And just like that, Lucas is 2

I've said the words "I've been busy" so many times that even I am tired of hearing them. Between work, Cruz starting kindergarten, traveling and life in general, I am barely keeping up! And as another reminder of time flying, Lucas turned the big 2 last week...I swear I blinked and missed it all. We debated whether or not to have a party for him, and since we recently took a mini-vacation to Maine for my cousin's wedding, we decided to forgo a party. But after giving it some more thought, we agreed we wanted at least a small celebration for him - birthdays are a big deal to me and I think every person deserves to have a little extra love and attention on their one, personal holiday a year. In an effort to keep it small and low-key, we invited just our closest friends who live in Benicia or Vallejo for a casual lunch at a nearby park on a Sunday afternoon. But if you know me, you know I am obsessed with party planning and I couldn't resist having a theme. I try to choose a theme that reflects the child at that particular stage, because the phases they go through can be fleeting. For Lucas I chose to have a "Puppy Pawty" because he absolutely adores dogs. It was such a fun party to put together! Some highlights: canine-inspired kiddie snacks included Beggin' Strips (fruit roll ups), Puppy Chow (cocoa puffs), Scooby snacks (graham crackers shaped like bones) and Fetch Sticks (pretzel sticks). I also found some adorable accessories like bone-shaped sippy cups and doggie-ear headbands from Oriental Trading Company.