Cole...The Confident

So the Mathas family is blooming with confidence lately. Something very nice to see since it isn't exactly something that we would be normally known for.

More to come at a later date about my new life but here is a treat from a conversation yesterday after work.... The "big boys" (3rd graders) down the street came down and asked William (our favorite second adopted son) and Cole to play chase. The boys quickly agreed. After running wildly for a short period they stopped to rest. The big boys were talking about school and my normally rather shy Cole pipes up and claims to them "you know...I am VERY popular in my school!" The big boys exclaim "yeah, people know me a lot too at my school." But, my son decides that this isn't enough and closes with: "well, my photo is on the wall of the Superbowl!"

You go Cole. Mommy is proud that you feel important :)

Side bar: For those of you that don't know...I had the honor of designing the Club for the New Orleans Saints and the Louisiana Superdome that we named Club XLIV after our Superbowl win. In an art photography wall that we designed, I decided to sneak a photo of Cole front in center for all to see. Therefore, this is why he thinks he is on the wall of the Superbowl!

There's No Place Like Home

Our Carly has been obsessed with the Wizard of Oz for months now. It has always amazed me that not even once was she scared of the darker parts of the movie. I still get a little freaked out by those awful monkeys...but not Carly! She is totally in love with the movie from start to finish and I can honestly say we have probably seen the movie over 50 times now. With moving into our new home last Fall and Carly's love for the great wizard it was pretty obvious that we celebrate her 2nd birthday with a bash to honor both her and our new home....so here is a re-cap of her birthday which is heavy on pictures rather than words for once!

Our front yard set the scene for our adventure and the below photo is entitled "My life hasn't been the same since someone dropped a house on my sister!"

When guests walked up to the front door they were greeted with my custom wreath's asking them "Are you a GOOD WITCH" or a "BAD WITCH?!"

A side effect of being an event designer/producer...you can't throw a "normal" party!

We had witch cupcakes, rainbow fruit cups, red jello slippers, "Toto's in a Blanket,"

AND the MOST awesome birthday cake ever baked by colleague and friend Desire DeMontijo...The Rainbow Cake....AMAZING!

Favors were tiny Toto baskets with Lion's heart bubble bath, Lion's Heart Chocolates or Rainbow Jello Beans AND custom TOTO cookies done by POSH COOKIES from Houston!

Guests got to get their faces painted by friend Miss Holly Valenti or pick a Lollipop from the Lollipop Guild Field above our fire place mantle.

The bathrooms were even decked out for the day!

Daddy's arms are always a safe place to be!

The birthday girl wore a custom "No Place Like Home" ensemble but didnt wake until 30 minutes after the party started. She was rather tired and grumpy and in Carly fashion warmed up AFTER the guests left. She loved swinging, eating her lollipops, eating ice cream and most of all curling up on Paw-Paw's lap after the big bash was over.

All the work was totally worth it. We asked all the guests to click their heels and make a wish and after the party Mom, Dad and I released a single red balloom into the sky with our wish.

Red balloons have done great things for me...the last one I released brought Cole into our world!

For us...this day wasn't about the tiny detail or the great gifts that Carly received...instead for us it was a day to say that there is definitely "No Place Like Home" and we are so happy that for Cole and Carly we can say that home is in New Orleans whether it is celebrating a second birthday or just a Monday during the week.

Dear Carly

Just a few weeks ago we celebrated your 2nd Birthday. I can't believe that you are 2 already.

Here are some of the favorite things we love about you:

1. I love that you skip and prance everywhere you go. I now believe that it is true that fairies DO exist!

2. I love how much you adore your brother. In fact, you are a bit obsessed with him and I hope that ONE day he will return this adoring admiration back.

3. I love that you make me & Daddy kiss - often several kisses at a time...smashing our heads together. You are like our tiny cupid!

4. I love that you are so independent and you are such a big self-soother but please know it's ok for you to lean us every now and then.

Things You Love Right Now:

1. You love dogs big time and you WOULD love cats except since Macie isn't so nice to you you are not as fond about them.

2. You love strawberries, popsicles, vanilla ice cream, cheetoes, fruit snacks. You hate M&M's, cake and even chocolate chip cookies!

3. You love Barney, Elmo, The Wiggles, The Wizard of Oz and Blues Clues.

4. You LOVE to sing, dance, look at books and most of all YOU LOVE TO COLOR...even on places you should not (over and over!!!)

5. You LOVE your Paw-Paw. I am pretty sure I rank 3rd on your list: 1. Paw-Paw 2. Cole and 3. Mommy (well sometimes 3 may be Daddy). I am ok with this ranking most of the time :)

Why Won't You...

1. Wear clothes to bed? I mean are jammies that bad especially since you have a closet full of cute ones!?

2. Sleep more...I mean really. Little girls are supposed to sleep MORE!

3. Try to let your brother go to the bathroom alone. It would cause us all a lot less headaches!

4. Punch a pillow when you get mad instead of pinching, scratching and walking around with your mouth wide open to bite one of us when you don't get your way!

Most of all, Happy Birthday sweet girl. You are our joy, our sunshine and our sweetness all rolled into one. We adore you completely.

Next post....A Re-Cap of the BIG 2nd Birthday Bash!!!