Seri and I always have big ideas when we get the kids together (Seri being a party planner and all), but things don’t always go as planned. For instance, last week, we planned a 4th of July inspired picnic in Central Park, so Mazzy, Harlow, Gavin and Luke could model the adorable new Americana collection from Gymboree.
There was going to be watermelon, potato sack races, pinwheels and cupcakes.
WHAT COULD GO WRONG???
For starters, RAIN.
But do you know what is worse than rain?
It’s when your weather app says it’s going to rain, but it doesn’t really rain, and you realize a few hours too late that you absolutely COULD HAVE hightailed it uptown to the park, but you’re already way too far into your back-up plan of shooting indoors to switch courses.
And the kids are all like, “I THOUGHT WE WERE HAVING A PICNIC! THIS ISN’T NEARLY AS FUN. WAAAH.”
And then the photographer gets there (a very talented guy named Dave Robbins) and he says, “We can’t shoot a July 4th picnic indoors!”
And you panic like no one ever should over a picnic and say, “WELL THEN WHAT DO WE DO???”
And Seri suggests, all casual-like, “We have a pool on the roof. We could shoot there.”
And you say, “Okay. that sounds good. We could take the kids up to the pool and then— HOLD UP. YOU HAVE A POOL ON THE ROOF??????”
And then as you gather everybody up in the service elevator, you can’t help but think— WHY HAVEN’T I BEEN INVITED OVER TO THE POOL BEFORE?????” But you keep that to yourself, because you don’t want to ruin your chances of scoring a future invite.
Then you get up there and the kids are all, “YAY!!!!! LET’S GO SWIMMING!!!!!!”
And you have to tell them that no, we need to shoot the “picnic” but we can go in after, I PROMISE (knowing full well you didn’t bring any suits).
“Okay…” they say unenthusiastically.
Then you make a failed attempt to get everyone to stay in one place on a blanket.
SERIOUSLY. HOW HARD IS IT TO STAY IN ONE PLACE ON A BLANKET???
And then everyone gets to open their picnic boxes which is initially very exciting…
Until they discover inside are just regular lunch items like corn.
And that beautiful July 4th spread Seri made with a glass pitcher and berries?
Someone knocks it over and there’s glass and water everywhere and you have to scrap the whole blanket thing entirely.
CRAP. Nobody ever said blogging was easy.
But then, once you toss out all your preconceived picnic ideas, your pre-styled party platters, and your attempts to strategically pose the kids and JUST LET EVERYBODY HAVE FUN, that’s when the magic happens.
Plus, we broke out the ice cream cone cupcakes. Bribery is always a recipe for a good time.
The kids looked as adorable as ever, obviously.
Mazzy became OBSESSED with her one shouldered striped romper.
Making it very hard to convince her to change into the chambray star dress, which looked equally adorable.
You can see all the whole star-spangled striped collection here.
Harlow loved her little jean shorts with matching ruffled shirt but really came into her own when she put on her adorable swiss dot dress, making the wardrobe change without ever letting go of her ice cream cone cupcake.
Luke donned a baseball tank with belted twill shorts while Gavin wore an anchor tee with cargo shorts.
Gymboree’s Americana Collection for boys has lots of red, white and blue with classic plaids and patchwork, perfect for outdoor BBQs and backyard shenanigans.
Like the ring toss, which is equally as enjoyable on a rooftop as on the grass.
Harlow was a PRO.
Well, she needs to work a little on her aim.
To end the shoot, we took the kids outside with a big ol’ blue balloon with white stars, because there is nothing that stirs positive patriotic feelings more than a flag themed balloon.
And red, white and blue pinwheels. That’s a necessary element too.
The kids smiled, laughed, played and then asked if it was time to go into the pool.
That’s when I texted Mike to tell him to GET OVER TO THE ROOF POOL WITH SUITS IMMEDIATELY.
He texted back, “A roof pool??!!! How come we’ve never been invited before?”
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GYMBOREE GIVEAWAY:
Today, I’m giving away a $150 Gymboree gift card!
To enter, just check out Gymboree’s Star-Spangled Summer collection (boy and girl) and tell me the one thing you would pick for your kid’s summer play date in the comments.
For a second entry, tweet about the giveaway and leave a second comment saying you did so:
I just entered to win a $150 @Gymboree gift card from @mommyshorts! http://bit.ly/1IkCCQE #gymboree
Read the full rules here.
Winner will be announced June 25th.
Exclusive Offer:
Gymboree is offering Mommy Shorts readers $25 off purcahses of $100 or more! Just use coupon code: AMERICANA25 at checkout. Offer can be redeemed in-store and online, valid 6/17 to 6/25.
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WINNER UPDATE:
And the winner is… Stephanie, who loves the striped romper.
Congrats! Please contact abby@mommyshorts.com to claim your prize.
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This post was sponsored by Gymboree but all failed picnic plans are my own. All photos were taken by Dave Robbins.
Bicycle tank! Daddy loves to bike so it’s perfect!
Striped One-Shoulder Romper!!!!!! omg so cute 🙂
tweeted! I just entered to win a $150 @Gymboree gift card from @mommyshorts! http://bit.ly/1IkCCQE #gymboree
Liberty Belle ensemble – Gotta have it!
https://twitter.com/chewbaccaTum/status/611310473552785408 – Also tweeted – Thanks for the chance!
That one shoulder romper with the glitter shoes.
Oh the anchor tee for both my boys!
Your girls are always so lovely and exuberant!
My son would want the plaid cargo shorts. He still won’t wear anything with a fly that needs to be buttoned or zipped!
Those patchwork plaid shorts are the cutest
Patchwork shorts for my son and striped sundress for my daughter.
All so cute! I would love the chambray shirt for my little guy.
I would love to get my son the chambary cargo shorts and the anchor tee. It would an adorable outfit paired with a little navy bucket hat and a cute pair of fisherman style sandals.
I love the Dots dress for a little girl.
Tweeted about the giveaway as well. 🙂
https://twitter.com/annakrcil/status/611360018198212608
For my daughter the ruffled tank and the sparkler skirt, and for my son, the be brave tee and plaid cargo shorts.
Oh definitely those patchwork shorts for my boy and the dots dress for my girl. And those red boots! Dying. Love!!
Bubble shorts for dayzzzz
LOVE the photos! The ice cream cone pics with Harlow are super cute! I would love the dot dress for my little one who just turned one! Thank you for posting this contest!
United States of Awesome baseball cap!
I’d definitely get the star dress for my older daughter. She loves wearing dresses and I know she’d get a lot of wear out of it. And for my younger daughter, I’d get the Swiss dot dress. Too cute!! Seriously can’t go wrong with anything from Gymboree though.
I love the boy’s chambray shirt and the flag swim trunks!
Definitely the glitter shoes! When looking at this collection those stuck out most to me because anything glitter makes my toddler feel like a “pretty princess” and she has a shoe collection bigger than most women already because she is obsessed with shoes! 🙂
The Swiss dot dress times 3! (Twins plus my singleton….and all girls!)
The chambray star dress hands down for my 4yr old and the Dot dress for my 2yr old.
I have 2 boys, ages 2 and 4, and they would both rock the Baseball American Flag Tee happily, and I absolutely love the American Flag Socks too! Soooo adorable!
The American flag baseball tee and plaid shorts would be perfect for my two boys!
Tweet sent!
Loving patchwork shorts for the boys and the striped dress for my little lady!
Love the belted twill shorts with chambray rolled shirt for my son. And the dots dress for my daughter.
Love the Star dress!!
I love the star striped sweater! So cute!
I love the Swiss dot dress for my daughter, so cute!
My daughter would rock the striped one shoulder romper with the red glitter jelly sandals. Red is her favorite color! I’d put my son in the chambray shirt with adorable patchwork shorts. Gymboree outfits are the best!
The striped sundress, though its close between that and the chambray star dress!
Star spangled pocket tank. I’ve been looking for something cute for my little dude!
Definitely the red and white striped romper! So fun!
My absolute favorite is the swiss dot dress!
i love the patchwork shorts and baseball tee! Gymboree has the cutest clothes!
https://mobile.twitter.com/karen_10493/status/611403978748772356
Just tweeted! 🙂
I would love the anchor tee for my Irish twin boys.
Seriously….Mazzy needs to model. She’s gorgeous. Love the Swiss Dot dress that Harlow is wearing.
I love the chambray star dress for my 3 year old it’s casual but totally cute!!
Yes! The Baseball American Flag Tee with the patchwork shorts for my grandson!! But seriously love them all!
Love a good romper on a little girl! That red strip one shoulder would look adorable on my one year old!
I love the red and white striped rhomper and the red boots!!
I would choose the American flag socks and the colorful sunglasses for my nephew! It’s all about the accessories for William these days!
The swiss dot dress and star dress that Mazzy is wearing are my favorites!
I tweeted the giveaway too! (@bcvannier)
Swiss dot dress!
Loving the free to be me butterfly dress! The ribbony ponytail holder is adorable. We are not headband people!
I would pick the one shoulder romper for my daughter! She loves romper a right now and it is so cute!
L.O.V.E love love the chabray star dress!!!
Definitely the tripled sundress! We love stripes and dresses!
Grrr auto correct! I meant striped!
My daughter would go crazy for the bicycle tank and red cowboy boots.
I tweeted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the romper for my little girl. Mazzy has great taste!
The star chambray dress!
I’d put both my boys in the belted twill shorts, and my older would get the anchor tee, and my little would get the United States of Awesome tee! They would be so cute!
Love the red stripe dress and the one shoulder romper!! I love how I can dress the all 5 of my kids a like but not matching with the gymboree line!
Star Chambray Dress!!
The star chambray dress and red jellies!
The romper is adorable!
Plaid flip flops! My little man is obsessed with flip flops. Hope you take advantage of the roof top pool- it’s still early in the season 😉
He would love the Patriotic Pup Tee!
I tweeted too!
https://twitter.com/Lindz_Says/status/611566966185177089
I love the patchwork shorts for my son!
Love the star chambray dress! Would be great for my 2 year old. And mazzy is so beautiful!
Two Sparkled Striped dresses, please! Gymboree kills me with their adorable, mix-and-match clothes. Also: Mazzy is such a natural model! And Harlow! The nonchalance ..oh dear.
The Liberty Belle striped sundress!
I would get the striped sundress and the red jelly shoe sandals for my 4 year old daughter!
Definitely the boy plaid shorts. Harlow’s dot dress are Mazzy’s star chambray dress are great. I really like the red sandals worn by Harlow!
Romper ! I love it!!!!
I like the ribbon stripe skirt!
The striped one shoulder romper for my oldest – it would look adorable.
Love the romper for girls and the patchwork shorts for boys!
The patchwork shorts would be so cute on my little man!
I love the Dots Dress! I also love the Star Dress that Mazzy is wearing! 🙂
The chambray star dress! My girlies would love it!
The star pocket tank is adorable!
The baseball flag tshirt, my son loves everything baseball!
one shoulder romper!!!!! and for my second girl.. the star chambray dress!!! you guys already picked out the best of the bunch!
i tweeted
star one piece swimsuit
tweeted the comment
I love the anchor tee for my son.
Love the liberty bell dress! So adorable!
Definitely have to get the one shoulder romper for one of my girls and I’m loving the glitter jelly red sandals! Wish they came in my size! ????
Definitely the chambray star dress. I love that tiny little ribbon belt!
I like the Chambray Cargo Shorts for boys
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/612322007456165888
My favorite is the stars and stripes splash set, primarily because it comes with a matching hat and sunglasses.
Tweeted at https://twitter.com/1froglegs/status/612343748471726081
I like the striped bow top. It’s simple but cute!
And I tweeted!
The Star Chambray Dress, please. Adorbs!
My kid is *obsessed* with dresses, so she’d probably pick the striped sundress for her playdate.
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/cmafairman/status/612448163237109760
Everything is adorable! But definitely the striped sundress!
I would totally get the patchwork shorts for my sons! They are absolutely adorable and go with anything! Every young gentleman should have these shorts!
I would want the whole All-Star Hoopster outfit for Aaron
Tweeted