Fiesta Time

When your Tex-Mex Papi turns 70, theres nothing left to do but to throw a party fit for even the littlest of cowboys! My sisters and I combined forces and created a fiesta filled with all sorts of fun...yee-haw!

The Set-Up

The tables were set in my backyard, under the shade of the trees. Instead of plates our cowboys used tin bowls and sipped their drinks from a fun mason jar {or a margarita glass for our older cowboys}. Mason jars filled with bright colored flowers lined the checkered tables. We added some pizazz with black and white picture place mats going down the center of the tables. 

Our spread included: 

Drinks:

Tex-Mex Margarita, Jarritos, Tea, Corona's

Appetizers:

Shelled peanuts, 7 Layer dip, Cowboy Cavillar, Chips and Salsa

Main Dishes:

Cabrito {goat}, grilled chicken, Tex-Mex beans, Mexican Rice, tortillas

Dessert:

Ice Cream, Carmel-Sea Salted Peanut Brittle, and German Chocolate Cake

The Flare

The Fun

A party wouldn't be complete with games. With pin the mustache on Papi, a piñata, cruzin in our mini pick-up truck, a photo booth, and pony rides, the fun lasted all night!

The Photo Booth

No description needed...just a lot cuteness going on here.

The Pony Experience:

A true cowboy party wouldn't be complete without horses, right?!

Wrangling Up All The Cowboys

Planning this party for such a special person was so much fun. Seeing my dad enjoy the games, the food, and the atmosphere was well worth it. But I think what meant the most, was wrangling up the whole family. Being together to celebrate our Papi, the amazing man he was and the amazing man he is today was unforgettable. Feliz Cumpleanos Papi, te quieremos mucho! 

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Registry Overload

As I approached the halfway point in my pregnancy, I started work on the daunting task of the baby registry. I basically surveyed all of my mom friends and bugged them until they just told me exactly what to register for. I had been doing everything online, until one night when I decided to drag Kyle to Buy Buy Baby. 

For those of you who have never been, it's Bed Bath & Beyond's baby store, so the same floor to ceiling crap everywhere effect. My minimalist self should have known better...

The workers must have known by the look on my face that I was completely overwhelmed. Their greetings seemed more like ones of concern, "Uh, is everything okay? Need help?" Yes! I am stuck an episode of baby hoarders and I need to get out!

Just like weddings, this was really my first experience with the baby industry. Yes it is a complete industry and you have to sift through all of the random gadgets to figure out what really is a necessary. 

But don't worry, as we checked out, Kyle bought me a bag of Flipz. (Those white chocolate pretzels I haven't had since like fourth grade.) And just a like a little kid, it made the entire trip worth it...

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I'll Have Seconds...

Here is our next Question & Answer session between your editor Ester and I because thankfully I have made it to the second trimester!

Enjoy another one of our candid conversations between a mom-of-three and a struggling mom-to-be!

R: Okay, so you were totally right. When my second trimester started at 14 weeks, my nauseousness and fatigue started wearing off. By the time I returned back from Ohio and week 15 started, I felt like a completely different person, more like myself again. Are you psychic?

E: Yes. (okay, okay, maybe not, but I convince my kids I am all the time.)

R: Now that my palette has returned back to normal and I'm not eating like a fourth grader, I'm loving getting back into my routine of green smoothies and salads. Any other foods I should try out this semester now that I can stomach them again? 

E: Shrimp, lots of shrimp! They say it's brain food for the baby!  

R: Uh, should I have been taking child classes already? When do I start that kind of thing? 

E: Now is a great time to start. I'd check your delivering hospital and with your Doula for classes that they offer. I'd recommend an infant First Aid/CPR class, breastfeeding class, and a 'taking care of baby class' to start off.  

R: Oh yeah! And those things called nurseries and baby registries, when in the hell should that fun begin? 

E: I wouldn't wait to much longer. Registeries can be overwhelming so I'd suggest by making notes of specific things your mommy friends love. Then, plan to start your registery once you have a list started of some must haves.   

R: I know you recommended the book Baby Wise. Are there any other books or DVD's I should check out? 

E: 'Happiest Baby on the Block' DVD is great resource too. 

R: Now lastly, be straight up with me. I know this euphoria has to end at some point. What can I expect from the third trimester?

E: The third trimester is the 'Oompa Loompa Season.' Sleep will become even more uncomfortable, walking will become a waddle, bathroom breaks will increase ten fold, sitting for more than ten minutes will not be an option, and foot and back rubs will be mandatory.

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