party on.

We have important things to discuss...like Van's birthday party!

I can finally say that I let Van have a friend party.  I didn't let her invite everyone in her class or anything...so it was definitely the perfect size party for my house.  Every little girl she invited came, which she was happy about.

So let me just tell you what I thought were the highlights of the party...

We had a table with a Hexbug habitat set up so as the party guests arrived they received a Nano to play with while we got ready for the fun to begin.  Man, those were a hit.  All the little girls carried those around the entire party, and when they started to get a little bored with eating etc...they would migrate back to the table to race their Nano's. After the party was over I even got a text from a Mom asking where to buy more, because all of her kids wanted them now.

(this is before the party...I thought it was cute that Van and Vin were playing while eating breakfast!)

A day or two before the party I decided to test out something I found on Pinterest...{but I didn't pin it, and now I can't link}.  You take clear plastic cups, put a few drops of food coloring in the bottom, and let dry.  I set the table, and didn't say anything about what was in the bottom of the cups.  When Vanessa started pouring Sprite into the cups...they all changed a different color.  The girls were squealing and laughing about what color of drinks they all had.  So easy, and turned out so fun.

We made little take home bags for all of the party guests...filled with odds and ends, and Hexbug Nanos.  I thought it was funny that none of the kids knew what shrinky-dinks are.  Those were my favorite at their age. :)

Overall I think it was a success.  I was so glad that Vanessa stayed to help me {thank you!}, because decorating pumpkins with paint, glitter, and pom-poms maybe wasn't my smartest idea. :)

Disclosure: Thanks to MomSelect, MommyParties, and HEXBUG for supplying the HEXBUG supplies for our #HEXBUGHalloween party.  All opinions are my own.

PS Check out this Hexbug Party my friend Steph did.  SUPER CUTE!!

you rock my world.

This past week our world has been turned upside down.  I am not ready to talk about it yet, but I promise I will one day.  Lots of tears have been shed, new plans have been made, and we are realizing when life seems to overwhelming...laughing helps.

I have always known I was married to an amazing person.  Moments like these ones, it just intensifies the overwhelming feeling of gratitude I have for Paul.  He is a gem.  This weekend I have hidden away in the bedroom, while Paul has taken care of the kids. 

I am a lucky girl.

And guess what, we have each other...which pretty much makes everything okay.

you have a birthday...shout hooray.

(Paul's 21st birthday...)

7 years ago on October 27th, I remember being pregnant with Van, and Paul hoping that I didn't go into labor on his birthday.  I mean, who wants to share a birthday?! :) 

Fast forward to today...

Paul had a dentist appointment, worked all day, didn't open one present...and his wife is decorating and planning our Van's birthday party.  Go figure.

I guess it doesn't really matter if they had the same birthday or not.  When you get to be an adult birthdays just aren't the same.

Happy Birthday, Paul.  We sure do love you, even if we have a funny way of showing it this year.

a keeper.

It is our tradition in October to go to Red Lobster for all you can eat shrimp.  Since both Paul and Van have a thing for shrimp, it is only fitting we would make it apart of our birthday celebrations.

On our way home I said to Paul how much I liked this tradition.  I don't even like seafood, but it makes me giggle watching Van out eat Paul.

After I said that Paul said..."and I like our family!"

Amen Paul.  Amen.

a crush.

I was asking Van yesterday morning how many of her school friends were going to the Wheeler Farm Family Field Trip.  She kinda blew me off.  I was secretly excited that she didn't care about going.  That meant I got to sleep in...SCORE!  When she got in the car in the afternoon all of the sudden it was a must attend.  Mmm.  Why the change of heart?

She proceeds to tell me...

"Well, {insert boy name here} is going, and we said we would meet each other by the horses.  I love him."

{after she saw this picture...Van says..."aaah, Mom we look cute together!}

We didn't quite meet at the horses, but cows are close.

Someone is going to have to hold my hand during the teenage years.  I am scared.

Just Ask! Bucket List

Word on the street is that over at Today's Mama they are giving away a big ol' vacay courtesy of Just Ask! for sharing 15 things on your bucket list.  I decided that chances are I won't win, but I am a big fan of making bucket lists.  So here goes nothin'!

I have already crossed a couple of things off of my bucket list, and it would be awesome to cross a few more off in my time.

• Walk in Central Park with my family.
• Debt FREE.
• Swim with dolphins.
• Go on a cruise.
• Learn to play the piano...again.
• Go on a fabulous vacation with just my husband.
• Watch my children graduate from college, marry, and have children of their own.
• Become a really good cook.
• Have a flat stomach {one can dream}.
• Be on a reality tv show, and hopefully not The Biggest Loser.
• Finish our basement.
• Take a cross country trip in a RV.
• Go to a professional football and baseball game.
• Own a hot tub!
• Make a difference.

They are really all over the place, aren't they?

What is on your bucket list?  Have you entered to win a dream vacation yourself...you should.

Disclosure: This is my entry in the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway. Just Ask offers a breast and ovarian cancer screening and is encouraging people to share 15 things that I want to enjoy in my lifetime as a reminder to be aware of my health. Want to enter? Head over to TodaysMama.com to get the details.

a place I have never been.

Whenever I have not blogged it has always been because I was depressed, in a really bad mood, or I get mean comments. Although I don't have the perfect life, I am really happy right now...and I don't feel like blogging. It is definitely uncharted territory.  The only time I can muster up a post is when I have agreed to it.  I feel like my blog is becoming one of those "giveaway/review blogs".  Uggh.

I will do better, maybe.  I have more to say than what I like and dislike about products...I promise.

***

I am knee deep in homemade decorations for Van's Halloween Birthday bash.  It has been so fun to use my creative side, and a really long time since I pulled out all the scrapbook supplies. Paul was even a little shocked.  I know the kids won't notice or care, but while Vin is having quiet time {which sometimes isn't so quiet}, I pull out all my fun projects and have "me time".

***

We went to Gardner Village today with the sole purpose of going on the "Ride to a Witch".  Of course, today was the only day it was not open.  After we put so much effort in to finding parking, we decided we were going to soak in all the festivies anyway.  We stopped at Sweet Aftons for some yummy goodness, enjoyed all the photo ops, and decided we would have to come back next week to experience the Ride to a Witch.

***

Our neighborhood has been working hard on building two new playground/parks.  Since we live so far away from everything it is definitely something that we are enjoying already.  Van has been teased at school for not being able to do the monkey bars...so we have spent our fair share of time practicing up.

***

Paul and I have found every excuse to make our way south to eat at Flour Girls & Dough Boys. Where they lack in customer service they make up for it in their Tuscan Sausage & White Bean soup, and those delicious Citrus Muffin Tops...great, I am craving it now.  AND speaking of food, Chili's really deserves a good customer service shout out!  They always give you a soda for free while you wait for your take-out...which I think is awesome.  Last week when Van and I went in on a cold, rainy day, we got hot chocolate for free.  Oh man, it hit the spot.  Kuddos to Chili's!

***

This turned in to a random post, but it's a post!  Be proud I actually collected some thoughts.  It might be a day, it might be a week, but I will be back.


Holla back, yo!

a birthday party or not.

It is that time of year when I start wondering if this should be the year that I actually give in and let Van have a "friend party".  We already know my weird phobia of having parties.  I know...I should really just get over it already.

Her birthday is so close to Halloween, I have always wanted to have a big Halloween themed get-together.  Van picks Sponge Bob themed parties, like every. single. year!  So, when I got a big package of HEXBUG stuff to review, I knew this would be the year I put on a "spook"tacular birthday Halloween bash.  Van loves all bugs and creeping things...so I know this will be right up her alley.  {pssst, Van doesn't know about the HEXBUG stuff...}

Some people do an every other year "friend party" thing.  Some people are just born to throw amazing parties. 

What do you do?  What is the best theme party you have been to or thrown yourself?

disclosure: A big thank you to MomSelect and HEXBUG who gave me some fun stuff to play with during the party, but the party planning crazy that I am becoming is all me.

a special way to end the week.

After a rough week we are ready to chil-lax, and have fun as a family.  We have gone to Tae Kwon Do every. single. day. after school.  It was followed by a quick dinner, homework, and early bed times.  I have never been so excited to see a weekend.

Every Friday is early day at school, and I try to make it a little extra special for the kids.  Obviously Hulk doesn't care, but Van loves something to look forward to.

Van and I sat down together and looked on Pinterest for fun ideas that she really wanted to do.

One day we did the *cornstarch sidewalk paint.  It was a blast, and we were sad when it rained...and washed it all away.  Every day we would go outside Hulk would point and yell at his paintings.

One day we did *finger paintings.  We made lobsters, and pumpkins.  Hulk didn't like this project at all.  Weird.

Today we are doing the "Drive In Movies".  {Make sure you click on this link...oh so fu-reakin' cute!}  Our movie day won't be as intense as hers.  I didn't plan enough in advance.  I bought the candy in the box, like you would get at the theater.  We are set up with soda, popcorn, and of course a good movie.  As for our cardboard box cars...I found an extra long skinny box.  I decorated it while Van was at school so she would be surprised.  We call it our "mini van".  Both kids will fit nicely into it, and we are hoping it will keep Hulk contained during movie.

What fun things do you with your kids to motivate them to make it through the week?


Our next week project is to make our own flubber.  I am sure this will be an adventure.


*There are sooo many different links on Pinterest, I don't know who the original person to do these ideas was.

Real Steel {Review and Giveaway}

Do you ever go to a movie with really low expectations? 

I do that a lot. 

I didn't have high expectations when it came to Real Steel.  I debated on whether to even go...thinking it could be a huge waste of time.  I am happy to report I loved it.  I may have been kicking myself for not following through with a babysitter so that Paul could have come with Van and I.

I wondered if it might not be something that Van would like, or that it would be to "grown up" for her.  She was so in to the movie, and didn't get restless at all...that is always a good sign, right?  I think Van could relate to the movie, because of all the fighting terms she uses in Tae Kwon Do.

My initial impression of the trailers that I had seen was that it was just about robots fighting.  Little did I know the story behind it all had me in tears a few times during the movie.

The last thing I am going to say about this movie...I loved the music.  The thug in me couldn't resist all the thumpin' and bumpin'.

Okay soooo, if you would like to go and become a "fan" of Real Steel on Facebook, I will enter you to win a Real Steel prize pack.

Peace out friends, and I will see you at the theater Oct 7th...watching this movie again...but with Paul this time!

it is that time of year.

Last week I posted on Facebook about traditions.  People had some really fun ideas.  Every year I always try to come up with something new for us to do, but for whatever reason I don't usually do them more than one year so I can't really call anything a tradition.

We have done ornaments most years.
We have done gingerbread houses.
We have gone to see the lights, and some years we have not.
I have made Thanksgiving dinner, and we have gone to restaurants and let them do all the work.
We sometimes carve pumpkins.
Most years I put my Christmas tree up in October.  Don't judge.  This year will not be one of those years, because of our cute toddler...I am not going to fight him for that long.

and wait for it...last year we didn't even go trick or treating!

This year I wanted to add some new fun things.

My plan...even if it is a little ambitious...is to do a fun themed dinner every Sunday.  It is not just for this holiday season, but I am hoping we can carry it over for the new year...and forever.

I have had fun looking in the dollar bins for some cheap decor, and of course Pinterest has endless ideas.

What is your favorite thing you do or that your parents did while growing up? 

I really want to make some amazing memories for my kids. :)