My parents have loved each other for 50 yrs...so we celebrated BIG time

It wasn't my idea.

Not mine at all. But hey--if you put an idea in my head, I'll roll with it.

So when my dad said he wanted to celebrate the fact that my mom and him started dating and fell in love this time 50yrs ago, I took it on.

A nice, simple dinner at a restaurant is what he had in mind. But this mama of baby twins had other plans. Because, anyone with one baby knows how hard it is to be at a restaurant with that nursing baby--let alone two of them...not to mention the 6 other little kids (my sisters included) who would be with us too. And 50 years together warranted way more than just a simple restaurant dinner. So I told him I'd take care of it, with no restaurant in the plans--but something even better.

So I stayed up late planning. I sent emails out trying to track down excellent musicians, went to millions of stores after the kids went to bed, made decor late into the night, baked cake layers while babies napped, practised little speeches with all of the kids on weekends, planned a meal I didn't have to cook myself and told everyone to show up at our house in their Sunday best.

Because, when two people meet and fall in love when they're teens, it's a pretty big accomplishment to still be in love and actually like each other 50 years later.

You see, my parents are the type of people that we all aspire to be. They adore each other, they adore their family, they always ALWAYS put their family first and they know and have taught us that love means showing up. So they show up for each other, they show up for special events, they show up when their kids need help, they show up with meals in arms, they show up to hold crying babies, they show up when their kids are overwhelmed or stressed out, they show up for no reason--they're just always there for all of us. And always there for each other.

So this celebration of 50yrs of loving each other wasn't just about the fact that they are an incredible couple who deserve all of the praise in the world--it was also a thank you from my sister and I (and our families) to them for all that they have done for us over the years. For the excellent example that they have given us in modelling what a great, healthy marriage looks like--for the years of dedication to their family and grandchildren, and for the unconditional love that they have given us our entire lives.

So in knowing nothing other than they were coming for dinner (and had to be all dolled up), mom and dad showed up that day--and walked into our house to the sound of musicians playing beautiful music right in front of them...and a million grand kids running into their open arms.

And as they continued into our house, they found a table full of memories wrapped in gold frames (since 50's colour is gold, says Google)...



and sitting there tempting all of the kids sat the cake I made wrapped in milk chocolate and the cookies that I wish I knew how to make myself.

And of course there was a little extra for my dad--a booklet full of pages and pages of memories, songs, movies and events from 1969...

and an adorable little sign that my sister made all about my parents love story.

And then, to top it off...a huge over sized photo of them on their wedding day--just for kicks.

Because, you see...it's not every day that you get to take a minute out of your busy life to celebrate people in big ways. So we made sure to do it right.

So the table was set all fancy...





and the kids got their own fancy table too, which they were thrilled about--complete with little plastic wine glasses for their juice.

And we spent the afternoon celebrating together.

Just our family.

Just a small affair, with a big heart.



Because these two deserve all of the praise and love in the world.

So we listened to beautiful music, and snacked on appetizers and treats...

while dancing into the evening...



and decorating cookies to the sound of violins and cello's behind them.

And they ate a delicious dinner with pretty cloth napkins on their laps...just to be sure that they felt extra fancy and proper.

And we finished off the night with speeches from men in top hats, and a little performance from all of the kids, telling their Nana and Papa all of the reasons that they love them so much--which was pretty much the cutest thing ever.

And presented them with a little gift from us all--a photo book including pictures from their 50yrs together and pictures and writing from each of the kids all about their beloved Nana and Papa. 

And we celebrated until the sun went down and babies needed to be put into jammies...because celebrating such a huge milestone is utterly exhausting for two little babes. 

So to our amazing parents--congratulations on 50 wonderful years together.

50 years since that first date when my 16yr old mom was swept off her feet by this tuxedo wearing, dapper guy in the top hat.

50 years of love, patience, joys, hardships, kids, memories, adventures and many adorable grand kids...you've been a pretty amazing couple to watch. We love you mom and dad and we are so grateful to you for your constant love, support and help over all of these years.

We love you both to the moon and back. 

Love Erica (and us all) 

xox 

Mya's Tea Party

This is going to be quick. We all just got back from Dominican, so we're wading through piles and piles of laundry, the baby has been up 4 times already since I put her to bed just over two hours ago, and I'm wiped.

So with few words and a lot of pictures, here is our girls big day. She turned 7 last month, and a tea party was her request. So before I forget to actually place these pictures here for her to look at in years to come, I figured late was better than never.

So, a tea party. A cute girly tea party. I got a little excited about the details...because a tea party with a bunch of kids is pretty fun to organize. 

So we made treats for the kids to take home,

and borrowed the most adorable perfect set of tea cups from a friend (thanks Sarah!).

We welcomed all of her friends with cute signs that my dad had printed for us and encouraged all of the guests to wear their favourite dress or outfit (because a tea party needs to be fancy, of course).

And as I carefully iced every last one of those cupcakes for her pull apart cake and sprinkled hot pink sprinkles all over it, she was absolutely thrilled. 

So, here's the thing...

somehow our guest list turned into 18 kids--like a full classroom of kids in our house. So I literally had to run the party like my kindergarten classroom...with a variety of centres where the kids could flow from one to the next. 

And it actually worked like a charm. 

So we filled the table with little tea party food

and tiny heart shaped sandwiches, because, well it just felt appropriate...

and as kids piled into our house, we set them up with ribbons and Froot Loops and they made beautiful necklaces that they could wear to tea. 

and then we sent them off to their centres, where they continued to prep for the tea party by making beautiful bracelets for themselves out of gorgeous beads and charms...

 



and then sent them off to make cute bonnets (made simply by gluing paper plates and bowls together and adding ribbon)--and we had special black hats for Carter and Oliver to decorate since they were the only boys in the mix.

and then we had a Shopkins centre, where there were Shopkins galore for the kids to play with--just because, well these little Shopkins are all the rage right now (and I have no idea why). 

And then...just as they finished tying the last of their bonnets on and finished showing off their new necklaces and bracelets to eachother, they all sat down to a cute little tea party where they were served hot tea (or lemonade for those who prefered it) and they ate, and laughed, and giggled the whole way through it.   

 
And we taught them how to hold up their little pinky finger while sipping their tea...because, well, that's just how the fancy people do it apparently.

And then, just as they were jammed full of tea and sugar, we pulled out the piniata that was full to the rim with candy and let them go nuts.

and we played a little game of pin the tea cup on the tea pot...

and this new 7yr old was thrilled with all of her gifts.

And then, just as I was about to fall over from party exhaustion...I made her a candy drip cake, dripping in pink ganache and covered in her favourite candy for her actual birthday with our family--because I like to run myself ragged apparently.



So, there it is. Another birthday passed by. Another year older. Another party in the books.

Happy (late) 7th birthday Mya, to the sweet girl who made me a mom.

Erica xo