A PINKALICIOUS birthday party

Ok, now all who know me know how much of a planner I am. I have to plan things SEVERAL weeks in advance and continually work through my list before the big day, perfecting and minimizing. I could not have been happier with the outcome of this almost month worth of planning party. Having children gives me the ultimate excuse to decorate, coordinate, and plan a party. 

For all 3 of my kids, I don't really ask them what they want to do for their birthday as far as a party goes. I like to surprise them. (It's worth the look on their face. I promise!) So when it came time for Jackie's birthday, I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited. She's a girl after my own heart. Literally, she wants to be me. There's nothing more humbling in the world then having a little girl look up to you and copy your every move.

Beginning this planning a 5 year old's pinkalicious birthday party adventure, I had to come up with a budget. In this family, the budget is always ZERO. We're a large family with one parent working, so the budget is always small. But I was realistic and set the budget at $50.

This is what our party's theme was based on... Pinkalicous. AKA Jackie's favorite book. It's almost like the book was written thinking of her. If you haven't read it, DO SO!

I already knew that the house had to be decked out in pink. That was a given and that was the easy part. The hard part? FINDING PINK FOOD. Who would've thought?

Decorating: streamers, 24 balloons, table cloth and 2 pinkalicious posters (handmade). TOTAL= $5.00

 

I was very pleased with the amount of pink. I didn't think it was going to be enough, but it truly truly was. The balloons in the dining room under the light turned the whole room pink. Next was the food...

Food: Heart shaped PB&J's, pink rice krispies, fruity pebble rice krispies, pink chocolate drizzled strawberries, pink white chocolate pretzel rods, pink animal cookies, strawberry marshmallows, strawberry malt balls, strawberry/banana skewers, taco dip/chips (not pictured), lemon pepper/buffalo wings (not pictured), strawberry soda, fruit punch, hawaiian punch minis with fun jackie facts, cucumbers and broccoli with pink ranch dip (green food in case of acute pinkatitus) and PINKALICIOUS cupcakes. TOTAL: $40.00

 

 

Next comes the games. Lee and I are obsessed with Minute to Win it so we figured we would play as many child friendly minute to win it games as possible. 
The list of games included: 
     1. Pin the cherry on the cupcake
     2. Face the Cookie (put a cookie on your forehead and without using your hands, get the cookie in your mouth)
     3. Cup Stackers (stack cups on top of each other and unstack them without all of them falling)
     4. Bouncers (bounce the bouncy ball into the cup)
     5. Blow Straw (use the straw to blow the ball across the finish line)
     6. Marshmallow Head (throw marshmallows into your partners bucket on top of their head)
     7. Jackie's Favorite Things (a quick quiz to see who knows Jackie the best.

The final game was supposed to be to turn JACKIE into a pink mummy, but she chickened out at the end so of course Ayden stepped up and helped her out. I told him to give me a scared face... yup, that's scared lol.

The party turned out to be a huge hit with the kids because at the end of the day, that's who it's all about. The adults can sit back and watch as long as the children are having a blast. The only bad thing about having an awesome birthday party is... how the heck am I going to outdo myself for the next party?

The Flu, Cheddar and Insomnia

It has been far too long since I've last posted. Things around this abode have been kinda nuts. (Like it isn't every other day of the year) The flu finally caught our family, thanks to my butthead of a brother, Eric. It hit us like none other. It started with me... a little sore throat, mild cough, a few stabs from Lee telling me that I was overreacting and that I wasn't really sick. The next day, Lee starts coughing and he tells me he thinks he's getting sick.

OH REALLY NOW? Look who's being over dramatic now!!

On the plus side, Lee spend 3 painfully sick days at home with me. We bonded over tissues and the ID channel. We took turns getting up for more hot beverages or refills on soup. The dinners for the children consisted of whatever took the least amount of time out of covers. (Sorry kids!) But cuddling on the couch together for 3 days was pretty fantastic. 

Aside from being sick and not keeping up with my blog, we also adopted a cat. Let me make one thing clear, WE ARE NOT A CRAZY CAT FAMILY! ....well maybe we are. But Lee and I are the same when it comes to animals, we can't say no. It's just not possible. Especially to a cat who needs a loving home. This cat was his sister Logan's. She moved back into her parents and the cat had to stay outside. He wasn't allowed in because of the dog and the other cats. He liked outside so it didn't seem like a big deal. But every time we all went to Lee's parents house, we would see this little furball outside begging for attention. It was so hard not to spend the entire time we visited outside cuddling this cat. I made the joke that we should take him home with us so we can give him the love and attention he deserves. As soon as those words came out, Lee's eyes meet mine and the decision is made. We will be taking this cat home with us.

Here he is... Cheddar. :)

Isn't he the cutest thing you ever did see? :) and he's so playful and cuddly and sweet and he MEOWS SO DAMN LOUD for wet food. OMG!!! It's like this cat never had canned food in his life. Best thing since tuna.

I blame his cuteness for my insomnia these days. He comes up to my face in the middle of the night and meows as loud as he can. Plus, we sit on the cough and cuddle, while watching Family Feud. (which we're doing right now at 2:21am) These days, I just can't sleep. Partially because of my completely stuffed nose from the flu and partially because I've slept so much over the past couple days that I just can't sleep anymore. Remember those days back when you were in your teens when you could go to sleep at midnight and not wake up until 4 in the afternoon? Yeah... those days are long gone.

Survey SAYS: ... I should really try to go to sleep...

Finally back in the Groove

Oh.My.GOODNESS! Christmas/New Years is now the MOST stressful time of year in our house. We are all running around with our heads cut off to make sure that we make it to everywhere we need to be and spend as much time with both of our families as we can. And then, after all that running around, we have to wait almost a week before the kids go back to school. (which can't come soon enough.)

But aside from all of that, Christmas is STILL my favorite time of year. Here are some highlights from our Christmas vacation...
  

Getting ready to go to Maryland for Christmas Eve

 

Cousins :)

 

 Opening presents at Grandma and Grandpa's (Maryland)

 Lee admiring his mom's Christmas present

Christmas morning at our house

Jackie excited for her Zebra blanket

Ayden super excited to open his present from the Barnes' family

Christian looking tired but ready to open some presents!

Our annual Christmas picture at my mom's. 

Me and my mom

 The boys getting so impatient for Andy's immaculate meal. (This picture cracks me up sooooooo much. boys... lol)

Jackie loves herself some Tyler.