Alli's Birthday - The Party

I really wanted to have a DIVA party for Alli, but she had her heart set on going to Jump on It.  We have this rule in our family that is if you have a go somewhere party, you can only have 3-4 friends, but if you have a stay at home party, you can have as many friends as you want - for both financial and seat belt reasons.  I thought for sure Alli would change her mind about Jump on It being reminded of that rule.  She didn't.  

Her cousin found out about her party and was crushed she wasn't invited (which I figured the Presidents Day with the cousins would have counted) - so we had to invite her and her brother and sister too.  I hate having people feel left out!  I felt bad she didn't invite a few of the neighbor kids she plays with all the time either.  I think maybe next time we just have a rule that we do an at home party so I don't feel bad!  

Anyway - the reason I had wanted to do a DIVA themed party was because I had found these cupcakes here:

Anyway - Alli was happy.  Her cousin was happy.  So, I was happy!

A couch full of cuties

This was Alli's play by play while they sang happy birthday to her...

After cupcakes and grapes, it was off to Jump on It - which I took several wrong turns getting to... again!  Yes, she is wear a dress at a trampoline place.  She always wears a dress, but I did have her put a pair of dance shorts on underneath!

She had a wonderful time!  Hooray for friends, cousins, siblings and trampolines!

Alli's Birthday - My 7 Year Old Baby Girl!

My beautiful Alli at 7 years old:

Favorite TV Show - America's Funniest Home Videos
Favorite Food - Spaghetti and Meatballs
Favorite Treat - Mint Chocolate
Favorite Colors - Gold, Purple, Pink, Green, and Blue
Favorite Movie - Lemonade Mouth
Favorite Book - Dr. Seuss Books
Favorite Things to do - Play with cousins, be with Grandmas and Grandpas, boating, swimming, dancing, singing, being with family, loves her stuffed animals, and playing with babies.
Favorite Online Game - Webkinz
Favorite Game - Egyptian Rat Slap

She is super sweet most all the time and is so thoughtful of others.  When I recently told her some bad news about a family member, she started crying - she has such empathy for others.  She is always quick to come when someone needs help.  She truly loves and serves our family.  I am so grateful to have her in my life.  She is highly entertaining - full of personality!  I just adore my sweet Alli - my little pal - that isn't quite so little anymore.

Happy Happy Birthday Little One!  

Alli's birthday - President's Day with Cousins

For Presidents Day, we figured we would get together with the cousins to play and celebrate Alli's birthday.  Alli and Scotty really wanted to go to Trafalga to play laser tag.  Things didn't quite work out and my message didn't make it to all the family, but they still got to play with Jana's kids.

I love the climbing wall.  I could have stayed there for a while.  I climbed this time so I didn't get down and unharnessed in time to get a picture of Missy climbing.

I think the Frog Hopper was the biggest hit of the day.  Alli and Mason especially ran around and around to do it over and over again

Fuzzy hung with Aubrey most of the day

We finally had our laser tag time and the kids came out sweaty and laughing - good times and good memories!  After, we headed to Shakey's for all you can eat food.  They were WORN out at the end!  Luckily Lisa's family and Jack were able to join us for lunch.  

Alli's Birthday - Family Time

Corry was going to be in China for Alli's birthday so we celebrated on Sunday instead.  This is either her "I got college money" or "I got $30" dance!  She was a crazy one!

Scotty was a sweetheart and made this for Alli over a month ago.  It is a box to pass notes to each other in.  He also gave her services he would give her throughout the year and 7 pieces of her favorite candy.  

After all her presents were opened it was time for her favorite meal - spaghetti and meatballs.  Super easy for mom too!

Then we had these delightful ice cream cakes.  Mmmm delicious!

Happy 1st day of your birthday tootsie!  We love you!

Valentine's Dinner and my Miracle

So usually I am kinda lame on Valentine's day.  I don't know if it is because there are so many other things going on or what, but I never seem to have the time to put together anything for my family.  This year I decided to do a nice dinner for everyone.  

Corry had mentioned how much he loves steak with blue cheese melted on it.  I am not a fan of blue cheese, but I thought for him, I'd try it.  Then I thought, I will do all the dishes for everyone and use our China - since I haven't touched it in years.  Sometimes it is fun to go a little bit fancy!

So I set the table, prepared the food...

Originally I was going to grill the meat, but I was too cold, so I decided to use this awesome new pan Corry got for Christmas from Ikea...

See the handle - it is metal.

I kept having the feeling all during the preparation, "Don't forget that handle gets HOT - use a hot pad."

OK, I can do that!  The timer went off.  Everyone was sitting at the table, anticipating this special dinner.  I got a hot pad, pulled it out of the oven and set it on the stove.  YEAH!!!  I didn't burn myself!  Then I wanted everything to be pretty, so I set the meat out on a plate and grabbed the pan to pour the sauce over the top of the meat...without a hot pad.  The pan had maybe been out of the 400 degree oven for all of 30 seconds when I grabbed it.  

IT HURT!!!!  I set it down fast and started running my hand under cold water for about 5 minutes.  Then I sat with an ice pack on my hand for another hour.  Then it really hurt for about an hour.  So much for doing the dishes for my family!  The pain was throbbing and I saw big blisters forming on all my fingers and the palm of my hand.  I couldn't get my contacts out because I couldn't use my hand at all (made me VERY impressed with the young woman in our neighborhood that was born without one of her hands).  I really needed to use both hands!  I went to sleep and didn't sleep well.  My kids prayed for me that night (as well as Corry and I praying for me too).  I was really nervous how I would be able to function and teach my dance classes, get contacts in, hair done, anything!

The next morning I woke up and it was fine.  There was nothing there other than some weird looking skin where it was burned.  Nothing else.  No pain, no blisters, nothing.

I believe in MIRACLES!

Scotty and Alli's Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's day!  I think I maybe just love parties.  Maybe it was because I was on top of it this year and had all the kids Valentine's purchased and they had written them, and the Valentine's boxes were done 2 days beforehand!

Scotty is wearing his box on his head.  All he wanted to do was cut out a hole in a basketball to put his Valentine's in.  It also doubles as a helmet!

I got to help in Alli's class - so fun!  Her room mom wanted to do a scavenger hunt.  Super fun idea.  So I wrote the clues and she made it all cute - good combination!  I got to take these cuties around on their hunt for their surprise.

Then we came back and played games, including Valentine's Pictionary

Alli and her wonderful teacher

She is such a happy kid!  Love this girl!

Her super cute class

Her super cute class making hearts

Then I ran over to Scotty's class to take a picture of him and his teacher too.  The older girls met me there and had to find all their old teachers and talk to them.  I love my kids teachers.  We have had a wonderful education for our kiddos so far!

Scotty versus the Tooth Fairy

So let me just start by saying that the tooth fairy is not very good at our house.  

Scotty lost his first tooth and Corry told him the Tooth Fairy would bring him $1, or, Scotty could sell his tooth to his dad for $2 right then.  Scotty, being the smart boy that he is, took the deal.  Then he asked for the same deal for the next tooth.  Then the next tooth was loose - and HE SWALLOWED it!!!!  No money for him.  A few days later he SWALLOWED ANOTHER ONE!!!!  Again, no money for him.  

But this particular night, he lost his tooth (not down into his stomach), cleaned it up, put it in a bag, locked it in his lock box, and waited for his dad to get home from a trip to make him a deal again!  SMART BOY!!!!  He ended up with another $2! :)