My son's Toy Story Party

This past saturday we threw my son's fifth birthday party and we went with a toy story theme. I have just begun to dabble and get into all these party planning and dessert table blogs and they really inspired me to begin taking it to the next level. Of course, I still do things my way and thats with a budget and always with my birthday child at the forefront! I spent about 120 dollars on all the food and decorations-- I just did it all homemade. I made homemade pizza (since Andy goes to Pizza Planet), hot dogs, chicken ka-bobs, salads, and dips for the main meal. Since it was summer I was able to get 90% of all the veggies right from our garden, so that was a huge money saver! I made a cute banner for outside and decorated with curled ribbons everywhere-- I have to be honest, I am not a big balloon person since they pop and make obnoxious noises and are a choking hazard for young guests, so this cut down on cost too. I didn't get any pictures of the outside stuff, but here is the dessert table.








The cupcake ideas came from http://hubpages.com/hub/Toy-Story-Birthday-Cakes. I already had the cake platter and got the two candy holders at the dollar store. I made the brownie toppers with pictures I had found online- so free :) These aren't pictured since I couldn't put them out due to the heat, but I made chocolate covered marshmallows by freezing them and then dipping them in the chocolate and they were a big hit with the kids and adults. The party was so much fun! The weather was great and we are so blessed to begin another year with our special little guy :)

My Baby is turning five!!

This summer my little man will turn--- FIVE!! A whole hand! Halfway to double digits! Ahhhh! Its crazy and the thing is, he keeps happily counting down the days eagerly planning his pirate themed birthday party while, I, the mommy, just wanna pull him up on my lap and hold him a little tighter so that maybe I can keep him four a little longer... not possible, but hey, while I can dream big dreams for him I can also dream to keep him my little boy forever and ever!

He is my miracle boy. The baby we gained after the first was lost. The baby that proved doctors and the medical world just a little wrong by showing that God can do big things even when radiation had done some yucky things to my body. I will never forget the day he was born-- does any mom forget the day she welcomed a little angel from heaven into this world? My husband and I went in for a routine checkup and after my blood pressure kept going higher and higher, I was sent over to the hospital. And just when the staff there got my blood pressure under control, I went into labor. And then I had a c-section and then when I held him for the first time he was so soft. His little cheeks were perfect. He had that perfect newborn hospital smell. And he stopped crying and snuggled in close to me. And it wad pure love. Sure these days he knows how to push my buttons, but he still gives some amazing hugs and is a little charmer through and through. And when he tells me I am his favorite cook ever, its the highest praise. And when he tells me nobody makes funnier voices then mommy when I read, its like winning an acting award from the top. And when he tells me at the end of the day that he needs one more hug and kiss to go to bed, it's my pleasure. He is a one and only and I am so glad he is here with us.

Cooking for others

This past Easter our church did an amazing musical presentation. And I not having time to commit to weekly rehearsals, memorizing lines, etc. signed on to help do the hospitality. It was such a blessing to serve others this way and then this week two people from the church called me to do the food again for smaller events going on in the church. Sadly, I can only do one as one falls on the weekend of my race, but tomorrow I am making lunch for a mission team of Navajo children and some kids from our own church and, well, I have the night before butterflies. I am keeping it simple, just salads, sandwiches, veggies-- that sort of thing, but still for 30+ people, it always becomes a little bit more then the normal day of lunch duty for four :)

But, I seriously love to do this-- I like making food for people and watching them enjoy it whether its my immediate family or my family at church. Its ministry to the tummy ;) I am thankful that I know God has given me the gift of hospitality, but, I am gonna be honest here, I do wish he had equipped me with a slightly bigger kitchen! But, I just keep telling myself if I am faithful and use what I have, then who knows? If this is the only space I ever have, then I have to be okay with that because He knows what we truly need and what we might abuse or are not ready. Anyway, all that to say I am so excited about doing lunch tomorrow and hope it goes well!

Hot and sticky

We had the most nice break form the humidity this past week and it was heavenly! Every summer my urge to move to the north out of the heat and into the mountains becomes stronger. I am not alone-- my boys heads get so hot I am expecting little planets to begin orbiting them one day. I put them all down to sleep in just a diaper or their undies so they have less to stick to them and I can keep the air conditioning at a reasonable temperature. So, what to do this summer when I have to close the blinds to help keep it somewhat cooler and so plunge our house into a semi darkness and take brief trips out back until we can no longer take the heat. Thankfully, we have a great library program, a spray ground close by, and regal free movies. Also, there will be painting with pudding, bubble blowing, body painting and anything else that needs a full body spray down after wards with a hose :) Of course, cooking in the summer always becomes less enjoyable-- who wants warm food when you're outsides are so hot? And baking? Forget about it! Unless I do it early in the morning its not happening. Okay, I do like naps on warm days and swimming in the summer, but I have to say that the humidity is a deal breaker... someday... but alas, I can't tell God where to plant our family, but I can drop some hints ;)

Valley Forge Park

When we first decided to homeschool and I saw that one of the requirements was to teach about the states history I had a moment of panic. I come from a state so-so in state history, but now I live in one of the best historical states and we are so close to so many amazing attractions! This past thursday was homeschool day at Valley Forge Park and it was just great! If you have never been, def. try to go when they are having reenactments as they go above and beyond. The park on a whole is great-- lots of walking trails, cool buildings, deer, foxes-- it really is a great place that we sometimes take for granted.

The kids got to dress like the colonists, see a surgeon, play with toys from that era, watch them fire a musket, and lots more:)

My baby is sick :(

My poor little guy is trying to cut his teeth (again) and also got a cold in the process and is wheezy, which means he is back on the nebi :( He has been a trooper though, all though, I wish he had some teethies to show for all the pain he has been in. Since he is baby number three, I have picked up some helpful things to ease baby (and big kids comfort) from my other two and years nannying and teaching at a daycare
Here are some things that have helped us:

1. Natural teething tablets, a wet washcloth filled with ice and secured with a rubber band, the munchkin food holder with a fruit Popsicle in it, oragel, refrigerated teething toys, and when all else fails, tylenol

2. For fevers-- first we have become "experts" in this area since my daughter gets febrile seizures. Her first year she got three, this year only one cause we have gotten more fever savvy. Be Kool strips-- these are worth every penny and then some! They have mickey mouse on them and stick to the childs head or neck and last for eight hours-- my husband even used one the last time he was sick and they are just amazing! Also, you can alternate when baby is old enough tylenol and motrin for severe fevers and with drs okay.

3. constipation-- I use the drops, but my favorite thing is Magic Poopy Popsicles :) I make prune juice popsicles and my kids think they taste funny, but how can a popsicle be bad? It cant! Also, I pedal their legs for them or a good run around helps, ahem, loosen things up.

4. Runny noses: ugh, I hate snotty nose kids--- its just gross, but, sometimes it cant be helped away completely. So, we use saline drops, the syringe-- if done right, it yields great results, vapor baths, vapor rubs-- anything with the word "vapor" basically! Ha!

Another thing I have done is call the doctor and talk about the problem first and ask them what they will do for it and if I can treat it at home. Our drs have been great about calling in prescriptions and telling us when we should come in so they can doll out the proper treatment. Please, feel free to post any ideas or solutions that have worked for you and yours :)

Mother's Day Tea

Recently our church had a woman's tea and the speaker encouraged us to connect with the woman in our lives who we may not see often... and I was challenged. I dont see my moms side of the family often enough-- especially my grandmom, so I decided to throw a tea on mothers day for all the ladies on that side of the family. I kept it simple-- I did the sandwiches, quiche, and spinach puffs and my mom made a salad and set everything up and called everyone to invite them. It was just so nice to spend the day with my mom and her sisters and their daughters and our grandmom. We had so much fun that we're going to make it a tradition every year :) Hopefully next year it will be warmer out so we can have it outdoors :)