Happy Birthday, Kellye!

Happy 50th Birthday, Kellye!

Jaron's aunt Kellye turned 50 a couple of weeks back.  Kellye's mom and sisters all came to our house to celebrate the occasion.  Since we all live a great distance apart, we were so thrilled that it worked out for everybody's schedules to align.  Everybody came to our house for a good meal, birthday cake, and a lot of laughs. 

Our boys love their great-aunts, Kristi and Kellye.  They are a barrel of laughs!  This time was no different.  We about laughed ourselves silly hearing Aaron's hermit crab story from Kellye.  The sisters, Kim, Kellye, and Kristi enjoyed a rare time together with their mom, Brenda.  It was nice for our boys to visit with their great-grandmother as well.  Boston, Kristi's son, and the boys played until they could no longer stand. 

Kim, Boston, Cannon, Parker and I went party shopping earlier in the day.  We about lost our minds at the party store...the boys went nuts picking out candy, and party favors.  Parker discovered balloons in the store and was SCREAMING for them!  Cannon was oh so funny when he picked out some turquoise Mardi Gras beads that he had to have because they, "look good on me!"  (He has worn those beads almost ever since to school, Timothy's baseball games and any other time he is trying to "look good".)  Kim's purchases for the party made it extra special, from the party favor bags filled with candy and toys to the little mini crowns for all the ladies.  :)

The whole crew spent the night at our house.  We stayed up visiting until late into the night.  Morning came too soon, with Kim and Kellye having to rush off to the airport...not before we all enjoyed Texas waffles.  :)  Kristi and Brenda were able to stay a little longer, so I took them to my favorite thrift store in town where we snagged some super cute Easter decorations.  

We hope the gang can all come back soon and stay a little longer!  Here's to many more Happy Birthdays, Kellye!!!

The Birthday Meal

 We had brisket, potato salad, and cole slaw.  Yum!

The Birthday Cake

The cake was really cute!  Tamara, the wife of one of the coaches, made the cake and did an awesome job!

Kim and Kellye getting the table ready.

Happy Birthday to You!

The boys were front and center to sing the birthday song to Kellye.

Ryan just loves messing with Kellye!

Kellye is always such a good sport and sweet to the boys!

The boys helped Kellye blow out her candles.

Cannon and Boston hamming it up at the Kid's Table. 

Grandma (Brenda) sporting her crown.

Parker loved playing with Kristi.



Last Minute Valentine Mantle

I decided to do a little last minute Valentine's Day decorating last night.  I had the idea in my head for a few weeks, just didn't have the time to do it.  My inspiration was my Pawpaw's slide ruler (I salvaged from a junk pile at his house after his passing) that I shaped into a heart.  I hung it from my existing empty frames on the mantle.  I liked the "measuring" part and decided to continue the theme.  I made a sign that says, "You are loved beyond measure!" 

Happy Valentine's Day!  I am loved and love my sweet boys and husband.   Here is the rest of the mantle.

I really like the ruler in the shape of a heart.  I think I'm going to leave it that way year round.  Thanks pawpaw for it! 

I took my sewing tape measure and wrapped it around the sign to continue the theme.

The red feather boa was from Ryan's chicken costume.  :)  Reuse, reuse, reuse!

Look closely and you can see the "stems" for these hearts are rulers.  I took one and cut in half for the smaller two hearts and used one whole one for the big heart.  I placed them in Ball jars filled with buttons from my mom's old button box. 

Ryan made this Valentine for his family.  I love it!  It looks so nice displayed on the mantle.

Two of hearts...enough said.  I love this little red egg server w/hearts on it.

We are loved beyond measure by Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior! 

Charlotte's Web

Ryan had a school project to make a scene from Charlotte's Web.  They could use any material.  Of course, Ryan decided to make his out of Lego's!  I must say, it was AWESOME!  He did such a great job.  My crafty little heart was so proud of him.  He also made an ABC book with a Charlotte's Web theme out of lunch bags.  I helped him on this one.  He said his classmates loved it!  I just wanted to share some of the pictures of the Lego scene.  Great job, Ryan!

Ryan and the whole farm scene.

The Zuckerman's farm house.

The apple tree where Wilbur ran when he escaped.

The road by the farm, complete with Mr. Arable on a motorcycle.  There was a really neat tractor that Ryan made from scratch.

A farm hand cutting down a tree with an axe.  If you look closely, you can see that Ryan used a Lego piece that made it look like the tree had actually been chopped. 

The barn.  I love the way he did the roof and kept the back open so you could see all the things inside.

A clothes line, complete with a minitature shirt and pants.

Inside the barn:  a hay loft, horse stables, manure pile, Charlotte's Web hanging on the edge of the barn and Wilbur's pen beside the barn. 

Fern sitting beside Wilbur's pen.  Wilbur is looking up at Charlotte. 

Easy Valentine Treats

Last year, the boys and I made super easy Valentine treats for their teachers.  I'm always looking for inexpensive easy ideas, and this is definitely a keeper. 

We placed strawberry flavored marshmallows on lollipop sticks, dipped them in chocolate and added Valentine sprinkles for a cute, yummy teacher treat.  We wrapped them in clear cellophane bags, tied them w/ribbon, and added a paper heart. 

New Year's Eve

We celebrated New Year's Eve at home this year with the boys and Lillian and Timothy.  We had such a good time popping fireworks, eating hot dogs, making smores and talking by the firepit.  Thanks Lillian and Timothy for coming to our WILD & CRAZY party!  :)

Lillian and Cannon getting the clothes hangers ready for the hot dogs and marshmallow roasting.

The feast.  :)

Cannon helped get the smores ready.  Yum!

Parker chowing down on a chip.  He dressed up in his tie for the party.

Lillian, Timothy and Jaron, getting out of control!

Ryan and Cannon toasting their sparkling apple juice for New Year's.

The soon to be newlyweds.

Parker trying to wait out the new year.

Daddy and Parker by the fire.

Smores Time!

Daddy and the boys. 

Ryan and Cannon had a blast running around with thier sparklers.

Ryan with two sparklers at once...wild man.

Lillian's with her sparkler.  :)

Parker's first sparkler. 

Cannon gave a thumbs up to the New Year's celebration. 

It was chilly! 

The big daddy firework.  It got the neighbors cheering.  Totally illegal since we live in the city limits...

Boys big and small love fireworks.