Housewarming!

This past Sunday, my family came over for a little housewarming party for us, combined with my sister Cristina's birthday. It was my first time 'entertaining' in the new house (though my mom brought all of the food!) and I really enjoyed it! It was like Christmas with all of the gifts for our new home! My parents gave us a gorgeous mirror-top table from Urban Barn for the entrance as well as a painting for each of the kids' rooms! Cristina gave a pretty table runner and dish towels that match my decor perfectly, and Jenna gave us a gift basket from her salon with little Aveda products, an aromatherapy candle, flower seeds and even cookies for the kids.

I really enjoyed having my family all here and getting the house all 'fancied up' for them. I was never able to do things like that with our house in Morris, because Cristina wasn't able to get in with her chair, so it was extra special that way. Since the kids have come around, we've tried to have our special occasion celebrations without going to restaurants because it is so much better for enjoying time as a family. It takes a lot of pressure off to not worry about how much noise the kids are making or if they will be able to sit still at the whole meal, plus I think kids are always more fun to be around in an environment that they are comfortable in. So for the past couple of years we have always had our parties at mom and dad's and it was such a fun change having one here that it almost felt like we were going out!

I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story . . .

My new dining set all decked out with my Kate Spade china, watiting for the party to start!

The presents waiting to be opened (most of them Cristina's birthday gifts)

Proudly showing off their own presents for their new rooms

Our beautiful table! The kids think it's a great little hiding spot, but I want to get some nice baskets to put at the bottom. The front of the table is a nice big drawer where we can put papers, keys, and other such things!

THERE we go!!

Poor mom - all of these pretty candles, and I couldn't find our matches anywhere! They must be in a yet-to-be-unpacked box.
Mom and Dad gave Cristina a cell phone for her birthday, and dad called it while she was opening it, so the present was ringing. It was pretty funny. Dad rolled up a piece of paper and lit it with a car lighter, but it didn't really work out. I think only 2 or 3 of the candles got lit up before he gave up.

The beautiful birthday girl!

Kalia testing out the new phone for Cristina.

And of course there had to be time for stories before they left!

The men enjoying the new 50" tv on the couch after all of the good eating!