Hot, Themed Birthday Parties

It's been unusually warm the last few days (but I've loved it!). And with the inlaws in town it's been unusually busy. Today was another busy day. Visitation in the AM and then a birthday party about 20 minutes away and 10 to 15 degrees hotter.

The party was fun. It was a Wizard of Oz theme. They had a yellow brick road, character t-shirts, a fruit rainbow, and the party favor bag at the end was a "basket" filled with goodies. Even though it was 100+ degrees the kids all had a great time and so did the adults. The birthday girl was dressed like Dorothy. She was so cute! A blue gingham dress and her hair in pigtails.

The mom did a great job at giving her little girl a wonderful party. This year Ballerina Girl turns 5 and I'll probably do a big themed party for her, maybe. LOL Sissy turns 3 on the 25th and she wants a Disney Princess party. It won't be as huge an affair as todays party but she'll have fun.

Well, I'm exhausted and tomorrow is another busy day. It's SUNDAY! More of rounding up kids and taking them back and forth. LOL At least I'm not cooking tomorrow. My m-i-l is making a roast. Ok so I'll be making something, I'm doing a strawberry shortcake recipe by Paula Deen. BTW there's a new blog around and if you love Paula Deen or if you just love her recipes go visit: Paula Deen the Butter Queen.

They'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain...

...when they come.

Yes today is the day my in-laws are coming into town! My honey left at 11:30 and he took the two eldest with him to go pick them up at the airport. They should all return by 2:30. So now that I have wasted an hour online I must go and finish cleaning, shopping, and getting things ready for them.

A Mother's Day Gift (Early)

I've improvised and pictures are now returning to my blog. Since I can't find my memory card for my digital camera I decided to use my webcam that's built into my laptop. So the pictures won't be as good but you get the idea.

My wonderful Husband got me my Mother's Day gift early! It actually wasn't going to be a gift just an item we needed to get but I declared it a Mother's Day gift due to budget constraints. My new microwave!!

It really finishes the kitchen! There has been just a whole there for awhile now and a large old microwave was taking up way too much precious counter space. But no more! It looks very lovely.

From yesterday's post here is a finished picture of the Bay window "mis"treatments. Again taken from my webcam.

It looks so much better than that ugly paper and they are so much easier to move so I can see out of my beautiful window. Now if only I could move the houses across the street then I would have a clear view of the sunset. One mountain at a time I suppose.

Window Mistreatments

I've been turned on to window "mis"treatments by Darla at Beauty Inside and Out. Since I couldn't find any window treatments that I liked for my bay window I decided to "mis"treat them. I'm starting with the some sheers next to the windows themselves. At Walmart I bought 4 white sheer panels,

three sash rods,

and a pack of white hooks.

I put the hooks in the ceiling of the window area, placed the sheers on the rods, and then placed the rods on the hooks by the holes in their ends. It is working quite nicely. I really like how it looks! The only thing I need to fix is the length of the panels. They didn't have the length I needed so I got the next best thing and will fix them when I start sewing lessons in July.

By the way, the yard looks great! It is 98% to how I envisioned it and it will become 100% with a day or two of hard labor. I wanted to take pics before, during, and after but I couldn't find my memory card for my camera. ARGH! I searched everywhere. I'll find it eventually.

Yard Excavation

Our yard is soon to be excavated. Actually we are hiring someone to come out and level it out. If I had my other computer I would do some nice photos demonstrating the need for it. But alas words will have to do. The front yard is an abnormal hill. It looks like someone dumped extra dirt there in preparation to do a raised yard with a retaining wall but never got around to building the wall. So we are going to get rid of the extra dirt and level out the yard. The backyard is also very uneven.

So many things have been getting done around here lately that have been on the To Do list forever. (My in-laws are coming next week and I think that has something to do with the way my husband has been getting moving on that list.)

After tomorrow (when the bobcat comes) we'll be able to finally finish the fence around our backyard so that I won't be worried when the girls are playing that a stray dog (or person) will just walk in and harm them. YAY!!

Will it ever end?

Unpacking, unpacking, unpacking For those of you that move a lot or are in the military I feel for you. I hate unpacking. We moved into our lovely home at the end of October last year and we are still unpacking. I've gone through quite a few boxes already and there are still more to go through. Most all the boxes I've been through were half filled with stuff I just looked through quickly and was able to have my Honey throw it away. I've got a garage sale box going for the things that we are giving to our Teen Yard Sale at church and a keeper box which gets the stuff that I want to keep but need to file it, put it in its proper place, or whatever needs to be done with it.

Memories are in that box. I found an old business card from when I was in elementary. "JJ's Window Washing Service" We are your car windows best friends My friend Jessica and I ran that one. My cap and gown picture proofs also turned up. Why oh why did I have my hair like that? Wedding memories, college memories, old friends, even some of my dad's really ugly old ties. I was asking my Honey if he wanted some stuff out of a box of clothes I came upon and he started pulling out the ties and saying, "I never wore these." It was then I remembered my Mom gave them to us to see if he wanted any. One of those ties my Mom had been trying to get rid of forever but it always turned back up in my Dad's closet. Turns out he had more than one. LOL I think I'll be wrapping them up and giving them to him for Father's Day.

One box had me laughing, it was filled with food from our pantry! We just popped it open to see what was in it and there was an unopened bag of Ruffles Cheddar Cheese chips. I told my husband, "Look they haven't been opened!" To which he replied, "The date on those says December!" LOL So up to the kitchen that box went so I can go through it thoroughly.

Well, break time is over I must get back to my boxes as well as making dinner tonight.

*UPDATE* Pampered Chef 2

Ok, I am s-l-o-w-l-y adding to my Pampered Chef collection. Tonights party was fun we had a Thai Chicken salad and it was tasty but I think it needed more chicken. The strawberries were monstrous that the host had that night but that's one of the perks of living where I do! Last week I bought a flat of those monsters for $15.

Anyway, purchases so what did I get. Well I ordered a Large Round Stone for me and a Baker's Roller for a friend. I don't have a Baker's Roller yet either (and I really want one) but this lady has been so great to me lately actually she always is and she mentioned to me at the last party that she really wanted one of those.

I have 2 more parties to attend one at the end of May and then one in the middle of June. I know the uproar will die down soon it always does but while it lasts I'm enjoying it. I'll be adding only one thing to my collection each time.

Pampered Chef 2

Tonight I am attending my 2nd Pampered Chef party in the last month. (ok technically it's the new month but I mean within the last 4 weeks) I love these parties for 2 reasons: 1)they get me outta the house without the kids, and 2)there is free food and shopping; what more could a girl ask for. I would buy most everything in their magazine but my loving husband forbids it. LOL I do have a couple of items and I love them so I am just purchasing one thing tonight for me and a gift for a friend.

On a side note I just wanted to recommend something. For any ladies that want to hear a good sermon about the woman you shouldn't be please visit North Valley Baptist Church. Just click the link and it will take you straight to it. I stayed home last night from service because we are worried about Sissy (I am taking her to the doctor today) and I listened to the live service at NVBC and it was an awesome message.