"Happy Birthday to You"

Happy Birthday, Kathryn!

Kat's Cake - more fun for mommy:-)

This is one of my favorite parts of my kids' birthdays - CAKE TIME:-) Since Kathryn was so enthralled with the caterpillars and butterflies in Anika's classroom this spring. I decided to make her a butterfly cake and caterpillar cupcakes. I roped Lloyd into the process:-) I needed him to help me figure out the cupcakes. I was so pleased with how everything turned out! Candy caterpillars:

The butterfly:

Ready for our guests:

A Full Day

I had a wonderful opportunity this week to help out a friend. She was flying back to the midwest to visit her brother's new baby, so I agreed to watch her kids (4 & 2). That included her new foster baby. At less than two weeks old and barely 6 lbs., he was an amazing, tiny bundle. My kids feel in love with him. Anika was so excited to get home from school and help me feed him. Kat had to hold him too. I ended up only watching the baby and Jack because Clara was running fever, but we all had a great day together.

Kathryn takes a turn:

Kathryn turns 2!!!

Although the party is still to come, Kathryn started her birthday celebration on Thurs. Anika & Andrew sang her happy birthday and she got to open her "water table" gift. Excited!!!!

I'm afraid she is going to try this when it is full of water too.

Summer Fun?

We haven't had many warm days to enjoy yet last weekend afforded at least one day to get wet!

However, I had to snap a picture of this -- each of my kids needed to have their own "space". Somedays are just like that, I guess!

Kathryn gets dirty:

Anika builds a sandcastle:

Andrew pretends we have a pool in our backyard:

A few water balloons:

The finished sand castle:

More Muffins & Makeovers

Since I wasn't able to take pictures of myself at the Muffins & Makeovers for Mom event, I was so pleased when I was handed these pictures at school today:-)

Before (sans make-up):

After:Toenail painting:Lipgloss application:Fingernails polishing:

Eyeshadow applying:

Foot massage:-):The finished product:

Kat showing off her skillz:-)

My Mother's Day Song

Mom's Day

It was a wonderful Mother's Day! Great worship, great lunch (Lloyd grilled), great hugs from the kids! All three of them greeted me (unprompted) with "Happy Mother's Day". Anika's gift was a special plate that she made at school, Andrew's was obedience;-) (He was a great boy all day long) and Kathryn (and Daddy) bought me a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. I've been wanting one for all long time and Lloyd found a great deal so now I've been bitten by the "baking bug"!!!

If Life Gives You Lemons. . .

. . . make lemnaid:-) We were visiting with friends this week and they served fresh-squeezed lemonade. We couldn't believe we were letting our lemons rot on the tree so we began an extensive lemon squeezing operation, the result of which was today's lemonade stand. Anika & Andrew were troopers. Anika had the idea and then they made the lemonade themselves, created a poster, set up the table & chairs, and they were in business!!! I can't believe what a successful adventure it was. They served at least ten people. (Of course, Dad was in charge of marketing (posting it on Facebook) and he put up an awning which helped the cause!) They stayed out there for about 2 1/2 hours and people generously ignored the 5 cent sign;-) We even had takers come after the stand was retired. I think Anika has been bitten by the entrepreneur bug.

Our first customer was our next-door neighbor:

Waiting (sometimes patiently):

The sign read "Fresh-squeezed lemnaid - 5c"

Muffins & Makeovers with Mom

Ah, what fun!!! Anika and I enjoyed a fabulous morning at kindergarten today. I was invited to "Muffin & Makeovers for Mom" -- a special morning of pampering by my kindergartener. I was treated to a special song, enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast, and then Anika gave me a makeover (applying my make-up) and a foot massage and mani/pedi. So much fun!

My very excited kindergartener:

Our great breakfast of muffins, fruit & juice:

Watching the other moms get made-up:

The finished product:

One Man's Trash. . .

Every year about this time, the city holds its annual trash pick up day. People put big items on the curb and the city will dispose of it. Everything is "free game" for hunters & gatherers. My neighbor calls it "shopping" :-) It certainly proves the old adage "one man's trash is another man's treasure". We put out this old twin mattress - which the kids then recycled into a trampoline. (It didn't last more than a day before someone picked it up. I was amazed - why take a used mattress???)

Pixie Woods

Another Mom's Club adventure! We had a family day at Pixie Woods - a delightful city park with a nursery rhyme/fairy tale theme. After a picnic lunch, we all headed in to experience the fun. (Since Lloyd had a Sat. obligation, I single-parented this event. I was very grateful to all those who helped me keep an eye on my munchkins!)

The group of kiddos: (Kathryn was a bit under-the-weather but she sure perked up when we got there.)

One of many slides, playsets, etc:

A swinging bridge:

The Firefighter area:

While it wasn't on the map, this cat won my kids hearts. It let them pet & love on it.

Kathryn found the cat, too:

Sprinklers!!!!!!!

A kids-size Wild West Town:

A merry-go-round: