I had my work cut out for me in delivering something that would even remotely rival it for Serai Claire.

Seven and Serai also have birthdays that are just 3 days apart so on top all that, I also needed to create a birthday theme that would work well for a 3 year old boy and a 1 year old girl. If the theme could work well with the fact that our house is currently under renovation and that I’m 13 weeks pregnant and tired and unable to pull things together ever-so-precisely, that was a bonus. No sweat right?

Then it hit me – a pillow fort party! Pillow forts are awesome – everyone thinks so. Also, the more chaotic and hodge-podge the look, the better! The plates don’t match the cups? Who cares? What color should the streamers be? Answer: whatever! It doesn’t matter. The tablecloths are wrinkly — wrinkly sheets are the stuff pillow forts are made of! Also, pillow forts in houses that harken back to the 1980’s (our current living conditions) – well that just tugs at the heartstrings right? ;)

In the end I think it turned out pretty perfectly. Once I had it all hung, Sean and I just about decided to leave our living room like this forever.

Guests were instructed to arrive in pj’s and we feasted on waffles and other assorted breakfast foods. Easy prep and this pregnant lady didn’t even have to get out of pj’s to do this party. Brilliant if I do say so myself.

Seven is a true American: he just pulled up a chair and parked himself in front of the large pile of bacon.

February parties mean that all of the kids will be stuck inside your house – even when they eat cake – even when the icing gets all of their fingers and they go running around like maniacs on a sugar high – oh boy. Solution: white buttercream/cream cheese frostings with colorful fondant accents. Ah – the homeowner in me breathes a sigh of relief. I make cakes based on both of their interests – Thomas for Seven (of course) and a cake for Serai inspired by her first word: “kitty”. And because it’s a hodge-podge pillow fort party, random cake designs totally fit! I may never do anything but pillow fort parties ever again.

I topped it off with photos highlighting the kids’ year and we all just had a really great time. We are overwhelmingly fortunate to have all of the wonderful friends and loved ones that we do and any time we get to celebrate our little ones surrounded by them is a beautiful day.

Happy Birthday Seven and Serai Claire! We love you more than words can express and we’re so lucky to be your parents! We will cherish these memories forever and we hope the photos give you joy every time you see them.

Love,

Your Mama

Yep, you read that right. There’s a new McLellan babe coming our way in August! We are so excited to see our family grow. Now all of you with 3+ children, please tell us how to survive this! :)