Joey Lucy is 3

Good morning! 

It's been a long time since I have blogged.  I love reading blogs, and I still do read my favorites every morning, but I'm not so sure how many other people are still stopping by to read these things. 

So...if you are reading today - hi! 

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I need to send a huge shout out to Dusten Modjeska for recovering my blog!! It got lost for a minute there.  He found it.  Thank you!!

P.S. I am not going to filter my pictures for my post...welcome to 2009... you're welcome 😉!

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Since we last spoke here, we have welcomed our little girl and a whole lot of other change into our lives.  

Josephine Lucy Miller was born on a negative temperature day in January 2019.   I still feel awful that I have give this girl a birthday right after Christmas, especially since she was an IVF baby and you think we could have timed it better. It took me quite a while after having Teddy to feel ready to have another baby, so when I was ready, I just had to get it done and not worry about the timing of her party day.  

In the spirit of catching you up, since my last post, I have also changed jobs.  I left private practice after being with the same firm for 10 years to go in house for an insurance company.  It has now been over two years with that company and I still feel that I have been very lucky for this new opportunity.  

We are still (STILL! UGH!!!) dealing with this COVID-19 pandemic and I have switched to almost exclusively working from home, which has been a huge blessing for my kids, but it's also been an adjustment for me personally.  I started going back into my office once a week sometime towards the end of 2021, which I have really enjoyed.  Going into the city, while not really necessary to get my work done at this point, gives me a totally different energy! 

We still live in the same house. I adore our neighborhood, everything about it.  I would like to get some more space on this house, maybe even my own office, but that is a conversation for a different day (talk to my husband, please 😅).

Now that we have caught up.... my purpose for coming on here today was to share a little bit about Joey's third birthday with you. 

On the morning of my kids' birthdays, I like to decorate a little bit and give them their gift(s).  (I always get a balloon garland and a banner on Etsy!)

Joey is super into playing bakery, always serving us cake and cupcakes, so we got her a little Patisserie with a cart (huge success!). Apparently, it was a pain to put together, but I would say it's been worth it. 

Joey's daycare does a great job of making their birthdays special.  A special sign/banner, blow up birthday cake, presents, friends...and cupcakes, of course! 

After daycare, we had Oma & Uncle Steve over for pasta (from Nino's) and.... more cake! 

Saturday morning, it was our girl's party day!  She loved her Paw Patrol bow and necklace (shocker...also from Etsy!). 

Joey's favorite place in Arlington Heights is BerryYo Frozen Yogurt. My mom (her "Oma") started taking Joey to BerryYo after daycare a long time ago and Joey has become quite the little celebrity there. 

We decided to go with a Paw Patrol theme about six months ago.  It's a miracle she didn't change her mind on that one 😀.

I swear, I tried to keep this party as simple as possible after the Superhero extravaganza we hosted for Teddy's 5th birthday at our house last summer.  Which was incredible.  But nearly put me in the bed. 

I called in Happy Kids Chicago to do 30 minute dance party with Chase & Skye, picked up cupcakes from Deerfield Bakery, and ordered Papa Johns.  Is there really anything easier or more reliable than Papa Johns?! 

Party hack for you, I always get bouquets from the grocery store and split them up into multiple mason jars for centerpieces. 

One game changer about this party was that BerryYo helped out so much.  They put together gift bags, helped me decorate before the party, coordinated and ran activities for the kids at the party, and even helped me box things up and take them out to my car after the party.  I mean... wow! 

If you have young kids, these character rentals really seem to make the party and you get a lot of bang for your buck! 

Don't @ me about all the sugar, okay?!

I almost cannot believe we pulled this party off.  It really did feel like so many factors where playing against us.  But, we did it!

Some more party hacks for you:

1) Listen to the "How to be Awesome at Everything" Podcast - she has some awesome episodes about throwing kids parties.  Also follow her on Instagram @lindsayscloud because she has highlights of her kids' prior parties.  

2) SAVE things from your kids' parties... I have re-used so much over the years at future parties, you would be surprised. 

3) Dollar tree for the balloons!! Seriously!

4) Dollar tree first before going to Party City.  And you can make that stop the day before the party, then you will really know exactly what you need and how much of it to buy!

5) Have your pizza place double cut your pizza (if it's triangle slices). Perfect kids' sized pieces! 

6) 11AM is the best party start time, in my humble opinion 😉.

Thanks for stopping by to read today! 

xoxo

Jess