stephmodo: Bateau Birthday Party

Bateau Birthday Party

• 21 October 2012


If I had a penny for every time I heard my Baby Gray say "bateau!" with all the enthusiasm a 2-year-old can muster (which is a lot!), I would be a rich woman.  We live near this grouping of boats pictured above and pass by them at least once a day; thus providing many opportunities for him to practice one of his first (and favorite) French words.  From the time we are in sight of the Ballard Bridge and then take the turn next to Fisherman's Terminal, it's "Mama! Bateaux bateaux!", over and over.  Each day it is the same drill, but I never tire of it.  I am keenly aware that someday in the not-too-distant future I will be wishing with all my might to go back to these precious moments when he was just figuring out how to express his joy for the beautiful world around him.  

So, needless to say, when it came time to plan his little party, it was easy to decide on a theme :)


We were grateful for the late afternoon sun on this particular Saturday--a stroke of good luck here in Seattle.  The little party was held at the Model Boat Pond outside the Center for Wooden Boats, just off Lake Union.  The children made their own vessels with wooden boats/trays and skewers I painted and adorned with washi tape and tape I procured at one of the boating supply stores nearby.  


The model boat pond proved to be the perfect diversion for all the kids, regardless of their ages.  I wondered why we hadn't visited before, especially when we live fairly close by.  It was such an ideal location for a family picnic and people watching.


While setting up the edibles, the wind caught ahold of the balloon bouquet and off they went...

Cousins and friends hanging out...a great crew of kids.  Gray was tickled with all the attention and the big kids' willingness to let him hang with them.  You could just see it in his face--he was so happy!


More "floation devices" from the kids' favorite donut shop in town and other snacks Gray enjoys.



Sneaking away for some solo time with his new spoils.  It turns out the shallow wall surrounding the model boat pond is the perfect height for playing with matchbox cars--his toy of choice these days :)



And to cap off Gray's bateau birthday party, the kids were entertained by sea plane after sea plane landing on Lake Union.  They cheered on every single plane with equal enthusiasm and simply couldn't believe their luck.  Three plans in ten minutes?  Yes, please.  Their excitement was contagious and we adults couldn't help but join in over this very unexpected experience (usually the best, right?).  A good way to conclude his little party to be sure :)


p.s. I still can't believe he is two.  Do you remember when he was born?  And when he turned one?  His curls were just starting to show and we were going nuts over this unexpected trait (we both have brown hair and brown eyes).  Time is a flyin' my friends...

images by me, Stephanie Brubaker for stephmodo

20 comments:

  1. Hi Steph! Beautiful party. My son Oliver (who turns 2 on Thurs) has the same hair. Do you know of any organic/baby-safe products, like leave-in curl conditioner, to prevent the ringlets from frizz? He is our first child with curls as well :)

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  2. Hi Steph! Beautiful party. My son Oliver (who turns 2 on Thurs) has the same hair. Do you know of any organic/baby-safe products, like leave-in curl conditioner, to prevent the ringlets from frizz? He is our first child with curls as well :)

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  3. I love the lifesavers on twine around the drink bottles with the red and white striped straws. Genius.

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  4. That was a lovely post. What you did reminds me of the time and care my mother takes to create a lovely birthday for me every year even if there isn't a party involved. Mothers are awesome, and happy birthday to baby Gray!

    -Aye

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  5. Do not ever cut his hair! It is absolutely beautiful!

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  6. My goodness, what a lovely and perfect party! Your parties are always such an inspiration to me!

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  7. Omigosh, what an adorable party!! Your ability to consistently put together beautiful but realistic (not over-the-top!) parties is so inspiring! I hope I can do half as well for Quinn when the time comes!

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  8. He is super cute. This looks like the perfect 2 party. Adorable and blog-worthy, yet not overwhelming for the birthday boy! There is nothing more wonderful than contagious kid enthusiasm!

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  9. The party looks so amazing! I love the striped straws!!!

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  10. Oh wow, he is adorable. That hair!

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  11. Time does fly by. I must be following your blog for years.
    I'm inspired by all your Seattle posts as I will be moving out west in a month.
    Keep them coming, you are really helping a mom in NY see the "sunny" side of Seattle. Namaste.
    florence@gothampix.com

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  12. Oh my goodness Steph. This party is adorable. Almost as cute as that boy of yours. He was giving me the most adorable smile last night. Melted my heart.

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  13. As I was reading your post, I was thinking, "Can he be two already?" I remember when you shared your news with us, your pregnancy posts, and then his birth. Time can not have flown so quickly!

    Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday Gray! Looks like you had a wonderful day with your family and friends. Your sweet curls remind me of my babies, one of which just joined the National Guard during his senior year in high school. It goes even faster the older they get!!!
    Kate

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  14. OMG, Gray is the most adorable little thing EVER!!!! Look at those curls!!! Have you ever been on a sea plane? I have once, it was tons of fun. You have such an impeccable eye for styling. Just love those little glasses with the lemonade. Where did you get them?

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  15. What a fresh take on this theme! Adorable.. well, almost as adorable as him! Thank you for sharing!

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  16. Adorable! Boy and party! Love the floatation devices!

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  17. How cute is this party?! I love that little boat area, we go there during the wooden boat festival. And I'm dying over how cute those life savers are for decor on those drinks. Sooooo fun!!

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  18. Buby + Bleu: You know, we probably should be using something like that, but right now it's just a spray bottle :)

    Tracey, they are Starbucks Frappucino bottles I washed and de-labeled. Super easy to find!

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  19. Sounds like it was such a perfect day, Stephanie! Although I'm a few years older than Gray, I think I'd be over the moon, too... :) What wonderful memories you will all have!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to drop a line. I really appreciate it!

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