Bug's Bee - Day

We used to call our daughter 'bug' when she was little.  This year she decided to resurrect the nick name... For her birthday she decided she wanted a bumblebee themed party. It was quite wild and crazy...and fun.
We started out with all of the girls decorating goody bags with their names.  Then sent them outside to collect their 'sugar'.  The candy fairy (aka my husband) had liberally sprinkled the yard with candy - including bit o honeys.

Once they collected their candy, they came in and we got to business.

I ordered sheets of beeswax and wicks, and so the girls each got a sheet and got to try their hand at making a beeswax candle - which was pretty cool, and a little trickier than we'd imagined since it was basically just rolling the wick.

After they finished that project, they got to make bottle cap necklaces, with cute little bumblebee images in the centers.  I spent the day yesterday prepping them - painting them, and putting holds and jewelry findings in each one for the chain/cord.

We headed to the games, and enjoyed 'stinger' - the girls had to sit on a balloon and pop it.  I know, it sounds lame, but they had fun.  We then played 'Buzz little Bee' - a take off of 'Grunt, Piggy Grunt'.  They had a great time sitting on each other, and trying to buzz instead of laughing their heads off.

Who knew, but the game 'Spots' was the coup d'etat?  I told them their spots were bee stings, and we started the clapping, snapping and chanting "I've got no spots, how many spots has Sally got?"  They enjoyed it, but then it was time for something else.  Before we could get there though, the kids were all lined up, demanding more spots.  We got more and more extreme.  Then, I just handed the markers over, and they headed to the bathroom and went to town.  We had goatees, side burns, uni-brows, indian princesses, football players, measles, and even a little campfire face.  They went CRAZY.  And LOVED it.  Golly - wish I'd planned that one!  Thank heavens for washable markers.

Finished up with cake, ice cream and presents.

(I'm once again sorry about the sideways bit.  My photo software is causing me anxiety right now...grrrr)

Birthday, Birthday!

We just celebrated our daughter's birthday. Here are her morning pictures:

I think the grandmas collaborated on getting her clothes. A shirt, a jacket, and a dress. Hmmmm.

She's turned into a jewelry girl. She was so excited about this necklace and earrings she'd been eyeing in Moab that we sneakily got her.

While little sister was out of school and sick for 6 days a couple of weeks ago, once she finally started feeling better, she wanted to make a pillow for her sister's birthday. She insisted on it, and there was no getting around it. We still have a few last stitches to finish up, but they both loved it - both giving and receiving!

Here's the obligatory on the birthday birthday cake and candles - apparently we are doing two cakes this year.

An aunt and uncle and cousins came all the way from Maryland and stopped in on their way through - even though it added a couple of hours to their trip. We were so happy to see them and have dinner with them.
Our aunt and uncle and cute cousins - Thanks so much for stopping by!

April Fool's

Last year I decided to be creative with our April Fool's Day dinner and I made cupcakes from meatloaf with mashed potato frosting.  For dessert, I place a slice of cake on a plate, covered it with frosting noodles (using a piping tip), covered it with blended strawberries, and made chocolate no-bake cookie meatballs. 

So, last week we were driving in the car and I heard my kids telling their friends about how cool our traditional April Fool's Day dinner is.  I didn't know it was a tradition, but here's a photo of this year's dinner.  This year we used lemon cake (the angel food cake was nasty last year with butter cream frosting) 

My older daughter was so funny, she said "wow, I'm glad we only have meatloaf twice a year!"  I asked her what she was talking about, and she said that we always make our 'bloody stump' feet meatloaf for Halloween.  She's pretty quick...I do plan on that one as a tradition.  So, I guess by her accounts, we have meatloaf about every six months!  

I had spent the entire day on Thursday baking for a friend's daughter's wedding reception.  Then I spent the entire day on Friday helping decorate for the reception.  I was supposed to have a group lesson, and a private lesson and just didn't know how I was going to get to dinner.  

As it turned out, my student was sick, and so were several of my other students, and no one could come so suddenly my evening opened up - guess it was April fools on me!  

Our greatest April Fool's joke was on our neighbor.  Over 2 years ago, our kids were playing near the park and saw something yellow flapping in the wind in the nearby ditch.  Upon investigation, they found a HUGE roll of CAUTION tape.  Well, we've been saving it.  Last year it was rainy and cold and so even though we'd been planning a joke on the neighbors, we didn't do it.  This year however, was sunny and beautiful.  

My kids wrapped the neighbor's house with this caution tape - twice around while they weren't home.  I really should grow up and get mature, but I giggled all afternoon - every time I looked out the window.  I just happened to be cooking dinner when they got home and I got to watch them as they drove up.  The good side is that I can deny everything because the kids did it.  The bad thing is that they are plotting revenge.  

  

Otitus Media

Yeah - say WHAT?? This little pumpkin took us on a trip to the urgent care facility yesterday. We thought we were just getting a quick strep test, but ended up with an inner ear infection (aka otitus media). Unfortunately, she's allergic to pretty much every antibiotic that we could have used on her. So....she's been hanging out with me. She's become my movie buddy. Yep...watching movies all day with my girl. At least I made her shower today. We've also been holding a cooked onion up to her ear and steaming it. (Don't barf Liz). I've heard that it works...and it seems to make her feel better. Who knew? 

This guy wasn't feeling too hot either

Somehow they actually got the cross eyed version of this picture.  Boy were we bored.  2.5 hours of hanging out in a little room with baby poop colored walls

Good thing I had my kindle.  At least she didn't mind the wait. 

uh...we were REALLY bored.  Unfortunately, I can't find the photo of my husband with his Dr. Office "Balloon".  He seems to think that volleyball with a "balloon" is acceptable Dr. Office behavior.  

Arches

One of our favorite places on earth is Arches National Park. Really - I don't know what it is about that red sand and the beautiful rock monuments, but love it we do. Every year my husband likes to participate in the Moab half marathon. We try to get there a day or two early so that we can really enjoy the area. Here are some photos from our latest visit. Here we walked through some fins to get to our favorite Sandstone Arch

Climbing around the Arch

Playing in the sand around Sand Dune Arch. Alas - no full body burials today.

Exploring beyond the arch

My cute guy \

Sand sifting

Just hanging out

On our way to the Pine tree arch (another favorite), there's a little jetty that the kids LOVE to hike up and run as fast as they can back down. The girls couldn't remember where this was exactly, but were adamant that we visit it again.

The bunny

Pine Tree Arch. This is my all time favorite. I probably have 5 pictures here on my blog from it. One from each year most likely. For some reason this arch area always feels SO peaceful to me. I wonder if the area was a sacred place anciently. Love this one.

Family photo at the Pine Tree Arch

Outside of the Sand Dune Arch

Don't ASK!

My husband is a runner. Every year (unless he has an injury like last year) he puts in for the lottery for Moab's half marathon race.
Yes folks, that's 13.1 miles.

The girls and I like to go and cheer him on, and we love to hike around in Arches, and....this year my girls discovered shopping.

We found the coolest shop with all kinds of cool sun-catcher type trinkets.




The door was locked.

We went to the store next door and saw the sign. 

Love it! I wish life was always so easy. 

Sunday afternoon Daddy daughter bonding

As I walked past these two as they were playing together last Sunday afternoon, I had to go grab my camera. It was a pretty cool sight to see them playing together.

Frosting Roses

My girls and I spent some time this morning watching different tutorials on cake frosting. I bought a tip set last week, and we decided to spend our day test driving all of the new tips to see what they could do. My girls said it was the best day they've had in a long time. Our oldest daughter realized that she REALLY LOVES cake decorating. It was a very fun day.

We started out with frosting roses. Everyone in the family made at least one (even dad), and they all turned out really well.
Here's our spring - time rose cake. Believe it or not, we still have more roses that we didn't get on the cake! I have no idea how we are going to cut this baby, but it was really fun to put together.

Crazy cupcakes!

Our daughter decided to do some crazy snowman like tower cupcakes. They were REALLY creative.

Here's one our older daughter did from a tutorial we watched this morning

Creative cupcakes

Here are a few more creations we enjoyed coming up with.
You may note the buttercream rose - that was a different experience from the Royal Frosting Roses



A flower we found a tutorial for this morning

Sunflower cupcakes with ladybugs

Small butter cream roses our daughter made on a basket weave

Glass Of Moooooo

So uh, we have a rock star performer in our home. 

Here's his latest hit.  Just you watch - it will be at the top of the charts within the week.