Race Car Party

It started with an invitation

We planned the party for Saturday, not realizing that it was General Conference.  But since Conference doesn't start until noon, we thought having 3 yr. olds run and run all morning might not be a bad idea.

Here's what we put in our gift bags.  I looked everywhere for checkered flags, but in the end I made them out of a shower curtain, some black paint, and a straw.  We also put a pair of racing goggles in them, too.

Racing goggles

I made them out of card stock.  It held up really well.

We set up outside.  This sign was supposed to be on our table, but slanted yards and cups full of rocks don't mix.  

Our "Pit Stop" table.  We had gas and tires for everyone.  (And presents for The Captain.  It's Christmas all year round at our friend's house ;) )

a close up of the tires.  They are just mini doughnuts and white frosting. 

When our friends came, it was time for Red Light, Green Light.  

Then we pulled out the race cars and goggles.  Safety first. 

Look who's in the lead.

Time for a pit stop.

Then back to racing. 

Then it was time for cake.  

Here's The Captain not blowing out his candles.

Everyone enjoyed the yummy Funfetti cake and ice cream.  For the curious, the black streaks came from licking the frosting off the race car and wiping it off with his arm. 

Then we opened presents. 

By the end, even the very shyest of the little boys was ready to run around and play Red Light, Green Light. Though he still didn't want to wear a race car.  

I call that a success!  I guess it's time to start planning for next year . . . 

3 Years Old

Look who's 3!

I documented the day, so here we go . . .

I asked him what he wanted for breakfast.  He said chocolate chip pancakes.  I think it was a "duh Mom" moment.  First of many, I'm sure.

He was very upset that I took a picture of him eating his pancakes.  In fact, I have a picture on my computer of his "no pictures" face.

He got calls from his 1 2 Grandmas.

We skipped,

and jumped

to the Farmer's Market, where The Captain's friend gave him a special treat, an apple and two bananas.

After lunch and a nap we went to the park.  A new park The Captain wanted to play at the other day, but couldn't.  

There are slides,

and tire tunnels,

and tire swings.

Lots of fun.  Then we picked up Daddy at work and went out to dinner.  The day before, I asked The Captain a series of probing questions (Do you want to go out to eat with just Mommy and Daddy, or with the Baby, too? "Baby too".  Do you want to take a little drive, or eat somewhere close? "Little drive". Do you want to eat Mexican or Italian [that took some explaining]? "Pasta!") and we determined we'd go to Sal's Restaurant.  It was the perfect place.  They were extremely toddler friendly.  They had two different activity paper mats.  They asked if we wanted his food out first.  They gave The Captain a scrap of pizza dough to play with, then they baked it for some special bread for him. 

They had Mickey Mouse ravioli. 

And all that wasn't even for his birthday, just par for the course.  They didn't sing Happy Birthday, but they did have some delicious chocolate cake that we all shared.  

When we got home, we opened presents.  That was a mistake because it was really late, and it was impossible to convince him to stop playing and go to sleep.  And Johnny was off Home Teaching, so I had to tackle that problem on my own.  Needless to say, it was a long, sugar-filled day, but very special.

Time Travel

I haven't posted for awhile because we've been so busy around here.  Time traveling, of course.  

For our Relief Society founding celebration this year (170 yrs. Woohoo! Biggest and oldest women's organization in the world!) our Presidency put together a little skit from the book Daughters in my Kingdom, a history of the Relief Society.  Due to illness of either me or the kiddos, I have only been to church 3 times in the last 8 weeks, but the Sunday before this event was one of those rare times.  I had scarcely sat down in RS when a counselor in the presidency came over and asked if she could talk to me.  She sat down next to me and we had the following conversation:

Her: "Here's your part for Thursday."
Me: "What's on Thursday?"
Her: "Oh yeah, I was supposed to call you.  It's our Relief Society Birthday party."
Me: "Okay.  What am I supposed to do?"
Her: "We're going to have people read some stories from our history. Yours is from WWII.  Oh, and could you dress up, you know, in pedicoats or something?"
Me: "Sure, so you want me to dress up from the 40's?"
Her: "Yeah, don't you have something in your closet?"
Me: "Um, sure. What time is this going to be again?"

I'm glad I was able to get to church that week.  In the presidency's defense, they do know I have a bunch of vintage-inspired dresses in my wardrobe.  So as soon as we got home and got in the house (we were locked out for awhile), I went to the internet to find out how to do 40's hair.  Then I practiced, both hair and makeup.

It ended up looking better the night of because I parted my hair a little more on the side.  I actually got TONS of comments from the ladies at the activity, but I didn't take any pictures.  Apparently I was born too late, or I need to wear my hair like that more often.  Not sure which.

Then, a week (and a day) later, a small group from the ward got together to have a Regency Ball.  We were inspired by a friend of mine who put together what is now an annual Yule Ball at BYU-Idaho.  We also tried to have a Yule Ball, which turned into a New Year's Ball, which turned into a Spring Ball.  Due to the plant shut down in January, we felt March would be the safest date.  Ironically, the plant almost shut down again on our designated night.  But everyone made it.  I did not have to spearhead this activity, thankfully, but I was in charge of dancing.  We had 6 couples there, which was ideal.  And after some speedy internet research (again), I am now an amateur expert at English Country Dancing.

We had a great time at the party, but Johnny and I have been spoiled when it comes to fancy dinner parties. My co-worker in college through dinner party/play readings once or twice a semester for a year and a half.  We would all dress up, have a delicious potluck dinner, and then cold read a play.  Not only were they excellently organized and executed, but they beefed up my acting/auditioning skills.  In fact, I was at one of these parties when I found out that I got my dream roll in Singing in the Rain, thanks to my highly developed cold reading skills (and lots of repetitious watching of the movie growing up).

Our dinner spread.  By candlelight, of course.

The drawing room hor d'overs.  

Johnny playing dominos.

Another of the gentlemen.

 I totally thought this couple looked like Joseph & Emma.  Which is not far off from the time period we were going for and had more to do with their faces than any inaccuracy in wardrobe.  I thought they were both stylishly and appropriately Regency attired.

Another couple

And another

  Some of the great Regency hairstyles.

My hairstyle.  I enjoyed running around town in sponge curlers.  Haven't done that since high school.  I got some strange looks at the library.  

This is the most manly of men.  I just caught him in a rare Scarlet Pimpernel moment.  He threatened my life with multiple guns (which he owns) if I posted any pictures of him on the internet.  I don't know that this blog counts and he has no idea I have this.  

Despite appearances, dinner was very amusing.

The ladies, except one who already left.

Sadly I didn't get any pictures or videos of the actual dancing.  It would have been great, and probably comical, but I'm just happy we got to dance at all.  There were several problems with the execution of this party and by the time we got done with dinner, most of the 19 children there (in another room) were done.  So we danced on the stage while the children ran a muck in the gym.  Not ideal, but still a good time.

Yes, my baby is just sitting alone in the middle of all the chaos.

Kiss Me, It's Spring

We didn't do much for St. Patrick's Day except wear green and eat a potato-themed breakfast.  Johnny was gone for paintball all day, and I think Leprechauns might be a little too much magic for one little boy for one year.

We did take a bunch of pictures of things that remind us of Spring.  So here's our favorites:

 

Daffodils!

Bulbs

Flowering bushes

Popcorn popping on our neighbor's tree

Buds on branches

Multi-colored trees

Easter bushes

Robins, of course

Bare feet

 

Hanging laundry 

Even though we may still need the sweatshirts and tights, it's nice to dry them outside.

 

Sun hats & short sleeves

 

Awesome FHE

We've been working on some other projects in our family.  We're always looking for expansions.  And we today we got a fun package in the mail.

Luckily, I was sick today so I had no other plans for Family Home Evening.

why hello "one of those days"

I started this post back in October, to remember a particularly challenging day.  Little problems like feeding everyone, going to the bathroom, laundry, and generally taking care of things get compounded with two children.  But since this post in October, "days like this" seem to be par for the course around here.  I think the Mayans and Hollywood had might have gotten 2012 right, at least as far as my personal life is concerned.  I think I've given up about 72 times already, and there have only been 66 days so far this year.

Not every day is an epic disaster movie.  There have been wonderful days scattered in between, and some notable small victories.  I took this picture for my photography class and I call it Hope because it captures this year for me.  Somehow through all the challenges and conspiring twists of fate, I manage to hold on.  And in the middle of the storms, hope is surprisingly still there.

Hope

March Wreath

Well, thanks to coughs, sniffles, and fevers, I've been stuck in the house for a week.  This meant no company for my wreath-making.  Okay, no Adult company for my wreath-making.  So I have no pics of everyone else's projects.  Okay, I'll steal one from another blog.

I do have this lovely picture for inspiration:

And this link for an excellent tutorial.   diy-yarn-wreath-with-felt-flowers 

Which makes this blog post moot, but I'll do it anyway.  Just in case you are allergic to linking.

Supplies:

• Wreath.  The tutorial recommended a straw wreath (10"), which is the cheapest wreath at around $3 @ Michaels.  They were, of course, out of stock when I went to buy one, so I got a 12" half circle foam wreath. ($5) For my purposes it was great because it allowed me to get such perfect stripes out of my variegated yarn. 
• Yarn.  Mine was free leftovers from someone else's afghans.  
• Felt.  Surprisingly little is needed.  8" squares would be plenty.  I used scraps basically.
• Ribbon.  $1 @ Michaels.  

Total

$6 or less

Supplies

 First you wrap the yarn around the wreath.  I was careful with my stripes, but as you can see from the other 1/3, messy is still beautiful.

Speaking of beautiful, I had my lovely model show how light the wreath ends up, while still being sturdy.

So easy a baby can do it!

 Next, you make whatever embellishments you want from felt.  I used the flower tutorial above for the flowers and then made up the clovers.  I added buttons because, well I do things like that.  I'm like the Bob Ross of wreath making, apparently.

Fun with felt

 Then you find a bow tutorial you like (I usually go to the Better Homes & Garden website) and make a bow.

Last, glue everything on the wreath.  Wrap a ribbon around to hang, and enjoy!

Voila

And my stolen picture:

Out Bob Ross-ed by paper flowers? 

 Happy March, everyone!