This and That

EVERY DAY IS A CELEBRATION

I absolutely adore all of the fun birthday and holiday banners I've seen floating around the internet.  Shouldn't every day be a celebration though?

I decided to make a banner for the kids play room.

 

 

This banner is very simple to make, but seeing as it was all hand-stitched it took a lot of time too. Thank goodness for DVR'd movies.

What you will need:

• Felt board
• Felt
• Patterned fabric
• Patterned-edge and straight scissors
• Fabric marker
• Embroidery thread and needle
• Hooks
• Rope

To make:

Cut large triangles out of the felt board (the board is much larger and more stiff than the regular felt sheets you can purchase).

I used a simple word document to make the letters the size I wanted, printed them and cut them out to make the stencils.

Lay the stencil on felt and very carefully draw around it using a fabric marker. Cut it out.

Wash, dry and iron your fabric.  Using jagged-edge scissors cut a triangle a little smaller than the one you cut using the felt board.

Hand stitch the fabric to the felt board and the felt letters on top of that.

The banner I made is double-sided so once each individual triangle was finished I stitched a triangle to the back of it - just make sure you don't stitch a 'P' to a 'P' or the reverse side will be backwards.

Use a hole punch to make holes in the top corners of each triangle.  Thread the rope through and attach them to the hooks.

2 YEARS AND HE'LL BE DRIVING

  

HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY JAY!

His birthday requests:

> 2 new outfits including shoes (now that he's attending public school again)

> His best friend from out of town be flown in for a long weekend (that was last weekend's early birthday gift)

> See a movie (or 3): Disney's A Christmas Carol, 2012 and Ninja Assassin.  He loved them all.  He even saw one with his girlfriend, can I hear an awwww. The others were seen with his best friend and uncle.

> Kayaking with his uncle and dad (photos to come)

> Indian food for dinner

> Ice-cream cake

I love you Jay. 

Now pull your pants up.

BIRTHDAY BALL

The Marine Corps 234th Birthday Ball was held this weekend. 

Wow, my hair even matches my dress. Note: need hairdresser appointment. STAT.

 

Pinning on wings.

 

Good friends

 

The Aussie gals.

DADDY'S BIRTHDAY

For the time being I'm not the older woman.  He's finally caught up to me.

Happy Birthday Hubby!

 

We went out for dinner last night to The Sardine Factory to celebrate.  As you walk in there is a lounge with a live pianist, big couches in front of an open fireplace and a bar.  The dining rooms are beautiful.  We ate in The Conservatory.  The staff are wonderful and the food delicious.  They do have a children's menu, however our two little hooligans darlings were a wee bit rambunctious last night.  Thus we cut our evening short and ventured home for dessert.  Hubby doesn't eat cake, so instead I baked his favorite chocolate chip cookies.

DEAR MARISOL AND FLYNN,

Just under 4 years ago I watched this on the screen as I lay on a bed at the infertility clinic.

This was the day of implantation.   This was the day that we grew from a family of 3 to a family of 5. 

Yesterday you turned 3 years old. 

You are both so absolutely amazing and I love you with all my heart.  

I have loved watching you grow from tiny babies

into the sweet and loving toddlers you are today.

**********************************

YOUR 3RD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED

Celebrations for your birthday began a week ago when your Grandma and Pa (who you love so very much) visited from Australia. 

I’m no expert cake baker (or decorator) but the kids thought their cake was magnificent.  That’s all that matters.

3 layers, but I added pink and blue food dye to 2 of the layers.  They were joined with freshly whipped cream.  Smothered with chocolate frosting and topped with rainbow colored chocolate ‘seeds’.

Celebrations continued with a party at school with your new friends.  Party favors can be viewed here

Then yesterday on your big day you couldn’t have been happier.  This was the first year that you really understood that it was YOUR birthday.  You ripped into your presents, you asked for candles to blow out and you loved every moment of your special day.

Your big surprise of the day.  NEW BIKES.  You haven’t figured out the pedals yet, but you sure did have fun rolling down the little hills and having us push you back up. 

Then the celebrations continued into the evening with dinner at Bubba Gump.  You ate mac & cheese until your bellies were full and the staff sang happy birthday to you and gave you sundaes. 

Here are some more photos that I was Whrrling from my phone throughout our dinner.

More stories at Bubba Gunp Shrimp Co

Powered by Whrrl

 

Of course the evening wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to the Nestle Cafe for cookies and chocolate milk.

Then we were homeward bound to blow out your birthday candles, just like you had requested.

Although you really were too full to eat your cakes and after 1 little nibble you were done.  Thank goodness we had visitors come to stay that night, because we sure did enjoy your cupcakes … but don’t worry we left you a couple.

SPORTS & SEA CREATURES

Happy birthday to our little buddy Diego.  Today we helped celebrate his 2nd birthday.

As always his amazing mommy threw a fabulous party. 

It had rained and rained and rained all day.  In Southern California.  But, as we left our house it stopped.  We all played outside throughout the party.  Not a drop to be felt.  As we were leaving it started drizzling ever so lightly.  How perfect. 

Although as you can see our family stand out like sore thumbs because with daddy being gone, we are the most un-sporty family you are bound to meet.  We couldn’t even rustle up any sporty gear to wear to this very sporty party.  The best I could come up with was a red jacket for Flynn … that I have to admit was a hand-me-down from my nephew.  Come home quick daddy, your boys need to be exposed to sports.

The birthday boy and his fabulous mum

During bath time tonight the kids had a blast letting their goldfish and shark swim in the ocean water

WHAT STARTED AS A PLAYDATE …

Was also a surprise farewell lunch for little ‘ole me (and my kids too). 

Our family has a lot going on over the next few months.  Things that I can’t share here, yet.  Not because I don’t want to.  But because I do like to keep my family protected to some degree on my blog and not announce things before they happen.

What I can share with you are some photos of my amazing friends and a wonderful day.  7 sets of twins. 3 older siblings.  Beautiful mums.  Great food.  Mimosa’s.  

These ladies have been my friends since I became pregnant with the twins.  I ‘met’ them on-line.  We met in person after all of our twins were born and have been real life friends ever since (we missed you today Nicole).

 

Somebody fell off the swing and decided to lay down and pout.  

Is she blowing kisses?   Cheeky girl.   

Thank you friends for a wonderful day.  I love you all.

WEEKLY WINNERS

hosted by Lotus

All photographs taken with a Canon Rebel XT'

It was a busy week.  Here are a few things that you haven’t seen yet.

A birthday party for a special little boy.

 

I know it seems like I only take photographs of my children at our friends birthday parties, but I promise that isn’t the case.  I just try to be mindful of putting other parents children on on my blog.  A lot of my friends do have blogs so I don’t mind including their children, but others don’t so I like to respect that they may not want their child’s photograph plastered all over mine.  I do send them my photographs though so they can do whatever they want with them.

Bears, Buddies & Toys

You can find out more about Bears, Buddies and Toys here

Pump It Up

 

Thank you Shannon for inviting us to come and play with you and the girls.  It was so much fun. 

Pump It Up is a great place to take the kids.  Take a look at their store locator and see if there is one near you.

My little model

Posing for a photograph of the hair ties I made her during the week.  The tutorial can be found here.

A tutu monkey ’s party

Our little friend Sarah is

 

Happy birthday sweet girl.

Her party had a guest appearance by Steve of Hullabaloo.

The kids had a blast shaking their booties and their shakers and jumping up and down.

 

and as always the cake was a big hit

   

Thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you. 

ELMO MADE A GUEST APPEARANCE

This is one special little guy.  So special in fact that Elmo made a guest appearance at his 1st birthday party today.

waiting for their balloon puppies to be made

and collecting Elmo’s autograph.

 

the fishing pier … dad do you remember this?  The spot you took Jay fishing when you were visiting a few years ago.

18, 19, 20 … here we come, ready or not.

never too old to climb trees

peek-a-boo

broom, broom ….

balancing act

Today’s birthday party for our little friend Charlie was so much fun.   Who wouldn’t love a party by the water, at a park, with Elmo, cupcakes and great friends.

And the party favors:

What are they? 

Boo-boo packs.   

Here is the little note that accompanied each:

“Bye-bye boo-boos! Place this magical little pouch in the freezer and the next time your child gets a bump, a bruise, or even hurt feelings, take it out and all their worries will disappear”.

What a fantastic idea. 

I was so proud of Marisol today.  Normally my children do their own thing.  They are a teeny bit younger than a lot of their friends in our group and don’t understand the games, but today for the first time Marisol tried to learn.  She played Ring Around The Rosie, Red Light Green Light, Duck Duck Goose and Hide ‘n Seek.   She had a blast.