All work and no play...

Makes me dull and cranky. I need a vacation, but am going to work on the world's gaudiest dance costumes instead... and read traveler's magazine.

Baptism Dress (hopefully)

My 7 year old will be 8 soon! I can't believe it! And that means baptism. This is a huge deal to us, and I plan on making her a special dress for the occasion. That is where it gets tricky. I had planned on making this adorable oriental style dress out of white brocade. Then the darling girl told me she wanted her dress to go to the floor (or almost). That wouldn't look so great on the dress I had in mind. Also, she is kind of a little fashionista, and does not like puffy dresses anymore (I am fine with this). I bought the pattern for this dress today and plan on changing the sash to ivory and adding sleeves (it will be winter after all!). I might make a red or blue sash to switch out for Sundays (cue Julie Andrews...).What do you think? with her black hair in a low bun and a white flower tucked in, I think she will be stunning. Wish me luck!

I've come to a conclusion...

There are a LOT of baaad musicals out there. A local radio station plays songs from musicals every Saturday night. We were out driving and turned them on for the kids to listen to. For every good song, there were about 4 bad/strange songs. We kept listening, laughing and making fun of them. Even my kids asked, "Mom, Why are they singing about laundry detergent?" Hilarious.
Even funnier? Watching my four year old dance to "My Strongest Suit is My Dress" from Aieda. ( I have no idea if I spelled that right...it is prounounced eye-ee-duh) I wonder what it would have looked like if she hadn't been plugged into a car seat. :)

Dad and Mom's 40th

My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this past Thursday. I threw a little surprise garden party in their honor that evening. It was very intimate, just family. I made a fabulous apple pecan cornbread stuffed pork roll and a nectarine shortcake, and my siblings brought homemade rolls, vegetables and Caesar salad. Thanks, guys, for helping!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! Thanks for falling in love and having all of us kids. And thanks for showing us all how to work together, play together and stay in love. I love you both!I was so busy, I didn't get a picture of my parents! Here they are 40 years ago.

I chose red as the main color for the decor, as the 40th anniversary is the ruby anniversary. I also used an ocean blue as an accent. Blue Japanese lanterns that lit up and red tissue flowers hung from the giant maple tree over the tables.

The Kid's table had crayons and red and blue paper for the kids to draw on

Our yummy nectarine shortcake (with blackberries and raspberries)

I had 40 candles on the tables that we lit, and as the sun set, it was so nice. The weather was perfect. Just the right temperature and a very slight breeze to sway the decorations hanging from the tree. Add a little french music and a little Josh Groban, and the atmosphere was just what I hoped it would be. Perfect.

Some more pictures of the party. (Hey, I worked hard, I wanna show them!) The table setting (click on the pic to get a good look)

Most of the 40 candles were in preserve jars with these custom labels I made.

White roses...a nod to the flowers my parents had at their wedding.

I once found a spider in my butter dish, and other reasons I called the exterminator: Random thoughts from my brain.

We get our milk delivered. The Milkman always leaves one empty bottle in our milk box, but we still get reminders to give back the empty bottles....

I have one gray hair. Right in front. I puled it out. It grew back. So, I colored it. With a sharpie. (It was only one hair!!).

I saw a black widow spider for the first time yesterday.

I saw a black widow spider die in a lake of spider spray for the first time yesterday.
This was unrelated to the butter dish incident.

If I suddenly get violently sick today, have them run a tox screen. The spider spray went everywhere.

First day of Preschool

Today was the first day of preschool for my youngest.She loved it, even though her teachers kept mispronouncing her name. ("Even though I kept and kept and kept telling them my name is NOT Hannah, mom!) So, we will be taking care of that next time we go.

I can't believe my baby is so big! She is so much sparkly shiny fun.

And this pic because she is just so darn cute!