Grayson's 2nd Birthday-THE PARTY!

I promise this is the last post about Grayson's birthday!  I seriously love birthdays and love for them to be over the top special so we celebrate in a big way.  Plus- why wouldn't I celebrate such a blessing? ;)

The theme for Grayson's party was vintage picnic.  With his birthday being at the end of July, I knew it would be too HOT for a traditional picnic.  There is a cute little farm in Greeneville that I LOVE LOVE LOVE and they happen to have a pavilion for events!  Wahoo!  It always has a nice breeze and I wouldn't have to worry about rain.

I feel like I did not get very many detail pictures but I did get a lot of people pictures.  In 10/20/30 years, when Gray looks back, he will see how much love was at his party.  I was not too worried...

Picnic quilts-empty cake stand ready for a pie

Birthday cupcakes

Vintage (looking) Cracker Jacks

Artie and Gray

Austin (Awkin) and Gray

Gray insisted that sit with Austin to blow out his candles!

He LOVED Austin singing Happy Birthday to him

Aunt Margie and Uncle Homer

Grayson's great-great Aunt and Uncle

Sweet friends 

Miss Mary

Grandma Rosanna with Autymn

Uncle Tyler

Austin, Ashley and Rachael

The only darn picture of us and I look a bit disheveled ha!

Gray and his new Lightening chair

 

Sweet Rachael

Grayson's cousin Autymn riding his new tricycle

Sweet face!

Grayson was not exactly happy about it.

Cute shirt made by Rebecca

The back

 I love this picture haha

Chalkboard that sat with the snacks! 

Grayson and Pop Pop

Playing with his new toys

Centerpiece

I made little signs and pinwheels to go in the centerpieces

What wasn't photographed-

Cokes in glass bottles, mason jars with cute straws, strawberry shortcake and lots of yummy food. No biggie right?  

It was such a fun day!  In fact- it was so fun that I am already planning Grayson's 3rd birthday ;)  

Hope you had a great weekend! 

2 Year Photo Shoot

Have you ever been so busy that you have no time to blog? No? Oh....moving on!

The theme for Grayson's birthday party this year was "vintage picnic".  Being the ridiculous obsessive crazy person I am, Grayson's 2nd year photo shoot had to reflect that theme.  The goal was to be able to use these pictures at his party, so the had to match people!  The problem began when I could not find any suspenders for his size of person.

Does anyone know what is up with that?

Was there a major incident with suspenders that I am unaware of?  Maybe it was the wrong time of year to be looking?  Alas...no suspenders.

Which meant that I was going to dwell on that until it was almost too late to take pictures for his party.   On my quest to find the elusive suspenders, I spotted a girls headband bow that might work.  It was cheap and I so bought it hoping I would use it as a back up.

The day of Gray's birthday, with Artie there to help, we hauled a few props outside (bow tie included) and shot as much as a 2 year old would allow ;)  Which is 15 minutes...in case you were wondering.  

So I will leave you with one million pictures of my child because he is THE most beautiful baby ever born ;)

This one is out of focus but I loved it. 

 I thought it looked like a page out the Ralph Lauren catalog. 

The 15 minutes that I did shoot went well!  I was SO thankful that Artie was there to help because little man is WILD.  He wanted to explore in the field the whole time.  I can't believe how big he looks in these!  Sweet boy is my joy!  

Click here for last year's birthday post

Happy Birthday Grayson!!!

Dear Grayson,
I can not believe that you are 2! You are the sweetest thing to ever come into my life.  You seriously are SWEET!  Daddy and I say (almost) every night that we do not want to put you to bed because you are just so sweet. And FUN! You seriously crack us up all day.

It is amazing how many things you are learning everyday.  If we say a word, you will say it right back as a question.  For instance- Tonight as I put you to bed the cat meowed at your door.  I told you that the kitty kitty was at the door saying goodnight.  You repeated "Door?" "Kitty kitty?" "Night night?" haha it is adorable! I call you my little parrot.  The only thing you will not say is I love you.  The one phrase you have probably heard THE MOST in your life and you will not say it!!

You love to count things but only up to 3, after you get to 3 you start over at 1 ha! You are trying to learn the alphabet but only get bits and pieces. A and B are great then it turns into mumbling until we get to T and then some more mumbling.

YOU LOVE ANIMALS.  Seriously obsessed.  You know what sound each animal makes (even a cricket). You can't name them yet but we are working on it.

You call horses "on-nays"

You still take a good nap everyday and go to bed at 8pm.  I love our little routine at bedtime-it is my favorite time of the day.  We take your milk upstairs and read as many books as you want in the rocking chair.  It is the only time of day you will snuggle!!!

You adore the movie Cars and believe that "Mayer" (Mater) is your best friend.  There is a part in the movie that the characters go tractor tipping and you insist on us rewinding it 10 times!  You have now started acting it out and falling over.  It is the most adorable thing ever!

Here are pictures from the last 12 months- It is amazing how much you have changed!  It is not until I see these pictures that I realize it  :(

                                                  August                              September         

                                                    October                           November

                                            December                               January

                                                      February                                 March

                                                     April                                       May

                                                       June                                    July

Grayson Kelly you are such a joy to our family.  I now understand unconditional love.  You truly are my sunshine!  Happy Happy Birthday sweet boy!

Saturday Fun

It's Saturday Wahoo!!!!!   I hope you all have had a wonderful week! It has been an exceptionally long one around the Allen household.  This week I got some news that shook me to my core.  Not in a good way either...I will explain soon.  Until then- here are some pictures from along the way! 

Guilty pleasure.....

Sweet Lexi and I at rehearsal

 Graybie LOVES going to Menchie's! 

 It's official-I have the best husband and friends in the world! 

They set up this beautiful party to celebrate my 30th birthday!!!  

(complete with guitar player!)

Nothing like an icee on hot day! 

Isn't he the most adorable thing ever?...yes.  

I hope you have a fabulous weekend! I am off to a rehearsal then home for some playtime with my little love.  

USO 2012

I have been busy preparing for another USO musical.  (Which is why I have been absent)  The show is set in the 1940's and so adorable.  I really love working with the director and choreographer on this show.  This year is really special because I was picked to be on the poster!!!  It is such an honor to be chosen for this!  If you live in the area and would like to see the show click here to order tickets.  It is a great family show and only last an hour and a half.  We open on June 28th and I could not be more excited!!!!

*Bonus shot*

The whole cast takes promo shots for the director to send to different media outlets-

this was my favorite one! 

Mother's Day 2012

This year Mother's Day was so wonderful.  Artie made reservations at The General Morgan for Sunday brunch and we pigged out.  It is seriously so much food!!!  We went right in the middle of Grayson's nap time but he was a perfect angel!  I was worried but he proved me wrong-THANKFULLY!  

My sweet family

With our boys

I am so thankful for the sweet reason I get to celebrate Mother's Day.  What an amazing gift I have been given!!!!  

Wordless Wednesday

(almost)

Hi all!  I hope you are enjoying your summer! I will be back soon-I have a lot to catch you up on!
So I leave you with a picture of Gray and me on my 30th birthday!  He was not in the picture taking mood...