Fun Friday: Big Bros 2nd Birthday Ideas and Sadie's Update

Hi Friends,

How was your week?

(Sadie here) ... my Super Big Bro seems to have come down with something as of yesterday.  We were thinking allergies, but now he has a fever.  Let's cross our fingers he gets better so we can be out and about on Labor Day weekend.  Don't worry, bro, I'll entertain you this weekend with dancing in my house (womb).

So we wanted to share with you today a fabulous 3rd Birthday celebration we attended this summer, but we were having photo issues.  Check back this weekend for a blog on this birthday!

In the meantime, we'll share a little update on Mad Max's 2nd Birthday ideas, some Celebrity Birthday fun, and my update.

Max's 2nd Birthday Ideas

How far ahead do you plan birthdays for your kiddos?  (Crazy) Train Wreck Mommy thinks 6 months is ideal, so we are really cutting it close this time for Mad Max.  We are going to check out a birthday party location this weekend (a secret right now), but the theme we are considering is Where the Wild Things Are (you know the main character's name is Max, right?).  Fitting, right?  What ideas do you have for this theme?

Our possible Halloween costumes may fit this theme - so perfect!  Mad Max on Halloween?  Super Sadie on Halloween?

We also found some inspiration for Mad Max's 2nd Celebration on Hostess with the Mostess and Etsy, but we don't want to spoil all of our ideas!

Friday Fun

Enjoy some lavish Celeb babies / kids birthdays from Babble (Max would love all of Suri's balloons!).  Too much?  Or does it make sense for how much money they make?

My (Sadie's) Current Stats: 

Age: 32 Weeks Tomorrow (Eep!  I have to leave my comfy house soon).

Height: 16.7 inches long (approximate and not much room in here)

Weight: 3.75 lbs (approximate)

Fruit / Veggie Size: Large Jicama (WTF?)

Fun Facts: Supposedly I have REAL hair now!  Don't be jealous, Big Bro.

What do I enjoy most right now?: I am enjoying helping Mommy and Dada gear up for my arrival.  Much to do in the last two months!  We have some gear to purchase, clothes to buy, space in my room with Mad Max to prepare, Halloween to prepare for, and newborn photos to prepare for (among other things!).

As we prepare for my arrival, let's take a look back at Mad Max (holding his paci straight out of the womb) ... do you think I'll look like my bro?  (Good thing that puffy face goes away!):

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

-Sadie of Mad Max and Family and Mad About Town

Thursday's Kids and T(w)eens: Giving Back for Birthdays?

Hi Friends,

We hope you are enjoying our focus on birthday celebrations this week.

It's making Mommy quite the Train Wreck when it comes to obsessing over my next big (2!) celebration.

Mommy and I think it's a nice idea to consider charitable donations on birthdays (and other events).  We think it's a great way to teach kids about the value of giving back and service (and to get family and friends involved).  Also once kids get to a certain age, they probably don't need too many more toys!  What do you think?  Apparently we are not the only ones that feel this way ... after doing some research, this is apparently quite the latest craze for children's birthday parties: Cake, but No Presents, Please (New York Times).  And like all parenting topics, there is a heated debate on both sides.

Although it is our opinion that getting your kids involved in donations and charity (even on their birthday) shouldn't be seen as negative at all.  We would never force someone to make a donation or get involved in a charity!

For my 1st Birthday Celebration, we did make charity a small part of my birthday with the Gift of Grub for the Houston Zoo, and we are definitely considering making charity a part of my future birthdays.

But your older kids will have an even greater understanding of the importance of charity.  So how can they incorporate charity into their birthdays?  Two ideas.

First, they can pick a charity (either local, national, or international) from the web that has an easy and user-friendly ability to provide donations.  charity: water is one example that already has an area for birthdays!  I suggest letting your kiddos pick a charity that is either important to them, and / or goes well with the theme of their birthday celebration!

Second, for your older kids, we think it would be a unique and valuable idea to host a birthday celebration where all of the guests go complete service together in your community!  What do you think?  Another idea (that may require less logistical planning) is to make items at your birthday that can be taken to a local charity (maybe at a slumber party your kids could create cards to be taken to a local nursing home?).

And we would love to hear your ideas ... do you have any online charities your kids may be interested in supporting?  Or local charities?

And a few photos from my 1st Birthday (first one with Auntie Tam):

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

-Mad Max

next stop: The Menil Collection Birthday Celebration

Hi Friends,

What is your next stop with your family this weekend (or beyond this weekend)?

Any birthday celebrations?  What about any institutions in your city ... are they celebrating their birthday?  Do they throw a party?

The Menil Collection (in Houston) is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year.  This is my favorite art museum to visit with Mama and Dada (and actually this was the first art museum I ever went to)!

We are very excited to see that there is an array of programming surrounding their 25th Anniversary celebration.  But today we wanted to tell you about their ... (info from the Menil):

Menil 25 Birthday Party 
Saturday, September 22, 2012, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
The Menil Collection, which opened in 1987, is commemorating its 25th Anniversary with events and programs through the end of the year. The celebration includes birthday cake, music, a City of Houston Proclamation, and children’s scavenger hunt. 

The special anniversary exhibition Dear John & Dominique: Letters and Drawings from the Menil Archives and a campus tour, Voices of the Menil: A Cell Phone Audio Walk are ongoing.

Houstonians: Do you plan on attending with your family?  It is definitely on our calendar!

Or if you are outside of Houston ... what cultural institution birthday celebrations have you been to?

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Here I am (Mad Max) with a piece by Jim Love outside of The Menil Collection.

Finally, be sure to visit us at Mad About Town!  You can also find us on Facebook (and other Social Networking sites - see our sidebar).

-Mad Max

Tuesday's Tots and Wee Ones: "Tiny" Celebrations

Hi Friends,

We hope your week is off to a nice start!

From Train Wreck Mommy: As you know from yesterday, we are focusing on (birthday) celebrations this week.  Do your kids have any birthday celebrations on the calendar they will be attending soon?  Or how do you celebrate in your family?  Do you go all out?

What about for your little ones?  Do you go all out for them too?  What do their birthdays and celebrations mean to you?

From Mad Max: Mommy (and Dada) went all out for my 1st Birthday Celebration at the Houston Zoo. She said the milestone (and that they "made it") through the first year was really important to her.  Besides the fact that (as Mommy says), who doesn't love throwing a great party and having an excuse to get crafty (DIY)?  (I think Mommy was so caught up in everything she didn't finish the blogs about my birthday, but you can at least read about my 1st Birthday details.  Actually, it's never too late ... we'll plan to post more blogs about it soon since we took so many pics!)

Now we are (gasp, as she would say) gearing up for my 2nd Birthday Celebration.  It may be scaled back a bit (which would equal smaller guest list and less money spent), but Mommy said the focus now is mostly on me, Mad Max, having a great time (and a memorable one for my Train Wreck parents and guests).

So another main question for you ... are there any blogs / sites / Etsy Shops / Pinners you love to get celebration ideas from?  How do you prepare?  We would love to hear your ideas.

There are several that we enjoy, but two quickly come to mind: Hostess with the Mostess and One Charming Party.  Do you have others to share?

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Mama and Dada's little Zoo Keeper.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

This isn't my reaction to cake anymore!

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Mommy got lots of help from Gramby and Mimi with the food (both of them) and photo banner (Gramby).

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Don't you love the name banner Gramby made?  And Mommy did a lot of DIY for the party too.

Finally ... stay tuned!  We have more birthdays to share this week!  And now Mommy is inspired to finish my birthday blogs as she gears up for my 2nd Birthday Celebration.

-Mad Max

Mad for Monday (Max's Weekend Update): Weekend Celebrations

Hi Friends,

How was your weekend?  How did you celebrate the weekend?

We are focusing on celebrations this week!

We had a fun-filled weekend.  I started SoccerTots on Saturday.  I'm training to be on the Houston Dynamo Team!  How did it go?  Let's just say Coach and I are buds ... I did well with my drills ... and Train Wreck Mommy got me a soccer ball to practice with at home!  I highly recommend the program for other Super Tots.

Note: Daddy wasn't able to make it with me and Mommy this week, but he'll be there next week and Mommy will take more pics (and stop sweating so much running around with Sadie).

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Here I am watching "Coach" teach us our exercises.  You want me to, what?  Touch my nose to my toes?  (You should have seen Mommy do this!).

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Soccer Drills.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Practicing at home!

Yesterday I went to see the Dinos (roarrrr!) at the Houston Zoo.  Yes, you heard me right.  Dinos at the Zoo.  Much better than finding them at the art museum or your favorite restaurant, right?  I really enjoyed waving at all of them.  Mad Max and fear?  I think not.  If you are in Houston and have kids and even younger ones, go see the Dinos before they leave.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

And finally ... thank you to everyone that participated in our Whole Foods Back-to-School GIVEAWAY (and most of all, thank you to Whole Foods!).  Congrats to our winner: Vicki!  We will be contacting you directly.

Stay tuned this week... more on celebrations.  Check us out also on Mad About Town.

-Mad Max