Give'n Awayer

But not by me. I think you should check this out:

http://amazingmae.blogspot.com/2009/01/giveaway.html

Yes, it's from my neighba lady. Leave a comment for this really cute stuff. I always know she is up to something up there in her attic room.

She just treated me these block calendars. She says it's cause I watched her kiddos while she went out with her visiting mom. SO not a fair trade. She upped me again.

Who are you?

A couple weeks ago Emma was at the doctor and she picked out stickers for everyone in our family. She was Ariel. Tanner was a Surf's Up character. Landon was Spiderman. Jackson was from Brother Bear. Ryan was this guy:

And I was her:
The office thought it was so funny. Ironically we were at Costco the same night and they had Shrek playing on there jumbo TV. On came Fiona. I heard Emma start yelling, "Mommy! It's you." Ryan said he was going to keep his sticker forever. Whatever.

Grandma's Birthday Tea

This post took me a while. I just couldn't not express it right. That I had such a joyfull weekend is not enough. That I love the women in my family is not enough. That I treasure my mother for all she's done is not enough.

Let me start at the begining.

I took Emma and Jackson to Boise to celebrate my Grandma's 75th birthday. (thank you friends that helped with the kids I left!) My mom hosted beautifully. She fine-tunes everything. Seeing it all together further clarified to me how gifted she really is.

Just a few of the details....She collected teacups for a year.(She had the help of my Aunt Debi as well). She made the table linens, chair covers, teapot cozies and little girls purses as well. The tea's were named after my grandmother, Madame Louise and Lady Edna. 6 of my girl cousins (all sisters) were there and all my sisters. We had a slew of babies, and it often seemed like "name that baby!". The food was perfect, the tributes to my grandmother by her daughters so touching, and seeing my big baby brothers help serve lunch impressionable as well. Each guest left with there teacup, a momento I personally will cherish forever.

I am so grateful I went. There were 4 generations of family members present. I am grateful that I have such strong and steadfast, funny and witty women in my family. It was fulfilling to reconnect and chat and laugh at each other- that made it too short.


I called when I got back to KY and heard the tone in there voices, the party had not stopped. Glad you're back safe was said, followed by, "We had a dance party. To Mama Mia. Oh, it wasn't that fun. Just a little." Liars.

(the photo collages are from my really-talented-photographer-cousin, Jess.

She captures things perfectly!)

A Tea Affair

The greeting table, my grandma & grandpa back in the day.

the pary girls

Grandmother and Summer's baby, Gavin.

The tablescapes

the little ladies table
(jewlery in each glass, Fancy Nancy books, Hot Chocolate, and matching purses filled with
little girl treasures and a mini tea set.) Just a bit of the room. The party was for 50.

There he is, my brother Jake. The waitor. My cousins in front.

My Aunts Julie & Debi, Great Aunt Gwen and Grandmother

All the little girls

The finale, my moms chocolate cake. It's famous.

There was cookies and chocolate mousse cups as well.

All the babies. 1st & 2nd cousins. From left to right.

Jackson, Ellery, Olivia, Daisy, Vivian, & Gavin

Some of my favorite pictures:

Issac and Jackson

My littlest sister Ashley, and her 2nd baby Olivia

and from Jess:

This is what's happening

I finished Snowman Playgroup day today. Thank you helper friend.

I leave tomorrow morning for a Grand Tea Party for my Grandmother. I'm taking Emma & Jacks to Boise. I hope we make it with the weather!

Lastly, I have felt mind busy! We are trying to get our house ready to go on the market. With sick kids I felt seriously weighed down and physically unmotivated. SO, I'm outing myself. I mean really, who wants to buy this? (please be nice.)

Christmas Snapshots

Christmas Eve. We read parts of Luke 2 and acted as shepards who looked for the baby Jesus.

Christmas Day

Christmas...

Well, not quite yet.

This is the year:

- That I still have Christmas Presents to get in the mail. (I'm sorry dear family!)
- That someone in our house has been on antibiotics since the end of November.
- That we were blessed to have a stomach flu pause just in time for Christmas Eve.
- That being sick gave us no plans or commitments to be anywhere, but just home.
- That we had Clam Chowder and Lighted Snowballs (vanilla ice cream rolled in toasted coconut on chocolate sauce with one white lit candle on top for each person) for Christmas Eve Dinner.
- That we decided not to go to Chicago. We had a fun trip planned. But it just seemed like too much work. And we just haven't felt great. And Ryan was really fine with it. I hear him tell people it saved us money so now we can "buy our flatscreen".
- That I have to officially pack the decorations when I take them down. I can't just put them in the basement on the trees (ingenius if you ask me!). They have to be safe for a big move in a few months.
-That Santa left us Wii Rock Band and I cannot believe how much we have used it. Already. It's a hit (no pun intended).
-That Ryan did not get called in. Well, just once. But it was after the festivities. And he said if he was to get called in for Christmas Eve or Day, "That's it. I'll pay $500 bucks to whoever will take my shift." He said, I'm the only one with 4 kids and can't some of the jewish guys cover? Seems like a no-brainer :)
- Between the princess castle, doll house, baby choo-choo, lego kits, Star Wars Ship Monstrosity that was hunted for weeks and finally bought off Ebay, board games, batman caves, and geo trax sets that I have offically decided: Purging must start now. Santa was good to us. Family was good to us. It will all bring happy memories. It was a magical Christmas!

Little Ladies go to tea

Before Christmas we met at the Sisters Tea Parlor. There was clotted cream (whipped cream) & lemon curd, warmed scones, mini shepards pie's, 3-wiseman sandwhiches, truffles and mint green frosted cupcakes. Cheese and crackers and pink lemonade for the little ladies and a selection of teas for the big ones. There was time to dress-up and no-boys were allowed. We didn't want them to ruin our fun :)