Good Times: Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse! (And Minnie, Too!)

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse! (And Minnie, Too!)

I'm not exactly sure when or from where the theme for the twin's third birthday originated, but I do know that we had been planning for a Mickey and Minnie party for quite some time! It was all Maddie and Will could talk about for months. In fact, Will often asked if we could discuss the party at bedtime each night! We talked about who would come, what Will and Maddie would wear, and what our guests would eat. The party was Will's favorite topic of discussion, and was guaranteed to distract/engage/calm him!

When the party day finally arrived, the twins were ready to celebrate Mickey and Minnie style - so ready that they both awoke at 6 a.m. and bounced off the walls until it was time to greet our guests. I had attempted to sit them down for some portraits in their party outfits beforehand, and quickly realized that the pictures just weren't going to happen with the two of them literally shaking with excitement.

After greeting their guests at the front door, the twins were tortured with the wait to open their presents while their guests mingled and ate. For as much as he likes food, Will would have gladly skipped lunch if it meant that he could have opened gifts as soon as they were brought into the house. He shed a few tears when he was told that he would need to wait. When he was finally given the go-ahead, there was no stopping him! He opened his gifts at twice the rate that Maddie opened hers!

Although the forecast had called for rain that afternoon, skies stayed clear throughout the day, and we were able to take the party outside for a short while. The cousins played on the playset and in the sandbox, Will tried out his new baseball glove and ball, and Maddie spent some time coloring at the patio table next to Grandma (until she noticed all of the flies buzzing around the backyard). She was much happier when she moved back inside to put together her new mermaid puzzle with Connor and Grandma.

We were back inside for cake and ice cream before the party was over, of course. Maddie needed a little help blowing out her candle, but Will went at his with GUSTO and succeeded in blowing it out unassisted.

The party ended just as it had started for Will - in tears. He couldn't bear to see the party end, and he wanted to continue playing outside as we were forcing him to come back inside to bid farewell to his guests. By (a very early) bedtime that night, though, both he and Maddie were already hatching plans for next year's birthday party!

Thank you to all of those who helped us to celebrate Maddie and Will's THIRD birthday!

This is what happens when you attempt to shoot a portrait of a three year old minutes before his birthday party is set to begin.

Even Maddie, who typically is able to handle herself with a bit more restraint that Will can, could hardly contain her excitement.

Somehow I managed to snag this cell phone photo of Maddie looking absolutely darling in her birthday outfit. I think this is the best I could have hoped for.

This cell phone shot of Will is a bit blurry, but it's not terrible; again, it's probably the best I could have hoped for under the circumstances.

I truly failed as a photographer during the party. I did not take a single photograph of the decorations that I had made during the party, I didn't get many pictures of our party's guests (if any at all), we don't have any videos taken as the twins blew out their candles, and we didn't get a posed family photo taken. Our guests are gone, obviously, but most of the decorations remain - I was able to snap these cell phone shots earlier today.

The twins (and Bailey) waited with great anticipation for each and every one of their guests to arrive so that they could greet them with "Welcome to our party!"