Birthday Cards

This year I received several home-made birthday cards. One was from my neighbor, but the rest were from my kiddos. My neighbor invited my older two over to make cards for me a couple of days before my birthday. Then, K decided to make an additional card on her own. These really are the best cards to get.



"Happy Birthday, Mommy. You are queen, and you are beautiful."




"Happy Birthday, Mommy! We hope you have a wonderful birthday. We want to play I Spy with you sometime soon. We love you." 



The card K made with our neighbor.

The inside of K's card.

The card from my neighbor.

Inside the card

AJ's card

Inside AJ's card

The back of AJ's card

The back of our neighbor's and K's cards

K's Home Party

The evening following K's Chuck E. Cheese's party, we had a home party with just family. She opened her presents from us throughout the day, and we made her wait until after dinner for the rest of her presents.

Her "spread"

Metallic Gel Pens from Auntie Sarah. She loves these.

Qwirkle from Grandma and Grandpa. She thinks we need to play this daily.

Her Baby Alive doll from Farmor and Farfar. She loves the daily feedings and changings.

She also received some clothes and other toys, all of which she is very happy with. Her cupcakes were the same ballerina-themed ones I did for her Chuck E. Cheese party. All I did for these was bake a chocolate cake, top it with dark chocolate ganache, and add a little ballerina. I just wasn't up for something more creative time-wise. These tasted great, and she was still happy with them.

Overall, K enjoyed a great birthday. She was full of smiles, which is the goal of a mother for her birthday girl. A happy daughter makes a happy mommy.

K's Seventh Birthday Party

We celebrated K's seventh birthday last Friday at a familiar location. Chuck E. Cheese's once again won our kid's vote for the birthday party venue. Games, pizza, tickets, and cheap prizes abounded as the guests celebrated K's birthday.



The birthday girl with her cupcake. On top was a pink ballerina and a number 7 candle.




K and one of her friends




The boys making some noise




K receiving her crown




Blowing out the candle




K receiving her medal




Dancing up front




K and Chuck E.




H enjoying the chocolate cupcake




K in the ticket blaster. She got over 300 tickets in there.




H enjoying himself on a ride




H on his favorite ride with my new friend, Vickie

This party was a little less chaotic than AJ's had been. We had no major meltdowns, and everyone left happy. I still don't care for the place, but my birthday girl was happy. In the end, I guess that is all that matters.

Remodeling: Part 3

Last week, we started to remodel our bathroom. We moved all of our personal items out of the bathroom, and we moved most of our daily necessities to another room for the duration of the project.

This bathroom sorely needed some change, and our plans include adding more light and opening up the space a bit.



The floor before: poorly laid stick-on tiles.

Looking toward the door: shower and toilet

Vanity before.

Vanity gutted

Looking into the bathroom: before

Looking into the bathroom: gutted

To add light, we plan on adding a bay window. This means knocking a hole through the side of our house.

A hole in the wall

Building the bay window

The difference is already fun to see. I can't wait until it is done.

Remodeling: Part 2

The bathroom and laundry room remodeling project is coming along, and I am pleased with how it looks.

Bathroom tub -- it is full of trash here, but it will be nice to have a tub in the boys' bathroom

Finished floor. I love it.

Bathroom. The toilet will be on this side.

Laundry room side.

Now we are waiting for the cabinets to come in so we can get those installed. Then we can put in the countertops, sinks, and faucets. While we wait, we are focusing on the master bathroom remodeling project.

Funky Hair Night

Last night at AWANAS, it was Funky Hair Night. I think my kids looked the part. The picture isn't great because dropping them off is always kind of chaotic. I was trying to get a quick picture without being in the way too much. There are just so many kids there. AJ had spikes (he wanted to be called a "spikasaurus", and K had a cone head.

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

The prize

Last night, we experienced our first visit from the tooth fairy. K lost her first tooth yesterday, and she excitedly put it under her pillow in anticipation of the reward she would receive for such a feat. She was not disappointed. She found a dollar under her pillow this morning, and now she wants to lose all of her teeth. I told her that would come with time.



K happily showing off the new hole in her mouth