My Ideal Epic Playdate Weekend...

would include lot's of dress-up

 

playing old school games

 

painting/drawing/coloring...creating

 

going down slides

playing at the beach

Wreck-It Rhett

 This sweet, calm, happy, content, little baby has left and I would really like him back. Whoever has him, please send him home, we ALL miss him! His nickname for the last few months around our house has been

Wreck-It Rhett.

 

He is climbing impossible things and then falling, pulling food out of the cupboard and turning it over and dumping all the contents out on the floor, refusing to eat in a high chair and now stands on the kitchen bench while shoveling food because he won't let someone feed him. He pushes me out of his way when I'm holding him and when I put him down he cries because I'm not holding him. He empties all the toys out of the toy bins constantly, he loves to pull every one's hair, if someone is sitting in a chair; he will then go sit in it and steal it, he tries to squeeze through the stair slats, he steals the remote and then presses buttons to change channels and just laughs, the list could go on.

 

Sometimes, I think Audra was a piece of cake(which she wasn't) because she was a hard baby but then got easier as she got older. He was an amazing baby and when he hit about 1 year, he flipped the script. I guess he just became a toddler!

 

When he gets mad, he will try to pull at his hair and sometimes I want to pull out my own hair with some of his shenanigans. He is our happy, mischievous, Wreck-It Rhett but man we still LOVE that kid!

some of our Christmas traditions

 

Hanging our stockings/ Our Elf 'Jack' arrives at our home on December 1st

during our North Pole Breakfast. 

 

 

We trim the tree with our favorite ornaments we collect on all our travels throughout the years. Here are a few - Cancun/Bahamas/and Mickey from our December Disneyland trip last year.

 

We have started a tradition of leaving a bag of old toys that the kids pick out to donate. We leave the bag for Santa on Christmas Eve and when he leaves their goodies, He takes the bag of their toys to give to some other deserving children. 

 

 

Our Christmas Advent keeps things fun. Each day is a scripture about the birth and ministry of Christ, a hymn/Christmas song to sing and an activity to do. Some are as simple as putting a wreath on the door, others are to go ice-skating, gingerbread houses, go see Christmas lights, make cookies etc. I'm most looking forward to having a little Mother/Daughter Date at the Nutcracker Ballet. It may be a little young for her...but finally, I have a date to the ballet!

 

Our humble and unbreakable nativity set

50th Birthday {Bowling Bash}

PARTY DETAILS:

For Jennifer's birthday, we kept it casual with a relaxed bowling bash at the private bowling lanes at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas. 40 of her closest friends and family got their bowling shoes on, chomped on sliders, rings and fries and sipped on their beverage of choice. The music was set to a mix of her favorite songs and videos played during the course of the evening. The cake was a red velvet cake from Retro Bakery (which completed the color scheme of reds and pinks). Guests left with gumball pipettes (bowling-ball-esque). Now that's a way to turn 50!

Owl/Fall Themed Birthday



PARTY DETAILS:

The menu incorporated food typically served in Fall (pomegranates, sweet potatoes, butternut squash). Food was easy to eat as well as kid-friendly. There was a fire-pit going on outside during the party with marshmallows to roast for smores. Mini Babycakes donuts were a hit! And the birthday girl blew out her candles and we all were served up a slice of red-velvet bundt cake. If you are ever in Las Vegas, you have to go to Nothing Bundt Cakes. They are divine!

The decor was simplistic with colors of orange, pink and green. Orange sunflowers spiced up the food table. The guests were sent home with 'Owl' favors. They were easy to make. All it is is half of a chocolate graham cracker. Then place two large marshmallows on the cracker and microwave for a few seconds till the marshmallows puff up a little bit. Then press in 2 candy melts(you can find these at a party store). Use some light corn syrup to stick on two chocolate chips for the eyes and then press in a candy corn nose to finish it off. I packaged them in small party bags and they were good to go. The party was a hoot and we loved this fall/owl themed birthday for Audra's 2nd birthday!

Parties on my short list

I am in the mood for a party. Here are a few of the parties I'm contemplating throwing.

1. Pinterest Party

2. Dinner en blanc

3.Progressive Party (Paris is ideal, but could be just as fun back in the states)



What parties have you seen that make you want to throw one yourself?

'Bloom Where You are Planted' Sign

I slept with my baby blanket till I was 16 years old. Yes, I know - that's weird. It's not like I carried it around with me everywhere, I would just scrunch it up and use it as an extra pillow. When I turned 16, I decided enough was enough - I needed to let it go. But I couldn't throw it away, so I cut it up into pieces.

10 years later... I wanted to keep my blanket as a memento but in a useful sort of way. And I love the vintage look of it. So, I decided to frame it. I got some vinyl decals with a phrase that I loved and voila!! Now it's hanging over my baby's crib and everytime I get him out, I can't help but smile!