Nine!

Sunshine cake for number 9. (Halfway to adulthood, HOLD ME!) She planned her own party. This birthday girl is seriously amazing! She and her friends had a blast. (Our family celebration today paled in comparison)
A party game she crafted herself. Pin the Hat on the Birthday Girl. Her friends loved it! Complete with Justice scarf used as a blindfold.
What's a PJ party without manicures??
Have you heard of Silly Bandz? The newest craze. Seriously, I heard about them 3 days ago and frantically tried to find some for my birthday cutie, with no luck. Fortunately, her friends had her covered! These are like jelly bracelets, but they have a memory and snap back into shape when you remove them. They come in themed packs of 24. So far I've seen alphabet shapes, animal, princess, sun/moon/stars. The kids collect and trade them with each other.

She also got a pink lava lamp (cool, right?), a board game, some cool Justice scarves, a scrap-booking kit, message board, and a sand art kit. Seems like her friends know her VERY well already!!
Here they are on, with the candy bracelets they also made while watching Wizards of Waverly Place, The Movie.

I thought I would be able to maybe balance my accounts or fold some laundry while the girls were watching the movie. Alas, the whole time was spent cleaning up wrapping, frosting, ice cream, pizza crusts, nail polish and various paper goods from one room to the next! Silly Mommy, I know! But it was worth it to see the smile on my girl's face and get to know her sweet friends better. They are at such a wonderful age.

Happy Birthday to Savannah...and many more!

TicTac

Well, as you can see, I caved.

I caved to the pleas of my critters for critters of their OWN.

Meet the new pets. Tic on your left, Tac on your right. Roborovski Hamsters. Dwarves. Seriously cute. Seriously fast. And from what we hear, not nearly as stinky as their cousins.

The kids are BEYOND excited. It is a little terrifying for the hamsters, with all the poking fingers and screeching voices, especially because they are nocturnal and the kids wanted to play first thing this morning. Hopefully everyone will adjust.

I do know this, any pets in the family, are in actuality Mom's responsibility, wish me luck. ;)

3, It's The Magic Number!

The caboose on our baby-train, the 3rd critter, is 3 today! Happy Birthday to Our June bug, Peanut, Sidekick, Syd !
("I am not Honey! That's Daddy!")

Equal parts sugar and spice, she keeps us laughing and on our toes.

Her 3-yr old favorites

Favorite Food: Chinese, specifically Beef Chow Fun

Favorite Treat : Skittles

Play Time: Swingsets, Dollys, Vacuuming with Mom and Building toys (like legos)

TV Show: Clifford Cartoons

She is so happy when Daddy comes home and runs to greet him at the door as soon as she hears the garage. She likes to help clean house and run errands. She loves the tickle monster and cuddle time with Mom. She is stubborn, old soul that she is, and will tell you she "PREFERS diapers" when prompted to go on the potty. (We're still working on that one.)

She is the icing on the cake of our family, and we love her like crazy!

Wordless Wednesday - South Carolina

As seen at the Columbia Taco Bell..

& at the Zoo parking lot.

A Girl With a Hammer

..and nails can be a dangerous thing. But also, a good thing. As hard as it is to un-decorate the house of all the Christmas things, it is necessary to maintain how special that time of year is.

Once we got everything down, we realized we were missing a few pieces to finish decorating the house. I had seen some things around town the weeks prior and hoped and prayed they were still there. I was lucky in all 3 cases! Love it when that happens.

And so, I set out to display these items as I had imagined them. Here are the results...

This 9-pc set came together. I love how the different greens/blues/red-browns complement the paint, couches AND wood. PLUS, they can be spaced however you like and create a larger piece of art.
Here is a closer shot so you can see the patterns...they are all on solid wood 12"x12"x3" blocks.
We put our Peace Lilies up on the plant shelf to absorb some of the echo that the high ceilings create.
These are 11 x 14 frames, but the wall still dwarfs them.. I love seeing their cute faces every time I go up and down the stairs.
It complements the paint in the dining room perfectly and...
it's my favorite flower! I couldn't walk out of the store without it. Physically impossible.

This wall can be seen from inside the Master Bedroom and the hallways, as well as the main floor. I wanted something to draw the eye to the arched shape of the cutout. These mistrals fit the bill perfectly. An unexpected bonus, they play on the swirls in the chandeliers throughout the house.
This is the arch of the window above the shutters on the landing of the stairs. I can see these trees night and day....it's it's own art. Can't wait til Spring when all the leaves come on.

It's really starting to feel like HOME. <3

A Breakfast Table

...and so much more!
Ta-Da!

Here is proof, that if you look LONG enough, you will eventually find the table that exists only in your mind.

It is square in shape (doubles as a game table).

It is counter height (so snacking kids can see the tv over the back of the couch).

It is not too big or too small for the space you are filling.

The cushions are scrub-able.

It is THE perfect color to match the cabinets that surround it.

The chairs can also be used at the island.

BONUS!

It comes with a MaTcHiNg Lazy Susan.

We HAD to get Chinese Food for FHE last night to give it a WhIrL... :D

Love it!

Fire Power

True Confession: I am married to a Pyro, and am a mother to 3 Pyros-in-training. Add a paper shredder and a fire bowl and you can imagine what goes down on a Friday night around here.

All of the above were made by the hands of my guy. We have lovingly nicknamed the sparkler-contraption, SPOUNTAIN. (sparkler-fountain) The cookie thing is a smoke bomb, and the foil wrapped lovely is also, a smoke bomb. They don't stink though, just make lotsa white smoke. Last time Chris attempted a smoke bomb he used the wrong type of stump remover and it stunk the house up to high heaven, it wasn't pleasant!

We let the kids stay up this year to welcome 2010. They were CrAsHiNg about 9, but got their second wind. Sydney went out about 11, but the older 2 made it.


Sparkler time! We hooted and hollered and had a neighbor come out and see what all the fuss was about.
The Spountian shot sparks about 30 feet in the air and then smoldered a hot hot red color, and looked a lot like a corn cob. It was pretty awesome! I think I smell some repeat performances in July. :)

Happy New Year!

How did you ring it in??