Almost a month late again (right on schedule)...here is a look at our Easter, mainly via Instagram. Chris had to work over the Easter weekend (huge bummer), but we made the most of it. Our church hosted a special Easter Service at the Coronado Theater downtown Rockford. It was AMAZING. Best Easter Service ever. That evening, we had the family over at our place for dinner. Great day celebrating our Risen Savior...
I took the boys to a glow in the dark egg hunt at our local Y...they even had a bunny farm there!
Meeting the Easter Bunny...
The boys and I also went to a traditional Jewish Passover Seder dinner at a local church the week before...if you have never gone to one, it is incredible! I highly recommend it...
We had funny coloring eggs with friends...here is M doing his thing...
J got in on the action as well...
The eggs...
I even made a "peepza" for the occasion...
J in festive wear...
Easter morning...the baskets...
J liked his "Mater" fan...
M thought his "Darth" bunny was cool...
My Easter cuties all spiffed up and ready to go...
Easter at the Coronado...
M telling everyone on the big screen at the Coronado, via a cute video, that the Easter Bunny gave him tons of money last year...5 year olds...
This is a simple, yet impressive appetizer. Totally yummy as well. It's the simple things like the cute bamboo skewers and a nice platter that make them so fun. Try them at your next party!
Here is what your will need...Some red and yellow grape tomatoes, fresh basil, mini fresh mozzarella balls, Garlic Expressions dressing, balsamic vinegar, fresh ground black pepper, and bamboo skewers.
Start an assembly line...cut a tomato in half, and between it on the skewer, place a small piece of basil and two mini mozzarella balls...
So pretty!
A close up...At this point you could cover and refrigerate until ready to serve (but I wouldn't do it more than a few hours ahead of time or the basil might turn brown).
When ready to serve, lightly sprinkle them all over with Garlic Expressions dressing, and a little sprinkling of balsamic vinegar. Freshly grind some pepper over them as well. (A tiny pinch of Kosher salt would be nice, but I didn't do it the night I served these.)
Caprese Bites
Red and Yellow Grape Tomatoes (enough for the amount you desire to make)
Fresh Basil, torn into small pieces
Mini Fresh Mozzarella Balls (These were super mini, if they are a little bigger, use one)
Garlic Expression Dressing
Balsamic Vinegar
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Bamboo Skewers*
Cut your tomatoes in half. Star by putting one half of the tomato on a the skewer, then a piece of fresh basil. Next put two mini mozzarella balls, followed by another piece of basil, then the other half of the tomato. Alternate red and yellow tomato caprese bites when your plate them to make it pretty. When ready to serve, drizzle them with Garlic Expressions dressing and a little balsamic vinegar. Finish with some freshly ground black pepper.
*I found these cute bamboo skewers at Party City, but have also seen them on Amazon.com.
The white platter I used is from Pampered Chef's Simple Additions line, but it is retired. I had luck finding one on ebay.
I was excited to do a "Lego" themed birthday party for Matthew's 5th Birthday. Six months prior to his birthday, he had told me he wanted an "Angry Birds" party. I was "so so" on that idea, but shortly after we took the boys to Legoland for the first time, it was all Lego from then on out. It was so much fun organizing many Lego party ideas on Pinterest. (Check out my board to see where I got many of these ideas, etc...) I got so many cheap, but cute ideas from there. Here are some pics of the decor:
Kitchen table...Caprisun boxes covered in dollar store wrapping paper to make legos!
I made 40 of these "Lego" plates by simply drawing the face on a yellow square plate with a Sharpie, and attaching a little yellow "knob" with a hot glue gun.
It was a vanilla cake, with strawberry filling, fluffy buttercream frosting, and covered with fondant accents...
Cute Lego guy!
Little extra touches like the water bottle labels...
Buffet...
This was created with the Lego Photo App on iPhone...since I have an android, I sent a pic to a friend, and she sent it right back to me. I then printed it off at Walmart...so fun!
The #5 on a lego plate...
Green bubble wrap for a table runner...looks just like a lego plate...cool idea!
Cake was on a box I covered with "lego brick" fabric. I also made many "legos" to tape on the windows out of craft paper, and using a circular punch and raised stickers...
The candles I found at Target...and WAY cheaper than some I had found on Amazon...
This little "mini figure" lego man candle I found on Etsy...
M is ready to party! (Shirt also from Etsy...)
This is as good as it gets these days for a family photo...
Darth M...
With cousins ready to sing!
Ready to open gifts...
He was thrilled to get Yoda!
Super excited to get Candy Land...
Decapitated "Lego Men"...courtesy of two boys I know...
Well, a month late as usual, but here are the pics from Matthew's 5th birthday! We can't believe our first little blessing from the Lord is already 5 years old. Time has flown by...he is starting Kindergarten in the Fall! Matthew is a true joy and a delight to be with. How honored we are to be his parents. Happy 5th Birthday my sweet boy!
Celebrating a day early at school...
On his birthday...
Special lunch date at Noodles & Co. with just Mom and Dad!
Celebrating with cupcakes from Halo Cupcakes...yummy!
