Pie Party

We hosted our First Annual Harvest Homes Pie Party this year (our second total, with the very first being in Provo). Our next door neighbor and friend, Kelly Dyches, helped put the shindig on and provided a generous amount of delicious pies. When all was said and done, we ended up with 20 unique pies and 26 total pies (some were repeats). I made 16 of them.

This was our list of pies (stars by the ones I made):
*Pumpkin
*Pumpkin Butter Pecan
*Toll House Cookie
*Jello Cream Cheese
*Raspberry Cream
*Chocolate Crusted Peanut Butter (or Candy Bar Pie)
*Buttermilk
*Coconut Cream
*Chocolate Cream
*Banana Cream
*Heath Bar
*Tart Au Citron
Apple
Dutch Apple
Snickerdoodle Apple
Key Lime
Pecan
Salted Caramel
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Chocolate Truffle

The most popular pies were the Dutch Apple, Buttermilk, Salted Caramel, and Snickerdoodle Apple. The least favorite was the Jello Cream Cheese. I don't think I'll bother making that one again. I also think I would limit any doubling up to only the very favorites. We had a pretty good crowd, but I think we can do better next year. The plan is to either invite WAY more people, or make a lot fewer pies. We ended up with SO MANY leftovers and were sending people home with and delivering plates full of different pie slices.

I also wish I had taken more photos of the guests and party. There's always next year!

Crusts prepped and ready to go!

Labels printed beside the Tart Au Citron and two Buttermilk Pies:

Part of the layout:

The Nielsons enjoying some pie:

Two awesome neighbors and friends - Natalie Dobbin and Dayna Olson. They were some of the very first to welcome us to the ward/neighborhood.

The aftermath.... The first is of our downstairs once all the kids got done destroying playing in it.

And of course, the kitchen:

It was a ton of work, but a LOT of fun. I love this unique party idea and I'm grateful we've adopted it from Miles' dad. We hope to have just as many years and more of Pie Parties!

32

And once again, I am a year older. I had a great birthday this year. It started out with breakfast with my favorite little guy. I made us green smoothies and apple streusel muffins. 

Owen and I spent the day together. How could I not enjoy my day with this face???

During the day I had visits from three different friends who brought me gifts and cards to wish me a happy birthday. I felt very loved. Miles came home a bit early from work and his parents came over to bring by some gifts before heading off to a BYU football game.

Owen helped me to open all of my presents. This is me not knowing what to think about the fact that Miles got me a gift certificate to go paragliding. (Something I had mentioned I wanted to do. But actually doing is different that thinking of doing.)

Two very happy faces for Miles buying me the watch I had been eyeing in Park City on our babymoon last month.

After presents, we went to dinner. We took Owen with us and met up with Jess and Emi at India Palace (my choice of restaurant for my last birthday as well!) Sadly, I didn't get a picture of us at dinner. After a delicious Indian cuisine, we took Owen home to a babysitter and Miles and I headed out to meet our friends Jeremy and Amanda at Color Me Mine.

We chose our pieces and got to work. I decided to make a large piggy bank for Owen. Miles made a cute little dragon for his desk at work. Jeremy made a superhero, and Amanda made a mug.

Amanda and I are due just one day apart from each other, and are both having girls.

It took quite a while longer to paint them than I thought it would. Our poor babysitter fell asleep waiting for us. But I had a great time and a lot of fun. This has been a wonderful year and I am so excited to see what the next year holds for me!

And now that it's been so long since I originally started this post, I can show pictures of our finished products:

The pottery:

And the babies (Elsie and Charlotte born 8 days apart):

Tucker Parties

One of Owen's little friends always has the best birthday parties. I meant to post about the one from last year, but never did. And since this year's party was so great, I thought I'd just add some pictures from last year too.

Last year it was a carnival/circus theme. It was complete with popcorn, candy, games and prizes, and a photo booth. These are the only pictures I have.

Owen trying on a clown nose and mustache:

  

Playing a fishing game:

Our family with the photo booth props:

Oh my goodness I can't believe how little Owen was just a year ago!

This year his party was hosted by a fireman at his house and included a visit to the fire station to see the fire truck and gear. I knew this would be a huge hit with Owen. Sadly, Miles was on a business trip and missed out on the fun.

We started at the fireman's home and ate dinner in his big backyard.

Of course Owen's the only one not looking at the camera...

He gave each of the kids a fireman's hat.

Then we all headed a block away to the fire station.

He talked to the kids about what firemen do and how the truck works.

Then he talked about when they get a call to go out and how they have to get dressed in the appropriate gear. He said that sometimes they don't have time to dress at the station so they have to dress in the truck one their way to where they're going. Then he let all the kids climb in the back of the truck where they stand and dress.

Of course Owen loved it and was the last to get out. In fact, he even asked the fireman to close the door for him so he could stay inside. Silly boy.

After that, he dressed the birthday boy, Tucker, in all the gear. It was super cute seeing him attempt to stay standing in all this oversized gear.

Then he ended by letting each child sit in the driver's seat for a photo op. And once again...Owen did *not* want to leave and had to be pried out. I'm pretty sure he was the only kid to attempt to play with all the knobs and handles too. :)

Once Owen got down, we all went back to his home for cake and ice cream. Holly and Curt made this awesome cake.

Then we ended with presents. Owen also got to go home with this great party gift. He loves it. And he loved the party too. He talks about "Tucker's party" almost every day and wants to ride in the truck again. It was a ton of fun and I'm so glad we were able to go!