Oren's Hot Tub Birthday Party!

his own private hot tub + hot chocolate = one happy oren henry

As the kids have gotten older we've started moving away from the gigantic family birthday parties and have started tuning in more to their current likes and preferences for their birthday celebrations. This year we surprised Oren with a week long hot tub rental as his gift! This is absolutely ridiculous, I know, (I mean, who even knew you could rent these things?) but it was 100% the perfect gift for him. His love of swimming and particularly hot tubbing runs deep. It's all he ever wants out of a vacation and still references the hot tub at our condo from our florida vacation on roughly a weekly basis. (That was two years ago, y'all). So a hot tub, a sleepover with his friends, stuffed crust pizza from Pizza Hut and a piñata made this seven year old's little heart sing!

Annual birthday pie from Abby. This year Oren asked for pumpkin!

 cinnamon rolls for breakfast post sleepover then right back in the hot tub

Squirt guns and flip flops as party favors and THE cutest little cake by Cheryl!

and a handmade hammock from Tim and Marisa made this little guy's birthday complete!

Thanks to all for celebrating our perfect guy in the best way possible! We love you more than the world Oren Henry! Never, ever, ever change.

Oren's 7 Year Old Photoshoot

So, this didn't exactly go as planned. When we decided to try for an outdoor photo shoot this year the weather forecast was 65 and sunny. Turns out at 10:30 in the morning it was neither 65 nor sunny and we had an absolutely freezing little seven year old on our hands. He was so miserable we called it quits before an outfit change and after about only 15 minutes. So we owe a huge thank you to our forever ride or die photographer Katie, for stepping up (and out into the cold with us) to get these shots. I'm amazed at what she was able to capture given the circumstances! Without further ado; Oren Henry at age seven.

A Star Wars Birthday Party; Episode VI

Every year for their birthday we let our kids pick the theme for their party and this year Oren chose Star Wars. We had an amazing cake done by Cheryl and the cutest, most perfect cookies by Emily. Oren asked me to make sure Cheryl included a Luke and Darth Vader light saber battle on top. I made the backdrop for the dessert table and Abby made the hand pies and the brown butter rice krispy treats. Josh and Nicole made home made cannoli. We always have the best and most talented help with these parties. So thankful for family and good friends!

Oh, I should mention Cheryl's cake had a dark side (the bottom layer with chocolate cake and chocolate ganache) and a light side (the top layer with white cake and raspberry filling). When I cut into it, surprise! She had marbled the white cake with blue food coloring. She said her inspiration was warp speed. How cool is that?

And all the kids had an opportunity to battle our Vader piñata with Luke Skywalker's light saber. Oren said that was his favorite part ;)

Another successful birthday in the books, here's to year six!