The Alvarez Family: Savannah's Special Month

So around this house November is known as Savannah's month even though her birthday is in the first part of the month. In preparation for her Under the Sea birthday party she went to the Learning Express and created a birthday box so all her guests could have an idea of gift ideas. Then we spent the next week getting ready for her special weekend. Grams flew in on Thursday the 5th to help us celebrate. The whole family went to Savannah's school on Friday to deliver cupcakes and read a story to celebrate her being the Child of the Week.

with her finished birthday box

Savannah's Child of the Week board

created by her classmates

starting off birthday weekend with a matinee viewing of the Peanuts Movie

Savannah's 6th Birthday

starting the day with birthday donuts

special call from Grandad singing Happy Birthday

her first big girl American Doll

Under the Sea Party at Homestead Aquatics

Savannah had been wanting a mermaid party for months but the problem was how to do a mermaid party in the month of November?? So I found a local indoor pool that had a party room to rent and since she finally decided to invite boys this year we changed the theme to an under the sea party. We had 23 children attend which was slightly crazy not only to keep track of in the pool but we also had to make sure everyone was in dry clothes before they entered the party room. We'll definitely be cutting back on the guest list next year! Am I crazy to be looking forward to the small sleepover birthday party years?!

So this years party decorations were sooooooo much easier than the past 3 years. It definitely helps to have the party outside of the house. I purchased the banner and sign from my favorite party shop on Etsy and I picked up a few odd and end ocean-type things from various stores. And leave it to Grams to come up with an amazing homemade decoration---the personalized anchor!

birthday banner

snack table

cake by Bakers Cakes

party favors

after party dinner at Jason's Deli

Such a special day! I can't believe it was her 6th birthday!! My how times flies! I'll be doing another post all about Savannah following this one.

Now on to Thanksgiving......Both kiddos had special Thanksgiving parties at school. I was actually able to attend the Thanksgiving feast at Savannah's school while Walker was at his school. The kindergarten class did such a great job with all of their harvest decorations and each child was wearing their own school-made pilgrim or Indian outfit.

while shopping for Thanksgiving supplies

KA Thanksgiving Feast

with my cute little Pilgrim

the whole KA class

Walker at school in his Indian headpiece

and his Pilgrim hat

Our Thanksgiving at home was nice and quiet. Little Nik rode his motorcycle down from New Jersey and stayed with us through the holiday. We had a nice Thanksgiving lunch at the country club and then I spent the rest of the week putting up Christmas decorations.

All Aboard the pillow train!

my cuties dressed up for Thanksgiving

family pic

We kicked of the Christmas season early by attending the Fairytale Dreamer Christmas party in Raleigh. Both kiddos were super excited about their first sighting of Santa but also about seeing the Disney princesses.