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!