Belated Party!!!

The snow prevented us from having Jack's party on the weekend we scheduled it, but we finally got it in over a week later.  There was still snow on the ground but it was warm and truly a beautiful day at the farm.  We had around 50 people out there eating hot dogs and "campfire cake", hiking around and riding horses.  The highlight of the day for most of the kids was when they came upon a cow carcass and started picking up the bones.  (Again!  Didn't they do that last year too???)  Ewwwww!!!!!  I am so not into bovine decomposition.  

But apparently elementary age boys ARE.  

Valentines Cards

I always try to do something creative (or, more appropriately, make my kids do something creative) for their V-day cards.  I'm totally not into Valentines Day.  I think it's a completely fabricated holiday.  It reminds me of Vegas- all show and no substance.  Mick and I have probably only gone out on Vday once in our whole marriage and we both looked at each other and said, "We are never doing this again."  Too much artificial sentiment for us.  Blech.  I know, I know.  I'm a buzz kill.  But I also hate chick flicks and don't even get me started on The Bachelor... which I've never watched but will that prevent me from having a well articulated opinion on how horrible it is for society and what a sickening lesson it teaches young women???  Oh, no!!!  I could go off for HOURS on that one!!!  Wait... what was I blogging about???  Oh, yeah.  My kid's Valentine cards.  Back to the subject...  ;-)

Totally, 100% stole this idea from a friend on Facebook.  She posted that she had done this in the past and I just thought to myself- well there we go!  Easy peasy, done and done.

So we took these pictures...

And then we punched some holes in them and stuck a sucker through!

And Happy Valentines Day to all the kids in their classes!!!  I know they were a big hit b/c when I went to pick up Avé at preschool that day her teacher was showing another parent Avé's card.  And at my boys' school I saw a girl in Jack's class run up to her mom and fish Jack's out of her bag full of Valentines and show it to her!  And THEN at pick up the next day the PE teacher told me that he really thought Ben's Valentine was cool.  I asked him where he had seen it and he named several first graders who had shown it to him!  So... feel free to steal the idea that I stole and use it next year!  Could NOT be easier!!!

Oh, and I don't think I did a very good job of explaining this fake holiday to Av b/c she asked me on the way to the car after her class party, "Why I have all this candy anyway???"  Don't worry.  I left out my lecture on the evils of the card and floral industry and stayed pretty focused on why we will never own "The Little Mermaid."  

B-Day Pie

I'm still working on catching up on blogging!  I am getting closer... but still about 3 weeks behind.  Oh, well.

Jack's 10th Birthday was February 9th- which happened to be the same day as the premier of "Snowpocalypse 2: This Time It's Personal" was released here in Tulsa.  We knew it was headed our way on his birthday so we went out for dinner the night before.  He chose our family fave as his dinner choice: Lanna Thai.  Mmmmmmmmmmmm...!!!  Love me some Thai food!!!  Afterward we realized that we didn't have anything at home to make a b-day cake for him so we thought we would swing by Village Inn and get some Birthday Pie.

On the way home that night I started telling stories about when Jack was a baby.  Like...

The first time I saw him his eyes were open and he was waving his arms and kicking his legs and I literally thought he was the most beautiful baby that had ever been born.

When he was about 2 he took off his diaper while he was outside playing.  I asked why he took it off and he said he had to go potty.  "Did you go pee-pee on the grass?" I asked.  "Oh, no, Mommy."  he replied.  "Just poo-poo." 

About the time he ate dirt.  On purpose.  Mouthful after mouthful after mouthful.  

And right in the middle of the story about when he had to be hospitalized for pneumonia and how brave he was when the nurses had to put in his IV... BAM!!!   We were rear-ended.  :-(  Boo.  Our car is now in the shop and we have a rental and we are all seeing the chiropractor weekly.  

But regardless... my son is 10 and he is a truly wonderful son.  I'm so lucky and proud to be his mother!!!

I WON!!! I WON!!!

I never win anything... but that doesn't stop me entering every internet contest or drawing that has something to offer that I like!  So when SIMPLE Reviews advertised that Emma's Bowtique was giving away $10 in free bows, I put my name in the hat.  And much to my surprise... I WON!!!  I got this GREAT tulle flower, a sequin headband (think I got the last one), and two ruffle bows in green and raspberry.  As you can see, they are a huge HIT!  And as you can also see, my girl is a huge HAM.  Wouldn't want it any other way!!!

Did you know Vader had a 'fro?

OH, and Go Steelers!  (never mind...)