I mentioned my impromptu idea for minion bowling in this post. Well, it really wasn't my idea. Technically. After Jeff brought home the Twinkie minion idea, I did some blog hopping myself. I felt this sudden pressure to really pull off a Despicable Me party complete with games, decorations, party favors, the works. I felt instantly inadequate as a mom because apparently that's what good moms do. At least that's the impression all those super mommy type blogs give. If I read their posts right, good moms are supposed to spend a fortune and use up all remaining brain cells to plan the perfect party where everything coordinates, matches, and fits a theme. I scribbled a bunch of ideas down then took a one look at my list and said this is ridiculous! Cole is only one-years-old! He doesn't care. Jeff definitely doesn't care. And I don't have time, energy, desire, or talent to care. No one cares! The whole point is to be together. And as for those super mommy blogs, I have to restrain myself from reading them. I only feel like more of a flop. When my kids are old enough to know what kind of party they really want, then I'll care.
But back to the minion bowling. One of the party game ideas was to set up minion bowling. Those super mommy party-planners made their own minion bowling pins out of 2 liter soda bottles which they spray painted yellow and blue then used their fancy die cut machines to make their faces and clothes. Us lazy, realistic moms dig out the old plastic bowling pins and call it good.
So when things got a bit heated when Pearl and Ruby were tired of sharing, I excitedly told them we were going to bowl for minions. They were thrilled! As was Cole.
He had different ideas though for minion bowling than his sister or cousin. They mainly consisted of knocking down the pins as fast as you could set them up all while infuriating your sister. Pearl's screaming only made him want to play even more. 
Sharing, being nice, and rules apparently don't apply to the birthday boy.
Jeff decided we needed to kick up Cole's first birthday party a notch with a theme. A theme? It sounds like something I'd tell him. Of course when I said we needed balloons to match said theme, he laughed at me and asked why. To select the theme, Jeff let Pearl pick out Cole's birthday cake. They apparently were in a Despicable Me mood because we ended up with a huge "Assemble the minions!" cake, which they both talked about all week. It is sort of fitting though seeing as how Jeff often refers to Cole and Pearl as minions. 
And if that wasn't enough, Jeff researched, purchased, and assembled an army of Twinkie minions for Cole's Despicable Me birthday party. He said he wanted to have a minion decorating contest so he prepped two boxes of Twinkie minions and then had everyone add arms, legs, and hair to them.
And EVERYONE had to participate. Oh, and there was a pre-party screening of Despicable Me for my parents who had yet to see the movie. They had to know what a minion was, it was all we talked about all morning.
Here is Jeff's original prototype. If you're wondering, the "C" stands for Cole and the "F" for Fern. If you have no clue what Fern is all about, read this post. 
My Grandpa had a bit of trouble with his minion. Let's just say there was blue frosting everywhere. 
Several minions didn't even make it to the arm, leg, and hair assembly line. 
Pearl took her minion making very seriously. She giggled hysterically at her idea to give "Larry the minion" a mustache. She even tickled it like she does with Jeff's Dad.
Grandpa and Grandma reluctantly participated in the decorating but happily ate their finished minions.
At first I thought Jesse was going to make out with his minion. But then the poor guy got his head bit off. I sure hope he doesn't kiss like this for real. 
My mom and Ruby were pretty proud of their minion creations.
And Jacob refused to eat his. He said he wanted to save it for the ride home. Cindy thank us profusely (insert sarcasm here) for giving Jacob something to beg her to make for the next umpteen years. 
Jeff's minion army was a huge hit! Now the minion bowling that I came up with impromptu, well that's a story for another day.
My Grandpa is amazingly talented. He makes beautiful handcrafted items, toys, and furniture. Pretty much anything you could dream up. He transports all his projects in the back of his car. That way, when he has visitors or goes somewhere, he always has something to give you. When he opens that trunk, it makes him look like some shady dealer... "Hey little girl, wanna buy a watch?"
So when he came on Saturday for Cole's birthday party, it was of no surprise that he said he had some presents for us.
One for Jeff. He's been waiting about three years for this beauty. A truck coin bank with a vintage postal box door. My Grandpa had been making these trucks for a few months so for Christmas Jeff found five of these postal box doors for him. Well, then my Grandpa found a new project and lost interest in the trucks. So Jeff's been waiting patiently ever since. He wasn't disappointed!
One for Pearl. A cute rocking chair that sort of reminds me of a puzzle because of the way you assemble it.
One for me. A candy dispenser my Grandpa said he made for Easter. Remember once he finishes a project it gets put in the trunk... even if it has chocolate candy inside of it.
But none for Cole. Grandpa sort of laughed at himself when he realized the birthday boy was the only one without a present. No matter though. Cole has claimed the rocking chair as his own.
So if you happen to see this man pull up, open his trunk, and ask you if you want a present, say yes!
An opened package of Ritz crackers from your cousin.
Seriously, Cole was more excited about the crackers Ruby gave him than the plunder of clothes, puzzles, swing, and books piled high next to him.
Although the musical card from David and Vickie came in a close second. It was a Shrek card that sang "Funky Town." Cole danced to the music and opened and closed the card for a good ten minutes.
He had different ideas though for minion bowling than his sister or cousin. They mainly consisted of knocking down the pins as fast as you could set them up all while infuriating your sister. Pearl's screaming only made him want to play even more. 
Sharing, being nice, and rules apparently don't apply to the birthday boy.
See that cute girl poking her head out from behind Cole? She's the amazingly talented Katie. She's also the one who brought the cake. Really, I should print this picture out and have Katie autograph it before she becomes a famous singer/songwriter. 
Oh, what's this on my fingers? Kind of squishy.
Me and the birthday boy.
Deep down I have to admit I was glad he didn't get covered in frosting. His spare clothes we had were way more embarrassing than his birthday shirt. And knowing my luck, they would have been too small anyway. I have my doubts though that this same aversion to cakes will hold when birthday cake #2 is put in front of him.
And if that wasn't enough, Jeff researched, purchased, and assembled an army of Twinkie minions for Cole's Despicable Me birthday party. He said he wanted to have a minion decorating contest so he prepped two boxes of Twinkie minions and then had everyone add arms, legs, and hair to them.
And EVERYONE had to participate. Oh, and there was a pre-party screening of Despicable Me for my parents who had yet to see the movie. They had to know what a minion was, it was all we talked about all morning.
My Grandpa had a bit of trouble with his minion. Let's just say there was blue frosting everywhere. 
Several minions didn't even make it to the arm, leg, and hair assembly line. 
Pearl took her minion making very seriously. She giggled hysterically at her idea to give "Larry the minion" a mustache. She even tickled it like she does with Jeff's Dad.
Grandpa and Grandma reluctantly participated in the decorating but happily ate their finished minions.
At first I thought Jesse was going to make out with his minion. But then the poor guy got his head bit off. I sure hope he doesn't kiss like this for real. 
My mom and Ruby were pretty proud of their minion creations.
And Jacob refused to eat his. He said he wanted to save it for the ride home. Cindy thank us profusely (insert sarcasm here) for giving Jacob something to beg her to make for the next umpteen years. 
Jeff's minion army was a huge hit! Now the minion bowling that I came up with impromptu, well that's a story for another day.
One for Pearl. A cute rocking chair that sort of reminds me of a puzzle because of the way you assemble it.
One for me. A candy dispenser my Grandpa said he made for Easter. Remember once he finishes a project it gets put in the trunk... even if it has chocolate candy inside of it.
But none for Cole. Grandpa sort of laughed at himself when he realized the birthday boy was the only one without a present. No matter though. Cole has claimed the rocking chair as his own.
So if you happen to see this man pull up, open his trunk, and ask you if you want a present, say yes!