Birthday Bliss

Chloe chose the Ceramic Cafe for her birthday party this year.

It is a very unique place for persons of all ages.

The kiddos were very excited to chose their pieces and they all created some wonderful art!

 Very Patiently waiting for the paint.

They were VERY ready to get started.

 The birthday girl chose an owl jar to store all her treasure in.  She did an excellent job on it.

 Hattie, Chloe, Ava and Piper.

 Gramma Pam helping Silvie and Gramma Val helping Jocelyn.

 Tristan, Chloe, Ollivia, Shae, Alex, Molli and Ava.

 All smiles.

 BFF necklaces...always a hit.

 The singing animal from Piper.  This was the big hit!  I think the battery may be running low already it has sung the Happy Birthday song so many times already.  I will have to be sure and Thank Kels extra for this one the next time I see her.  Wink, wink.

 Gus asked Aunt Dee to make her cake the Titanic this year.  She is completely amazed by everything to do with the Titanic.  The boat, the history.  The movie. (Yes the one with Leo)  Aunt Dee did an AMAZING job on the cake!  It took EIGHT cake mixes and FIVE hours of decorating!  It was so cool.  The kids and adults thought it was very impressive!  A++ Aunt Dee.

 It was Happy Birthday tune time.  Chloe was all smiles as was sang to her!  She wasn't sure what to do with everyone starring right at her.  So she smiled big and sang along too! 

Happy Birthday Gus!

 Silvie working on her gator.

 Jocelyn's Penguin.

Farrah's elephant.

It was a great party!

Birthday Games

 I celebrated my 35th birthday last week, and although I was unable to join in the birthday twister game, it made my heart smile to watch the game being played.

My wonderful friend Fiona, her two boys and my Momma came over to help me celebrate.  Fiona cooked dinner as I referred the game of twister.  It was so cute to see Chloe and her buddy Roan playing by the rules and watching Jocelyn, Farrah, Silvie and Tristin try so hard to figure out how to play.  They made a valiant effort to remember which was right and which was left and to try to keep the left hand down when the right was moving to a new space.  So cute.

We had a yummy dinner and then cheesecake and brownies made by Chloe and Grandma Pam.  Wonderful memories I will hold close to my heart.  It was a great birthday! 

Bedazzle Me

My good friend "Hitzy Blonde" (yes she is a skater) came over for a visit a few days after my surgery.  With her, she brought the craft-r-noon arsenal.  Beads, and gems, the hot glue gun, and of course rainbow glitter spray...the works.  Her mission was "to make Toxic Sugar's crutches acceptable for daily use."  

Successful mission I would have to say.  The triplets and her son Andy had a great time helping her glue and place multi-colored rhinestones all over them.  "Crutches MUST be sparkling."  I could not agree more with you, Hitzy. 

The finished project shined and sparkled in just the smallest amount of light.  You should see them in the sun, amazing.  They are truly "Dazzling."

Thank you Hitzy!  The fact that I have the "coolest crutches ever" make it just a little easier to use them.  Thanks for thinking of me.  You are the Goddess of all things that sparkle.

Baby Kaia comes for a visit

Today the Beauties and I were able to meet and fall in love with a new little face.  Kaia.  My good friend Jenn and her husband Brad, welcomed baby Kaia into their lives almost four months ago.  She was born the day after the earthquake hit Chile.  She is a lovely little babe.  Jenn and Brad have lived in Chile for about five years.  They are both school teaches there and have more than made it their home.  It has been two years since Jenn was home last.  It was wonderful to see her and Brad, and to meet their sweet baby girl.  Congratulations and much love to them.

We decided to create a very special gift for her.  Each of the Beauties painted a letter of Kaia's name.  They turned out really pretty and so very special.

All four of them were very interested in her.  They wanted to touch her and didn't like when she started to fuss.  Of the four, Silvie May was the most smitten by her.  It was truly heartwarming.

I scream, you scream

I am a bit behind on my posting over the last week. Please excuse that. We have been very busy around here. It's time for back to preschool for Chloe. Her first full year and the last before kindergarten. Sob. We had the official ice cream social last Thursday at school. She found out here teacher and her room and was reacquainted with some old friends, kids and animals too. She is very excited to be in the "Red Room" again! She will be with Ms. Thomas her favorite. On the way she informed me that she didn't want a new teacher she liked her old one. So we were all happy that some things don't change! She is excited to begin next week. Complete with new backpack, new shoes and a brand new dress! I hope things go a bit more smoothly this year than last. I am confident they will.

A night out

It was a night out to celebrate. Happy Birthday to Molly and a visit with good friends. Molly and Clint, Jennifer and Brad, Tom and Sue, Matt and I. We started with dinner at a new dig called Blackstone. I think it is a new favorite. From there we headed to Joe's Place. Wow, that place has changed a bit in the last few years. I remember it as kind of a mellow hangout, not so much these days. The beers were cold and the conversation was Great! Heather was even "there" via text message. Heather we are going to plan a girls trip to Cali! The adult only time was fabulous. Excited for the next time already. Surprisingly...not even a headache this morning.

Little Sparkles

Independence Day. July 4th, 2008

We began the day in Coralville, at the Coralville Parade. WOW there were a lot of people there! It took us a bit longer to arrive due to traffic, construction and road barricades (right Matty?) But we made it! We met Olivia, Laila, Uncle Clint and Auntie Molly for the festivities. We had a front row seat thanks to Grandma White Hair and Annie! Chloe and Olivia caught enough candy to open a candy shop. Or at least keep the dental industry going. Laila, Jocelyn, Farrah and Silvie loved the parade! The triplets even had their first tootsie rolls and lollipops. (I'm betting they were not the last.) After the parade we ventured home for a nap...well...it took a while but all four beauties and daddy caught a few zzzz's. Just in time to pack up and go to Grandma Pammy's and Papa Steve's for another parade! YEA! They were just as happy, and they knew what to expect! They waved at every entry and ate some tootsie rolls and lollipops! They even wanted to go out and collect them! Chloe did a fantastic job catching the candy. She even passed some out to two different older couples sitting near us. So sweet of her! She always makes sure to share. That's our Chloe. We had dinner at Grammy's and it was time to get on the road. Bedtime. Chloe is eagerly awaiting the fireworks...I am excited to hear how they are!

We hope your holiday was as memorable as ours was.

Slumber Party

Chloe and her BFF Olivia are having a slumber party tonight. That is right. There are 5 little girls at our house tonight! Just missing Laila! Next time sweetie! They ran around acting like crazed animals. Ate their favorite dinner... mac-n-cheese. Played with Belle Cinderella...a lot. Feed her apples and carrots and cheetos? Olivia even tried some of her food...sorry Molly and Clinton...They took a "swim" (hence the swimsuits) in the tub. They wanted bubbles in and the jets on, so there were lots and lots of bubbles! Did I mention there were lots of bubbles? After that we made "indoor s'mores" they were yummy. I think the girls could have cared less about the graham crackers and marshmallows. They just wanted the chocolate bars! It's after 10:00 p.m. and they are still awake. Oh well, that is what slumber parties are all about, right?
They ended the night with a flick. Barbie Mariposa. It is one about a Barbie, a mystical butterfly fairy named yep, Mariposa and her cohorts who save the day from the evil skeezites and a bad fairy trying to take over the land. It is actually a very cute movie! Matt even liked it! For all you Daddies out there interested in getting caught up on your Barbie adventures.
As you can tell from the photos they had an evening filled with fun!
They're finally asleep after 11:00 p.m. staying up later then Matty, and also myself. I fell asleep in bed with them. Oops. Of course had to get in the blogging "after midnight"(thanks Clapton). Goodnight.