For The Man I Love...

Yesterday I threw a backyard bash for Joe's 31st birthday. Joe begged asked me to keep the crafty party decor to a minimum. He knows how much

I love to plan a party, but he is a no frills kind of guy. We celebrated in the back yard and grilled burgers and hot dogs. It was a perfect evening, with perfect weather!

I wanted it to be casual, relaxed & goody filled evening.

I will find any excuse to make decorated sugar cookies!

And who doesn't love oatmeal raisin & candy cookies?!?!

Popcorn Anyone???

The grill area

The "manly" party area. I rented tables and chairs from a local party rental place, it was awesome to have them all delivered and picked up, I love efficient service!

I used battery powered tea lights all over the tables.

I love flowers and think every occasion calls for them!

Corbin played with the ice in the drink bucket all night. (I put yellow duct tape on the drink cans so everyone could write their names on them...but it didn't work so well once they were wet...)

Devin & Eden

Corbin, Rhett & Devin...Some good lookin boys! ; )

The kids played on the swing set ALL EVENING! These are some good kids! They all played so well together, it warms my heart to watch them play.

Rhett & Corbin ate a few cookies...

Westin had to go and take a nap, parties are hard work.

I love their giggles!!!!

Time to eat!

A picture to prove there was more than kids at the party. The kids are so much more fun to take pictures of! : )

Sweet Gabriella & Gianna

What, you don't think it is fun to throw popcorn on the ground?

Happy Birthday My Love!

PaPi's arms are so cuddly

We attempted to get a group picture of some of the kids.

You know how that goes...

The lights that we strung over the yard gave off the perfect amount of light.

Devin & Evan saying goodbye and were working out their handshake

Joe, I hope you enjoyed the party. You are a man that doesn't care for the spotlight and don't like people to make a fuss over you...but sometimes you deserve to be fussed over. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone and you make me feel more loved than I have ever felt. You are my soul mate! I thank God for you everyday. I love that I see you every time I look at our boys! I love that you put me and the boys before everything and everyone else. I love you're strength, you're integrity, you are a faithful friend and partner, you don't let your pride cloud your judgement, you are an amazing example for our children...I am so incredibly proud to call you my husband. Happy 31st Birthday Love!

Party Girls!

This past Monday some girlfriends and I threw a small surprise party for a friend. Alycia and her family moved here from out of state last year and they are such a joy to be around!

So anywho...she totally tried to plan her own 80s themed birthday bash but we got a hold of her husband and took over that nonsense! Nobody is allowed to plan their own birthday party!

Do you think she was surprised?!?

Darla had her dinning room all decorated, made a yummy dinner AND baked a cake for the birthday girl!

Alycia's husband secretly packed a bag with her 80s getup and snuck it to our friend Ashlie. Alycia totally looked like something straight out of The Breakfast Club!!!
All of us girls
Happy Birthday Alycia!

We had such a good time and laughed so much! You girls bring so much joy to my life, love you bunches!

Baby Shower Gifts

I attended a girlfriends baby shower today and it was perfection! The hostesses did a fantastic job!

Of course I had to do something crafty for my gift...

So I made a ragamuffin garland...

I love the colors. The momma has decorated her little girl's room perfectly!

This might just be the cutest picture frame ever!

And lastly...the step stool

I

ADORE

THIS

STOOL!!!

I hope everything goes perfectly in sweet little Kinley's room! Congratulations Darla & Jody!

Chipmunk Date

This evening me and a girlfriend, Ashlie, took our kiddos to see "The Chipmunks". Devin has been BEGGING us to buy him a "chipmunk ticket" for weeks!!! I made the mistake of telling him about it yesterday morning and all day yesterday he kept asking when we were leaving for the "movie screen"...

I snapped a quick picture of Devin and Natalie during the previews... I had to capture a picture of Devin's first date. ; )

They were both very interested in the credits at the end of the movie...
Seriously, how cute is my big boy?!?!?!?!?!

This sweet smile makes my heart melt!!

Natalie is such a cutie pie!!!

Devin and Natalie holdin hands... How sweet are they?!?

The kids were AWESOME the entire movie and I look forward to Natalie and Devin's next, chaperoned, date!

Winter Fun

A local business has an ice show every year and we finally went to see it this year. I have always wanted to go but never got around to it. (Thanks to some friends for inviting us) Now this isn't just an "ice" exhibit it is ROOMS constructed and carved out of ice. it is amazing! The theme was "The Grinch Stole Christmas", I really think Joe and I were more in awe of it than the boys were. Here are, more than, a few pictures of our fun evening. They provided parkas for everyone to wear, it was 9 degrees in there!

Here is Corbin and Natalie, I couldn't get enough of Corbin in his parka! He looked like ET walking around in it!



Here is Aaron, Ashlie and Natalie (and baby Hawkins)

Devin wasn't very happy about having to hold still for a picture...

Seriously, how cute is he?!?!

The "Whos" in their bed

Everything is made of ice. It was so neat!

At the end was a GIGANTIC nativity scene sculpted from ice. It was beautiful!

Devin was showing Natalie the talking dog in the gift shop

After the ice exhibit we walked around to see all the Christmas decorations...

the boys LOVE trains!

Devin would not stop talking for pictures... I have no idea where he gets that from? ; )

The "cookie" house

Devin and Natalie looking at the trains

Natalie and Devin throwing their pennies in the pond and making a wish

my sweet boys....

We had such a good time and enjoyed our time with wonderful friends!