Mod Monkey Party

It all started about six months ago when we were driving and Mauryn saw this driving on the road.

I told her how the bus came to houses for birthday parties and the kids did gymnastics stuff. From that moment on she wanted to have the tumble bus come for her party.

She also wanted a pinkalicious party thanks to this book. She also wanted to invite some of her friends that were boys and she thought they would not want to come to a pink party. After some thought, she decided she would do a pink and green pattern tumble bus party.

I was trying to decide how to pull all her little ideas together when I saw plates and napkins that were white with pink and green polka dots and a monkey face. Perfect!!!

We got to work on her invitations. I couldn't quite find the pink and green paper I wanted so I didn't love her invitations but they worked.
As the party planning went along, I found I had a bunch of green monkey flannel that didn't have a specified use, so the flannel was turned into gift bags.
I had purchased some stemless wine glass last year to use for table decorations at Mauryn's mermaid party and they came in quite handy again this year.
The cupcakes were pink and green of course... not only in their frosting but on the inside. I totally forgot I have a decorating kit to make a fancy top until I was looking at pictures from last years party. I need to put a little list on the outside of my baking tub so I know what is in there. Oh well, they could have been fancier but the kids ate them anyway :o)
When I was working on Mauryn's invitations I was going to purchase two circle punches to help in the time factor with making the invitations. As I was heading to the checkout line, the store had a display of cricuit machines. I have been eyeing them for years but it was never a priority to save money to buy one. The price on the cricut was more than half off and was definitely a more cost effective option than the two circle cutters {are you hearing the justification}. So I toted my cricuit home, fired it up and made Mauryn's invitations. Then I used to make her a birthday banner
and garland to hang from the lights. Did I mention I love my cricuit???
Mauryn was so excited for her birthday. She just could not wait to turn "fo". I know I am biased but oh my does she look darling in her birthday shirt and headband. Yes indeed!
Mauryn L.O.V.E.D the magic tumble bus. She was smiling and giggling the entire time. It was so sweet to see her enjoying her party and time with her friends.
At the end of the party after had her cupcake and opened gifts, she curled up on the couch, fingers in mouth and about fell asleep. I think that is a sign of a successful party... a tired and content birthday girl.

Fo {four}

Today you are four! Four... it does not seem possible that four years have passed since you joined our family. I told you I did not want you to have your birthday I wanted you to stay three. You are determined to grow up. Even your look is changing... you are starting to look more like a preschooler than a toddler. It makes my heart sad and happy all at the same time.

You bring so much joy and love to our family. It is wonderful you have those qualities because you also bring with you lots of drama. It is a great balance my dear.

I love how you are the welcoming committee in the nursery at church. You embrace any visitors or kids who are sad and make everyone feel welcome. I love that you randomly break out in song or quoting your bible verses from awanas or dance a little dance anywhere.

This past year has been so interesting seeing your personality develop. Even though you are spirited, independent, and stubborn you do not like change. You like to be comfortable and I have learned that I have to push you a bit to try new things. You usually end up loving whatever it is you are doing and you become a leader.

I am looking forward to all your 4 year old year brings my love. I know it will be an adventure.

I love you sassy molassy!

The Fair

Growing up one of the highlights of my summer was our county fair. We had exhibits at the fair and spent pretty much every waking moment at the fair during the long weekend.

Even before we had kids, Lance and I would attend the local county fairs. He would check in with clients and I would enjoy fair food and the atmosphere. I don't know what it is about fairs but I love them. My husband on the other hand only tolerates them.

Since moving to Idaho, we have attended the Western Idaho State Fair each summer. It does not have the same feel as the fairs back home {they don't have fried cheese curds which is by far the best fair food EVER} but I still enjoy the nostalgia of the fair.

My kids enjoy the fair and look forward to going each summer. One of the highlights for them is seeing the animals. They enjoy the petting zoo area and marvel at watching the chickens hatch.

I like to walk through the exhibitors building. It is fun to see all the different things for sale and the new gadgets out. There was one booth that captured our attention. It was a man selling insurance and he was doing a demonstration of the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt. Each of the kids got an egg and they were to draw a face on the egg. He then put the eggs in a toy car without seatbelts. He pulled the car back and let it go where it hit a box. He then showed the kids what the eggs looked like after they crashed. The impact would have been similar to a car going 20 mph. It was definitely enlightening {yes, we ALWAYS wear our seatbelts but a great reminder of why we must wear them}
The fair wouldn't be the fair without going on rides. One of their favorites was The Fly. I had a hard time watching it go around and around and around but the kids loved it. I was really hoping my boy who has a tendency to get car sick would survive it and he did!

As our time at the fair was winding down we had enough tickets for Landon to do one more ride with Mauryn. Landon is super excited for this ride

because there was a picture of Michael Jackson

Mauryn was less than excited about going on a ride. She had been talking about going on the rides but once we got in line did not want to go on it. I have learned that she needs a little push to try new things so

i put her on the ride, tears and all, with her brother

landon is laughing because mauryn was smiling until she got close to use then she would put her head down

see, she still won't look at us but she is definitely smiling

by the end laughter and even getting brave and putting her hands up in the air. sometimes it just takes a little push.

Annual Halloween Party

One of the fall activities we look forward to each year is our neighbors annual Halloween costume party. The party has evolved over the years from an adult only party to a family event.

Mauryn was all set to be Tinkerbell but after reading some Fancy Nancy books at naptime she decided she would like to be Fancy Nancy instead. Thankfully we had a Fancy Nancy dress, shoes, purse, and plenty of necklaces to make my girl all fancy.

the highlights of the evening were cookie decorating, or should we say frosting tasting....

and pumpkin carving.

two of our pumpkins..... the cat won the pumpkin carving contest.

Halloween 2010

I know it is almost a week past Halloween, but hey we are fast approaching birthday week so things are a little crazy busy around here.

The rain cleared off and we had a beautiful fall evening for walking the neighborhood and trick or treating. It was simply gorgeous. We could not have asked for better weather.

I tried to convince Morgan she would be a perfect Wendy to go with tinkerbell and peter pan but she didn't agree so she went as an 80's girl. In the end, it probably worked well as their costumes seemed to suit their personalities.

Swimming Lessons

By the end of last summer, Mauryn was a little fish in the water. She loved swimming lessons and could not wait to go back to Miss June's house this summer.

The first day of lessons arrived, she got her suit on, picked out her towel, and headed towards the car. As we drove she became more hesitant and was pretty adamant that she was not going to take lessons. I thought once we got there she would be fine. Oh boy was I wrong. Mauryn clung to my leg and started crying. She did not want anything to do with the pool.

I placed her on the edge, sat next to her for a minute, and then snuck back to sit in a chair. Once lessons started she was fine and as each day progressed she became a LOUD leader in the class.

Her favorite thing in her first session of lessons was wearing goggles. I can hardly take it with her in those goggles.... cuteness!

The one thing she was determined not to do in her first session was to jump off the diving board. It wasn't because she was scared, she was just being stubborn. Mauryn cheered on all her classmates as they jumped off the board and was thrilled for them. On that last day, I got her to walk with me to the board and out to the end. I looked and her teacher, picked her up, and dropped her in. She didn't cry, she didn't scream, she just looked at me and said I am not doing that again. I know it might seem mean but what I am learning about my spunky little one is that she is anxious and nervous about trying new things and change but with a little prodding she ends up loving whatever the new activity.

By the time we were at the end of the second session of lessons, she was the first one to volunteer to go off the board and asked how many times she could jump off. She LOVED it!

Landon took lessons both sessions as well and he is just part fish. If he could be in the water swimming all day in the summer he would be happy. He likes nothing better than getting his face in and swimming around. His favorite activity at swimming lessons is jumping off the board and trying to get people wet with his big splash.

This year his newest skill was learning to dive. He may have struggled a bit with some of the strokes but the boy can dive!

Summer, we will look forward to your return when we will spend a few more weeks at Miss June's pool splashing, laughing, playing, putting our faces in the water, diving for starburts, jumping off the board, learning to swim, and making great memories.

Random Fall Stuff

One of the items on my to do list over our fall break was to take the kids out for a little photo shoot in hopes of getting a picture for our Christmas card.

We set off on a sunny, cool fall morning for a stroll on a greenbelt close to our house. It is one of our favorite spots for biking and walking. One of the kids' favorite activities while on the greenbelt is to feed the ducks and see all the animals.

I stowed some bread in my purse so we could feed the ducks after we finished taking pictures.

we couldn't leave the greenbelt without giving the friendly little goats some love as well

since it is fall/halloween my kids were asking for some new themed shirts

i love finding new recipes and sara posted about some fun recipes involving candy corn. i thought i would try this one since i had everything on hand. i am not a huge fan of candy corn on its own but in a mix with peanuts and m&m's or in this candy corn bark it is perfection!

to make the candy corn bark crush up 14 oreos

a cup and a half of pretzels

add 3/4 cup of candy corn

melt a pound of almond bark and spread over the top. add 1/4 c candy corn to the top and set to harden in the refrigerator

then break apart into smaller pieces and enjoy!

i didn't have holiday oreos with the orange cream but they would be pretty and add some color. i also didn't have any brown or orange sprinkles but they would be so fun or you could use candy melts instead of almond bark and buy them in a color for fun. this was a super easy, quick snack to throw together.