John Deere Birthday

So I have been awful at keeping this blog up to date.  I apparently average a post once every three months! haha  Brian and Brent turned 35 on the May 19th and I threw them a John Deere themed birthday.  They were a little skeptical at first and still felt like it should be more geared towards a 5 year old's party but they secretly liked it all in the end. haha

I made a burlap runner.  I'm no seamstress, so I always have to opt for the easy route.  I cut the burlap in half and then lined the endes with green ribbon that I ironed on with iron on adhesive and then did the same for the yellow ribbon.  I took a plastic tractor painted the back wheels and ran it across the burlap to make tractor tire marks.

I wanted cookies that looked like tractor tires, which I should have gone with a chocolate cookie and then done the yellow m&m's in the center.  Wasn't thinking.  So this was my version.  A peanut butter cookie outlined in black m&m's and in the center yellow m&m's.

I found on ebay someone selling mini corn stalks, so Whit made me rice krispie bars, and then we used the corn stalks to make a mini field.

During our engagement shoot, Tami had taken a picture of their tractor so I knew if I was going to do a cupcake topper, it was going to have to be accurate and could only be THEIR tractor and not something else.  Sure enough, they both noticed immediately that it was actually their tractor on top of the cupcake.  Holly graciously made all the signs for me since I was in Vegas till 10pm the night before the party.  I'm crazy I know! haha

For the centerpiece I took a vase and wrapped it in burlap and tied it with twine.  Then I took corn on the cob still in the husks and put them on metal grill skewers and put them in the vase and then just pulled back the husks to make it look more like an arrangement.  I borrowed a play tractor from someone in small's group and stole Brent's visor from his display shelf at his house. haha

The cups were mini mason jars all wrapped in burlap and tied in the back.  They were all labeled with a 35 on the front.

I found this great website called celebrate express that had all the John Deere plates and napkins.

Everyone got to take home a favor box full of goodies from Whit's new bakery, Grandma Tillie's Bake Shop

Brent and Carly were in love with the dirt pudding!  haha

Holly made me this adorable happy birthday banner.  Brian wasn't going to let me hang it but we pressured him into it! haha

Holly, Whit and Ash

Another view of the corn centerpiece

Ash is like 5 months along here and you can't even tell she's pregnant!  She's got some good genes! :-)

Brian's favorite cupcake that Whit makes is a chocolate chip cookie cupcake so we made those for the treat boxes.  They actually have chocolate chip cookie dough baked inside them. Yum!

Ice bins even had cute labels thanks to Holly again!  She was a pure lifesaver!

Holly & Tim

Whit and Isaac

The food table all set

More food

We didn't go hungry to say the least! haha

I had Holly make all the food labels to look like test plot variety signs.  They turned out so cute!

My mini tractors were a little large for my dirt pudding cups so we just said they were off roading. haha

Me and the birthday boy

Brent and Carly

Whit and Isaac, Kaitlynn and Mitch

I found out from their dad that the farm was established in 1897.  The guys didn't even know that and thought it was pretty cool

So everyone wanted a picture in front of the sign. haha

It was a great evening to sit outside and play bags and hang out

Jonathan's gift to the guys was a ride around the block in a corvette.

Kaitlynn and Naomi

Mitch taking his turn

Carly looking terrified to ride with Jonathan. haha

Overall it was a great birthday, but I probably won't be throwing any lavish birthdays anytime.  I'll save it for my kids' parties! haha