Bebe's Birthday Part 2

So, Sunday April 17 is Bebe's actual birthday.

She was really excited that it was Palm Sunday at church on.her.birthday!

After church, we came home and ran some normal Sunday errands. Then about lunch time, Jason took her to see the play "Snoopy" at the theater where he volunteers. She had a great time working the box office and then seeing the show.

When they came home, MG and Grandaddy were here and we went and got part of her birthday present -- Mulch. An odd gift you say? Well, Grandma and Grandpa bought her and Mamu the rockwall and slide for their playfort, so now it's not so weird right?

Bebe asked if we could go to Red Robin for her birthday dinner, and we met Auntie there.

We played I Spy, ate yummy food, and opened Auntie's gift. The lovely waiters and waitresses sang to her and gave her a cupcake and pink balloon.

We came home, had some cake, and opened the rest of her presents.

All in all, she said she had a great birthday!

She then proceeded to read one of her new chapter books that night -- the whole way through. (Did I mention that she went to bed late?)

(Did I mention it was quite hard for her to get up the next day for school?)
(Did I mention that I quite possibly would do the same thing as a kid when I got a new book?)

(Yea. She's mine!)

Let's Catch Up, Shall We?

So, it's been a while.

I know. I'm sorry. With Mamu's birthday and Bebe's birthday so close together, and with me being an overachiever, I've been swamped with birthday lovin', craftin', and plannin'.

So here's what's been going on:

On Mamu's birthday party day, Bebe and Grandaddy planted tomatoes for us. You see, 3 out of 4 people in our family are tomato lovers. And we figured, why not? Let's grow our own instead of buying them. They do well in containers and really just need watering, so we should be able to do this! I am proud to tell you that we have several blossoms and Bebe is being really responsible and watering them every day.

I was able to get both kids' rooms clean (and they've pretty much stayed that way!) and there was only minimal crying. Bebe was really motivated once she saw Mamu's room. She even planned a little story to go along with her different pictures. She posed them and everything. I'm not going to post them all on there - it's a way long story.

We've been enjoying the nice weather and still working away on the playfort. If the wind would just die down, then we could get it done!

Mamu's school had it's annual Spring Fling, which is their annual fundraiser for a charity. Each class has the parents donate different things for themed baskets and they also do a class project. Last week, the director contacted me and asked if I would put the donation basket together. The email started with "I know you're crafty and I really think you would do a great job ..." So, I put together the "Life's a Beach" bucket together. I forgot to take a picture of the 3 swim noodles and mini-pail with flip flops, but you get the idea. I had Jason take it with him in the morning and managed to flash half the neighborhood -- here's how that happened. So, I don't get dressed for work before breakfast and making lunches. I don't know why, it's just how I do it. So, I'm in my nightgown, which Bebe said to me "Why do you wear that when it's too small for you?" -- let's clarify shall we? It's not a length I would wear outside or with people other than my family - it's mid thigh. Anyways, I'm helping Jason carry out all the beach lovin' and totally forget and bend over to put it in the car. Luckily, I don't believe anyone saw ...

Anyways, at the Spring Fling, I bid on Mamu's class project and won! It totally goes with my tote bag obsession and collection!

Now, I'm prepping for Bebe's tea party on Saturday, and I'll tell you all about it when it's over with (and Auntie and I've recovered).

Mamu's Party Part 2

So after Thomas the Tank Engine ride and super fun time, we headed back to the house for lunch. We chowed down on pizza and after a feeble attempt at a nap (it was way past time for him and he had fallen asleep in the car), it was cake time!

He loved the cake and was super excited about it! (It really made the 3+hours it took worth it.) He was most excited when we sang to him.

He almost blew out his candle. Sadly, this is probably the last year he'll need help.

After turning our tongues blue, we headed to the presents! He was really excited about them and had been talking about them all day long.

After presents, he and Bebe had a good time perusing all of his new books!

(side note - while they were reading, I was vacuuming - see MG and Grandaddy have a Dyson, and I asked if I could borrow it while they came up. Vacuuming should not be that fun!)

We had a great dinner at Texas Roadhouse and put a very tired Mamu to bed.

The next day was actually his birthday, so we had a cake and sang to him again. He then wanted to know if there were more presents. Sadly, there were not.

Thanks to all who made it a super great day for our little man!

(**NO clue why there is such a big space at the top of the post.)

Mamu's 3! -- Part 1

Well, it's official.

We're now the parents of a 3 year old.

On Monday, I began to relive all of the events that happened on that day 3 years ago. The early wake up (4:30 am). How Jason was NOT thrilled about the 4:30 wake-up, but we had to be at the hospital by 6 am for the 7:30 c-section. You see, Mamu was 2 weeks late and not planning on leaving ANY time soon. Since I had an emergency c-section with Bebe, induction was not an option. Hence, the 4:30 am wake up call for the 7:30 surgery. I digress. As I looked at the clock, I would be transported back to that time. The waiting. The fact I couldn't figure out how to work the sink -- there were no handles! It turns out, there were feet things you pushed. How can a 9+ month pregnant woman see foot pedals? Well, at 7:55 - right as morning announcements were going on at school - I remembered the time that my doctor said - "It's a boy!" Jason got to hold him and watch them clean him up - he was NOT happy about being evicted.

SO, to celebrate our newly minted 3 year old, we celebrated a day early. AND we even got up early for it - not as early as that birthday, but you know - out of the house by 8:45 early. Or, Mamu wakes up at 5:30 am early. Whichever.

Instead of having a big party with his friends over, we took a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine! He was in a town close by and since it was so close to his birthday (and a tad pricey), we decided to make that his celebration. We invited MG, Grandaddy, and Auntie to come along and we had a great time!

Those Thomas people really took care of us and we had a great time. Sadly, it didn't get above 45 degrees and was cloudy all day ( super frowny face since it had been 85 degrees and sunny the day before, but that's Texas weather for you!), but we had a great time anyway!

Here's some of the pictures. I made Mamu's shirt and his hat. His name is embroidered on the front of the hat and I added the Thomas fabric from some that I had.

Enjoy!

I'll continue the fun (hopefully) tomorrow. We'll get into the cake and presents!

Yea! Time for Cake!

So, my dad turned 60 this year.
We (being my sister, my mom, and myself) decided that we needed to throw a surprise party at the same place we threw his 50th. Hey. It'd been 10 years. We barely remembered the last one.

I was in charge of decorations, my mom was in charge of securing the location and food, and my sister was in charge of getting them here (and planning KK's bithday since it is on the same day). I decided to get different pictures from my dad's life and hang them around the room. I took a whole bunch of them from my parents' house and scanned them.

OH MY GOSH!

I don't know if you know about the Rapid Scanner at Target by Kodak, you SO should know! (I am not paid by Kodak, I just want you to know about my FABULOUS experience!)
I had about 55 photos to be scanned in and printed and I was, honestly, dreading the experience. I even roped Auntie into coming with me to keep me company and to fend off the other people wanting to use the kiosk (since I'd probably be there for like, 5 hours). I think I promised her ice cream and wine.

Well, you put about 20 photos into this fancy scanner and zip! It's done in seconds. LOVE IT! It took us about 20 minutes in all to do all these photos, plus some that couldn't go through the rapid scanner and had to go through the flatbed.

Anyways, back to the decorations. I also went on the internet and found different facts and events that happened on my dad's birthday for every year he was alive. I wrote those on different cards and put them on ribbon. I hung them by years. Add a couple of balloons, and extra pictures taped to straws (it looked really cute if I do say so myself) and viola! Easy decorations that are cute and meaningful. I think a lot of people enjoyed looking at the different pictures and it was different and unique - not a slideshow like everyone else does.




We also decided that we should dress up in 50's garb since that's when my dad was born. We didn't make the guests dress up though. We'll save that for his 70th and make everyone do disco. I bought retro bowling shirts for my dad, Jason, and Uncle Mark. (Unfortuantely, Uncle Mark got called back to post and wasn't able to make it, that's another story.) So when dad walked in, I handed him his new shirt (embroidered as well) and sent him off to change. We did surprise him and I think he had a good time. I also embellished shirts for each of the girls with our initals in sequins. Bebe wore her poodle skirt and Mamu rocked a cute polo.

Grandaddy and KK (the birthday kids)

Bebe, Jason, Mamu, and Auntie's arm enjoying the party.

Bebe read most of the time and so did Mamu.

They got lots of compliments on how well behaved they were.

Grandaddy and Bebe (in her poodle skirt)

The gang (left to right)

Auntie, MG, Grandaddy, Me, Jason, Aunt Didi KK

Mamu & Bebe

Sweet friends - Robin

(my friend from high school who married one of my dad's friends/former coworker) and her sweet super duper cute daughter.

It was a great time and I really enjoyed getting to visit with all that came.

We (being my sister and I) have promised my mom that we'll definitely celebrate her big birthday net year.

She's said that she's going out of town.

This weekend

This weekend was my KK's and my Dad's (yes, they share a birthday) birthdays! KK turned 1! Dad turned 60!

We celebrated all day long and had such a good time catching up with family and old friends. My camera battery lied to me when I checked it and it said it was half full, so I don't have pictures with me of Dad's party. I'll have to get them from him. Here's the birthday girl though -

I made her that super cute shirt (but not the super cute petti-skirt). And if I do say so myself, she's pretty darn cute!

I'll get back with you later with all the fun of Dad's party. Gotta go fold clothes now...