Mia’s birthday PARTAY!

10 years feels like a milestone in so many ways. This party made that even more clear. It was different from any of her other birthdays. I gave her a budget for the party and she did all of the planning. She even made the invitations and shopped for the treats. I had no real function at all other than chaperone and driver. She loved the planning- that’s one of her big talents. She’s always making lists and plans about something. She did manage to make it quirky- this is Mia after all. For instance, the party time was from 4:45 to 8:15. I tried to subdue my inner control freak and just let it all happen.

She invited 4 friends along and we went to Fat Cats bowling…

She has such sweet friends. I hope that will continue during the upcoming teen years.

How many people does it take to teach Owen how to bowl, anyway? Looks like 5 is the magic number.

Nice form, Mia!

After bowling, they got a bunch of tokens and played in the arcade. Dance, Dance Revolution, anyone?

Mia spent a small fortune on Photo Booth pictures with each of her friends. I remember how much I loved those when I was a kid. Photo booths will never die. (i hope)

It was a great way to celebrate our amazing girl. Maybe she’ll grow up to be a party planner…

Gingerbread Houses- our 12th year!

The first Saturday of December is always a big day! Our friend Terri throws a Mother-Daughter Gingerbread party. This year was the 12th party!  The year that Mia was born the party was on the same day that we came home from the hospital. Did I miss it? Noooooooo. I was there making a house (albeit a bit tired and sore).

Here’s Terri as she slaves away making endless batches of frosting and watching her house become a disaster area. Look how happy she is- don’t know how she does it, but I’m sure that red kitchen aid helps. It’s so purty!

Mia’s house was a masterpiece this year.  Look at that concentration.

Here’s O scolding Tank after he stole a yogurt covered pretzel off our house.  I love Tank’s face- “Huh? What? I didn’t do nothin!”

Here they are displayed on our dining room table. They make the whole room smell like gingerbread and sugar. It’s delicious.

a.m.

Any time is a good time for some Huckle lovin.

It’s 5 degrees outside and our furnace is doing it’s best to keep up. Holding a nice warm cat on your lap is a fine idea.

Birthday Part Deux.

It’s not just Mia’s birthday… it’s Papa’s birthday too! Big day.

We went over to visit Papa and give him a present-

Mia also got a fabulous present from Papa and Gramma. The cutest lounge outfits a girl could ever wish for. Nothing is better than lounge wear.

Here’s a bonus photo of Owen- just because he was cute and he was there.

Decade.

10 years and one half hour ago my little baby girl was born. She’s not such a little baby any more. As she says, she’s in “double digits”! Look out!

She opened her presents before school this morning.

Sketchbook!

Pencils!

Perfume and Bath Goo!

I’m wishing the happiest of birthdays to my favorite little girl. 10 years, I just can’t believe it.

The Tree.

Tonight after Mitch got home from work we were off to Baum’s to pick out our tree…

We were looking for a tall, skinny one this year.

BINGO! Let’s get this baby home and decorate it :)

O picked a Han Solo ornament this year.

Mia went with a Jack Skellington ornament that lights up. SO COOOOL.

Santa on top and…

TADA!

I say this every year, but this time I really mean it- THIS IS OUR BEST TREE EVER. I just love it. Christmas really does get better every single year. Having holiday traditions with our kids is one of the best things in life. Really good times :)

Putting the Santa on top of the tree reminded me of my Grandpa’s famous joke (my favorite) Here it is, the story of how we came to put angels on the top of Christmas trees…

“One year Santa was having a run of bad luck. Problem after problem kept coming up. The reindeer pooped on his porch, half of the elves were out with the flu and Mrs. Claus was annoyed with him.

He was in the middle of checking his list when an angel interrupted him. She was holding a Christmas tree and she said-
“Hey, Santa! Where do you want me to put this?”

HAHAHHAHAHAHAAhahahah HAHAHAHHaaha ha hahah  ha ha

Do you get it? That one kills me every time.

I heart faces- Tooshie week.

“After all these weeks of entering face photos, we are going to take a break from them and focus on something completely different instead. How about some butt photos?!

You wouldn't even believe how many times this theme idea has been sent to us. We think it's going to be hilariously fun!

Each photo entry this week should have a person's tooshie in it. That's the only requirement! No faces need to be in the photo at all.”

There’s a picture that’s been waiting in the wings for this week’s challenge. It does have a face- and such a happy one- and ALMOST, allllmost, a tush.

I’ve always loved this one.

Glitter Fest 2009

The women met up for our first annual Christmas ornament craft extravaganza last Friday.  In years past, we have all traded ornaments that we bought or made but we decided the tweak the tradition and try this…

Here I am with my mom. Yes, I am aware that we look exactly alike. I’m also aware that my hair is red, but I’m hoping the color will fade out soon :)

I’d like to thank Martha Stewart for bringing this glitter into our lives.

We couldn’t  keep our crafty little mits off it.

We applied it to some sweet vintage glass balls that I found at DI. They cost a dollar at Woolworths in 1970 and I paid 99 cents for them. What a deal.

Next glitter victims- ACORNS! How cute are those?

Cami, Joni and Mia all made some hilarious pinecone people. I’d run out of steam after the acorns but they pushed on and created treasures like THIS…

We all agreed that our new ornament tradition is a winner. I wonder what we can glitter next year? I’m obviously an addict-