Parties!

I am a sucker for a theme...birthdays parties, weddings, baby showers. It must have a theme. I've always been fond of planning parties, but with new technology and resources, it's now turning into an addiction. Nary a day goes by that mind isn't consumed with thoughts of banners, favors, table settings, DESSERT TABLES! I am most happy when mired in all the minute details...the planning, purchasing, crafting etc. I get positively giddy. I am currently in the throes of planning two birthday parties and three baby shower, and will post about those as they occur. Today, I am looking to the past year. The desserts...my favorite component of any celebration. Here is the dessert table for my daughter Sarah's Woodland Creature themed baby shower...

For Emma's Candyland party...

My niece's Ice Cream Social bridal shower...

My niece's wedding...

For Ben's County Fair birthday...

And for our Halloween bash...

Next time I will cover buffet tables and decor. Fun stuff!

2011 So Far...

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A Pictoral Update

I have been a terrible blogger...will try to do better. For now, a few updated pics of the kiddos.

Austen


Owen


Will


Jack and Ben (looking for trouble)


Emma

Pink Heaven

As everyone knows, our home is bursting at the seams with all things blue and boyish. As much as I adore everything about my boys, we've been dreaming of a change in color scheme for some time now, pretty much having given up on the possibility. It was quite the shock to hear that we are in fact having a baby girl...and no sooner did the words "It's a Girl!" escape the sonographer's mouth than I was off and running, buying all things pink and girly. Today I received the most girly and frilly package in the mail. I had ordered a bow-headband for Emma to wear home from the hospital from pinkbowtique.com, and it arrived in all it's splendor, complete with a bonus bow-headband. Unwrapping this package was pure pink heaven.

The Box, wrapped in pale pink ribbon...


The inside, wrapped in pink and brown tissue paper...


The contents, the pink tiara bow and the bonus pink and brown bow...both made my heart swell with delight..



A few more pictures of Emma's room:

A plaque bearing her beautiful name...


Emma's coming home outfit...


The shoes...


Misc. views of the room...

52 Days Until Emma

I haven't posted in the longest time, but there has been a lot going on around here. We are finally having a baby girl, due to arrive around April 15th. The boys are ecstatic to be getting a baby sister and I've been having a blast buying girl clothes. Her name is Emma Katie-Belle and we can't wait to hold her in our arms.

I've been getting her room ready...assembled a very pink storage unit:


Brought my childhood dresser from my mom's house:


Started collecting clothes and shoes:



I've had some generous friends and family buying stuff already and Sarah and my mom are throwing me a shower next month. Many more pictures to come...

More Mural Progress

The mural is just about complete, although I'm likely to add more to it in months to come (and there still is the leaves to put up), but overall it looks pretty good.

I added some ivy and a flower box to one tower...



A moat on the other side...



And smaller towers and a crest in the middle...


The entire wall (including the still-yet-to-be-fixed hole in the wall)...


Jack enjoying some books under a tree...


Next step...painting the floors!

Mural Progress

I began the task of painting a mural in the playroom a YEAR ago. I just never seemed to find the time, or motivation, to finish it. Sometimes motivation has to be forced, and this was just such a time. I forced myself to tear out the horrible playroom carpeting and to tackle the remainder of the mural. Progress is finally being made.



After I finished the base (sky and grass), Michael contemplated the hole in the wall. A small crack in the plaster was too much of a temptation for the daycare children, who went to work trying to remove the wall during nap time.


Added some tree trunks...




And leaves...


Our fireplace is morphing into a castle...




My little helper...