St. Patrick's Day Parade

The Cluffs called to see if we wanted to meet up downtown for the St. Patricks Day parade this year.  With the promise of chill time with the Cluffs and breakfast out with them after the parade it was a no brainer!

Lizzy was not thrilled about this close-up.

The boys had a really good time in spite of our not being very prepared for the cold.  The Cluffs had extra gloves for the boys to borrow which was super helpful since the wind whipping down the downtown streets was so bitter.

Bead necklaces and free candy.  No complaints here.

Stephen and Janelle.

This old mountain man reminded me of my Dad....maybe he'll be in our St. Patricks Day parade some day.

I love that they had this in the parade.  Glenn and I have seen it pedaling around downtown and think it's such a clever idea.  It's a pedal bar.  The guy in the front steers.  Another guy serves drinks and pumps music while the patrons pedal and party around the streets of Denver. Hilarious.

It was a super long parade and it went on for hours after we decided to bail for breakfast, but we couldn't leave before we saw the Star Wars guys!

Yep, that's a Stormtrooper in a kilt.  Happy St. Patricks Day!

Tate was so excited to see all these guys in costume and kept pointing and yelling out their names.

At the end of our parade stay the kiddos were tired and ready for breakfast...even though they ate tons of snacks during the parade.  We went to breakfast at the Delectable Egg and it was SO yummy.  It was a great time.  Glad we went and hope we can go next year too!

Tate's 5th Birthday

Tate has been talking about his 5th birthday party since the day after his 4th birthday party.  He decided then that he wanted to have a Star Wars themed party and he never changed his mind so we had plenty of time to plan.  

For a couple of months before his birthday he would wake up early and ask to snuggle with me.  Then he'd say, "Mom, could we just look at Star Wars party ideas on your ipad for a while?"  He had quite the list of party games and refreshments that he wanted to have but he was fine with the tapered down list we ended up with.

He invited a couple of friends from preschool and some friends from church.  It was a great, manageable party. 

We started with a game of "pin the light saber on the Star Wars angry bird.

Then we did some Jedi training.  Each kiddo got a light saber pool noodle and had to keep their "training ball" from hitting the ground.

Then we did some group training, learning some Jedi moves.

We learned that the basement had been taken over by tie fighters so our newly trained Jedis ran downstairs and quickly beat them all into submission.

Then they popped bubbles with their light sabers.

At the end of our training Darth Vader arrived to fight one-on-one with the younglings.  They thought it was so cool even though they obviously knew it was Glenn in a mask.  They beat him up pretty good and he retreated upstairs.  Then it was time for Star Wars cupcakes!

Birthday boy wanted cupcakes from the dark side and the light side so we made two kinds of cupcakes with different colored frosting.

Finn chose the dark side.

All the birthday party crew, except for Sydney and Maddie who had to leave early.  From L to R: Ian Cannon, Finny face, Lizzy Cluff, Tate, Braeden Baker, Sawyer Garlock, and Tori Cluff. in their Star Wars masks.

Tate was super spoiled by all his friends and family.  He opened presents at the party and then later that night too.  He was one happy boy.  His party was just what he wanted which made me so happy.  

He talked about his party for weeks saying that it was the best party ever.  It's hard to want to pass up on birthday parties when kiddo is so grateful and happy.  Next year it will be Glenn's turn to plan again.  Tate's still deciding on the theme.  I'm sure there will be many pinterest mornings with Daddy.
Love you Tate.  I'm glad you had a fantastic birthday!