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Rhett's birthday is on June 13th (6/13). The other day, I was at Ross and stumbled upon a set of large, metal numbers. They had 1-9. I tried to come up with different number combinations in my head that had some importance to me, like my anniversary, birthdays, etc. Well, for one reason or another (no zero, no duplicates), I couldn't find a combo that worked until I thought of Rhett's birthday. So, I purchased the 6,1, and 3 and brought them home. He has this short wall at the entry to his room, and they fit perfectly there. They go well with his color scheme, and I think that even if we ever change his room, they will still fit nicely. I know some people may walk into his room and not understand why he has some random numbers on his wall, but I think that makes it all the more whimsical and special. I think he likes them too, and that is what is most important!

Rhett's Beach Ball Birthday Bash!

Rhett's second birthday was a pool party, so we decided to go with a beach ball theme. My inlaws were wonderful and let us have it in their beautiful backyard. Everything from invitations to cake had involved beach balls in one way or another...

I found these beach balls online at Oriental Trading Co. They were on clearance, they happened to be for a 2nd Birthday Boy, so they worked out perfectly! They cost $.25 cents each! Not bad for an invitation. My mom has awesome handwriting, so I spent an afternoon at her house and she wrote all of the invitations out by hand, while I did the dots!Another view of the invitation. They were mailed out in padded envelopes with labels with beach balls on them. The postage ended up costing $1.39 each, so that added a little to my invitation total, but I still think under $1.70 each for invites and postage isn't bad!

I made some directional signs that looked like beach balls for our guests.

I really, really wanted a directional sign like this at the street, pointing guests to the back yard. I kept trying to come up with ideas, and I mentioned it to my parents. I went down the next day to their house, and my dad had these boards cut up for me waiting for me to paint. I loved how it turned out!

I taped this sign to the doorway where the guests would walk in. Small, paper beach balls on string were overhead as the guests walked through the gate. The winds were high that day, so my beach balls got tangled. :(I wanted to do a game of some sort, but couldn't think of anything clever to do with a beach ball. My husband came up with the idea of "Pin the Beach Ball on the Seal's Nose". I asked my mom to draw a seal for me, and I colored him and added the letters. I had small beach ball stickers for everyone to "pin" on the nose. Sadly, this game never got played. Everyone was just too busy swimming to play any organized party games. :)

I purchased all white beach balls from Oriental Trading Co., and filled a tub up with them. I placed markers in a small bucket next to it, made the sign for them to decorate their own beach ball. I also found a beach ball online, printed it out, and made a coloring page for smaller kids along with crayons instead of markers.

I hung beach balls on trees all throughout the party. Cheap and easy decorating. Thanks to my mother in law who cut string and found some creative ways to hang some of the balls! I also found small, paper beach balls at Party City. I used my Cricut to cut out the number 2, and glued them to the front and back of the beach balls. They worked wonderfully as more decorations to hang from the pergola!

Drink table
Beach ball shaped sippy cups that also served as favors

I punched holes in beach ball shaped tags and made straw tags
We also had beach ball drink stirrers
I ordered pizza and asked them not to cut it. I used a biscuit cutter and a pizza wheel to make the shape of a beach ball.
I ordered cake balls from a local bakery, Cakeballs, and then painted them with edible markers to make them look like beach balls.
I made iced sugar cookies that looked like beach balls. Not the straightest and best looking cookie, but they sure tasted good!We had beach ball plates

Beach ball balloons

More beach balls hanging in the beautiful backyard. Also, a beach ball pinata.

I was shopping at a local mall one day before Rhett's party and a department store had these giant, foam beach balls in their window. I asked them if I could buy them, and they lead me to their Imaging Director. He told me that he usually doesn't get rid of things, but that these were falling apart. Their trash was my treasure and I had 13 different sizes, plus a cool sign throughout Rhett's party! What a deal!
I asked guests to sign a beach ball instead of a traditional guest book. The tub was for the favors. Everyone received their very own beach towel as they left the party. Thanks to my talented friend Betsy for working so hard on those during her move!
I made banners using more of the $.25 cent beach balls from Party City. They said "sweets", "eats", and "drinks". The life ring at the bottom of the cake plate is from Rhett's room. I think it is neat to incorporate special touches into the party decor. Plus, since it was something that we already had, we didn't have to spend any extra money on it! I covered the tables in white table cloths, and added a beach towel down the center.
Here is a view of the sweets table with tiki hut. I didn't get a picture of it with the cake on it. The temperature was so hot that the cake and cupcakes were literally melting!

Here is my precious birthday boy! LOVE him!

My parents bought Rhett this fun roller coaster that was a huge hit at the party! This is my nephew taking a turn.

Pinata time. Rhett didn't quite understand this game. He kept hitting the fence... on purpose.

My nephew, Luke, taking a turn.

My nephew, Jon, taking a turn. Even the pinata eye mask had beach balls on it!

Rhett opening some gifts!

Getting his big present from mommy and daddy!

TWO!

Happy Birthday to my most favorite little man in the whole wide world! I can't believe that it has already been two whole years. They have, by far, been the best two years of my life. I can't remember my life before children, and honestly, I don't want to. Rhett, you have completed a part of me that I never knew was empty. You are a wonderful child; I honestly couldn't ask for more. Your daddy and I are so, so, so proud of you, and are so thankful to be called "mommy" and "daddy" by YOU! We thank God every day for this wonderful gift that He bestowed onto us. So, Happy 2 years, Rhett Stephen! We look forward to many, many more, and everyday in between. We love you SO MUCH!

New Kitchen Sign

I have had my eye on this sign from the Red Shed for quite some time. At $179.00, I knew that I didn't NEED it. So, I just filed it away as something that I would like to have SOMEDAY. Well, a few weeks ago, I was getting gas at the gas station by my parents' house. I spotted an old piece of fence laying against the dumpster:
I was in my husband's car and knew that I wouldn't be able to fit it in, so I just drove on. Then, I called my dad and asked him to go pick it up. He kept it at his house, and this week, I brought it home with me after my dad cleaned it up a bit. Then, I knew just what to do! Copy my favorite sign! I now have my very own!

It sill needs some distressing, and then I can't wait to hang it in my kitchen!

Edited to add: I am linking up to this party.

Memorial Day Goody

I found this idea floating around the Internet (sorry, can't remember where) and just had to make some for our Memorial Day gathering. So easy, so cute, and so good! Definitely tastier than a plain chocolate covered strawberry! I will definitely be making these again for any other patriotic holiday that we celebrate!