I give you the documentation of the princess party...
Here is the set up before everyone arrived. It was cloudy and just a little windy, but those sheer panels were like sails, I had to do some serious anchoring.
Here I am in my tack-tastic outfit, painting little Kid E's face. She was my best "client," she held really still.
They are decorating their own cupcakes here. The sprinkles flowed like Niagara Falls.
The moms dropping off their princesses.
The candle flames didn't hold up in the wind, so we had to bring the cake inside.
Kid C trying to salvage her Cinderella candle.
Oh my little prince. He was such a good boy at the party.
The little ladies mingling.
We opened the gifts inside too, although it kinda was like putting a bunch of dogs in one kennel. It was too much for some of them. It gotta a little tense, but we were in the final stretch so it didn't last long. Here they are all descending on the big princess castle.
I published this iMix to iTunes. I think it's a pretty good mix. Some kids songs, some oldies, a sprinkling of Tom Jones, Whitney, y'know.
This is the Barbie castle I scored for two dollars at a garage sale a while back. Kid C has totally known about it, because it's been "hidden" in the unused bathtub ever since I brought it home. I had to give it a good cleaning with a "magic eraser" (almost used up the whole thing!) because the previous castle occupants had gone-to-town with a mechanical pencil. It missing all the accessories, but that's fine with me. More room for imagination, right?
Here's her cake that I just finished. It's a little cake since I also made a dozen cupcakes with the same batter. Thanks to Aurora's advice about her friend Sally's party having the cupcakes out right when everyone arrives, I'm gonna go with that. And it's also an activity, because I bought little frosting tubes and sprinkles for the girls to decorate their cupcakes with. I covered it with pre-made fondant, and just like my friend told me, it's gross, but it looks nice. I think when I add up how much those specialty candles cost, plus the fondant, plus the blue frosting, and the cake mix, I could have probably just bought a cake from the Safeway bakery. Oh well, it's made with love right?
I made this video to kick off the MOPS session this morning. I was kinda proud of it, although most of the credit goes to whoever made the Chevrolet commercial 60 years ago. And the hot pink starburst was supposed to look on-purpose cheezy, but I think it looked accidentally cheezy. Oh well. I made in a couple of hours.
I have descended into princess madness. 6 days until the party. She didn't believe me that I could dress up for the party. So I put on my costume and I don't think she's ever loved me more, lol.
I have heard childless adults and parents of much older children say "I saw this so-and-so and they were just yelling and yelling at their kid in public, etc, it was terrible."
And I think and often say "well sometimes kids are naughty and you can't let it go. I yell at the kids in public if they run out into the street or something."
And just now, I saw what those people were talking about, this woman was just layin' into this little girl, like 2 or 3 yrs old. And it was over the top.
So, yeah, that's different. Okay, I see what they mean.
I just wrote down my list of to-do's before Sept 10th:
-Redesign and make brochure, etc for our Community Life ministry. (it's too long to explain what it is) -make 3D images by Friday for this weekend's member meeting -make an AIDS Walk poster for the lobby -various MOPS printed materials, like birthday cards, name tags, table cards, etc -print of photos of people praying around the world and frame for prayer room - re-re-design (yes re re) our school ministry stuff, and make brochure -finsih and giveout Cricket's inivitations for her princess party - re-re-design the giant banners for outside the church building
and now I have to get off the computer because Ransom just took his diaper off and peed on the floor...
I wanted to Flickr cheat, but I didn't. I hope my 3-4 readers appreciate it.
On Monday we drove down to Gizdich Ranch and it was one of the best times I've had with just me and the kids. The drive down was beautiful and they behaved int he car, and behaved when we got there. The weather was perfect and the place was better than advertised, even though berry picking season has ended (that's their big deal there, the berry picking).
I'm not sure why they call it a ranch because it sure looked like a farm to me. Or orchard? I don't know. But I told the kids we were going to visit a fruit farm, and boy did they get excited about that! Baby R was stoked about all the farm equipment that was just hanging around and then some farm hands would come over and turn them on and use them. It was mechanical heaven for him. He was jumping around overjoyed at this backhoe and then I told him to say cheese and got into his tin soldier stance for some reason.
Kid C had to move in on his picture. She butted in and said "cheese!"
Can you see us?! I put the camera on the timer ontop of a fertilizing machine and ran over below the windmill and beside the scarecrow.
The entire place was free, and you could just drive up and park, walk around whereever you pleased, they had a store, a pie shop (which also sold sandwiches), an antique shop and lots of barns where they actually processed the fruit. It was super laid back, so I let the kids play in the play-area and sat myself down at a picnic table under an apple tree.
So many tractors! So much freedom!
Which machine will I touch first!?
Aforementioned fertilizing machine. Later we saw the farm hands roll it over and hook it to a tractor and haul it into the apple orchard.
Kid C ate her whole sandwich and was being generally good so I let her take possession of the mixed berry pie. I also told her that it would be kind and loving to share with Baby R even though he didn't eat much sandwich and chased the farm dog around when he should have been eating. I thought it was cute watching them share.
These photos were taken at a birthday party they went to on Saturday afternoon...
My friend hired this company/couple to come and do their animal routine at the party. I hadn't ever really seen a kids' show at a party before so I was wondering how it would go. But they did such a good job! You can't really see Kid C, but both Baby R and her are helping hold up a python.
Baby R was the one kid that refused to sit down. I would get him to sit, then he'd pop back up, then sit, then pop, sit, pop... He was really excited.
Kid and her front row seat. She was the first one on the mat when he laid it down, way before any of the kids were even aware that he was setting up.
I think he's got the guinea pig here.
Saturday morning, before the party, a bunch of Kevin's family went over to help his grandparents fix some stuff around the house. Baby R played with these work gloves for a while until Gramps busted him. :)
He's clapping with them here and thinking himself very hilarious.
Again, thank heavens for Katheryn and Lisie, Kid C's idols. She's extra good around them and she likes "chat" with them.
Kid C's birthday is coming up next month. I debated on what sort of party to have for her, but after much prodding, I have given in to the princess party.
I really intended on putting Baby Tuesday up yesterday.
Yep, it didn't happen.
Kevin said I wasn't allowed to upload them to Flickr and cheat.
So now there's a whole lotta photos....
This is the hot tub scene at the worship team pool party. These three were the only ones who got in. Only two of them were willing participants.
I went in Kid C's room to check on her before I went to bed and found her asleep like this, with a book on her face.
Kid C wanted a bath and I decided that the dogs needed one too. I can't remember why I thought they were being naughty, but I remember not feeling bad when they made these pitiful faces, for some reason.
Soak 'em, Bug.
. Thayer cousins. Little Baby E.
She is such a pleasant baby. So mellow and cheerful at the same time.
Especially compared to these two.
Who's cheerful? Who's dour?
Frenzy at the whiteboard.
Baby E and parents.
Oh I really wish they had soccer for 2 yr olds. Really really wish. He's better than I am.
Baby R looks like a towering giant compared to Baby E.
These time stamps are giving away how late I am posting these pics.
Baby E and mommy.
Exodus from the raspberry patch.
They really really wanted raspberries. Fine tooth berry comb. No dice.
Before we left Cozumel, Kevin and I made a "fitness challenge."
It's a 20-pounder challenge:
I am supposed to lose 20 lbs and Kevin is supposed to put on 20 lbs of muscle.
I want to WIN!!
This morning I got up and power walked to Safeway and carried home a full cart of groceries on foot. It was not easy, and it was a good "day one inspiration."
And fancy that, the Sockswithsandalsland Rec Center catalog came in the mail and they have lots of "cardio-sculpt" type classes that have "babysitting" service offered. I like that.
We have yet to determine the prize for whoever meets their goal first. I think the reward may be watching the other one struggle to meet their goal(?) and fame and glory of course.
Now we have to get a digital scale and have our weekly weigh-in...
