Under the Sea with Mermaid Kayla

June 18th @ 10:30am the party began.  2 water slides, 18 adults, 22 kids, and 42 water balloons.  The party was a success. (besides the dolphin balloons floating off as soon as I tied them to the fence). 

It was really fun thinking of fun foods and different Under the Sea decorations…Fish and Chips, Salt Water Taffy, Seaweed Dip, Seaside Cupcakes w/ Sea Turtles and Jelly Fish, Sunken Hidden Treasure with goodies for all the kids and Soap Bags with Floating Fish.

Besides having two water slides and the pool, the kids also enjoyed a balloon popping game…girls versus boys. The kids raced to the chair to try and pop their water balloon. 

The slip and slide was the big hit.  The kids (and adults) had a blast slipping and sliding…

 

A great party with friends and family makes the hard work worth it all.  Hope you had a great birthday Kayla!

     

To my little mermaid…

Congratulation on your birthday!!! You’re now 5 years old but it was like only yesterday that you came out to this world and added so much joy and love to my life.  A day never goes by that I don’t give thanks to God for you and the joy you have brought to my life.  Yes there are days that we butt heads (maybe because we are so much alike…at least that is what Daddy says) but I know that we will always be close and you will always have a special place in my heart...my little mermaid. 

I’m very proud of you.  You are so smart, so generous and so loving.  You can always count on me to support and guide you along the way.

I thank God that you are a healthy and a happy little girl.  I love you and Happy 5th birthday “my little mermaid ” God bless you always.

With love,

Mommy

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A Wild Time at Safari Champ

One party down and one to go…For Christian’s third birthday, we had 19 wild little animals running around and enjoying a fun time at Safari Champ.   Christian had a great time.  The smile on his face when all the kids sang Happy Birthday to him was priceless.  The BIG kiss and hug and THANK YOU made all the work and long hours the night before all worth it.

The night before the party Barbara (Jon’s mother) and I stayed up until 2:30 making the alligator cupcake cake for the kids and the cake balls for the mothers.  They turned out great.  (Thank you Barbara.)

Christian was not real happy with my centerpieces.  He did not want his zebra and elephant lost.  I reassured him that they would be ok.

The kids enjoyed everything.  Thank you to all that attended and made Christian’s 3rd birthday very special.

     

Lions, Bears, and three crazy kids…oh my.

Last Wednesday, we loaded the car up and picked up a friend and her mother.  Off the five of us went to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas.  The three little monkeys enjoyed seeing all the wonderful animals.  Christian’s favorite animal was the squirrel monkey (not very surprising since he is my little monkey). Kayla’s favorite animal was the giraffe (if there would have been a zebra that would have been her favorite), and mine…the jaguar.  The zoo was the perfect size.  Took us a little over an hour and a half to see everything.  PERFECT (I don’t think I could have handled much more).  It was getting hot and the kids were getting tired, hungry and cranky.

 

    

Happy 3rd Birthday Christian!

To my little guy…

As I laid you down tonight, you told me that you were now a big boy.  You told me that you can now pick up your toys by yourself…big boys don’t need help.  I smiled, kissed you good night, and told you that you will always be my little boy.  Even when I am this big…even when you are that big.

Happy Birthday Christian!!!

I love you!!

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Dinosaur and Easter Day Fun

This Easter, we did not go crazy with six different Easter egg hunts.  Kayla did not only pick out the pink Easter eggs.  No, we had one Easter egg hunt at school, one with the Social Butterfly Group (our mommy’s group) and one on Easter day, which was nice (no throwing away tons of eggs and candy.)

Easter weekend, the kids and I drove down to Glen Rose to meet up with the Schneider cousins and venture to Dinosaur World.  What started off as a bad trip, ended in a great time.  We arrived to the hotel only to find that I left my credit card at home.  On top of that, I used my cash on hand to fill up my car (and it took almost all my cash, $97.00…ouch). My loving husband came to the rescue.  He paid for the hotel over the phone.  With three hours to spare until the cousins arrived, the kids and I were stuck.  No cash, means no going anywhere.  So, we went swimming and yes it was COLD!!! (but we had fun).

Once the rest of the Schneider clan arrived, I was given some cash (thank you Josh) and we went to Dinosaur World with the kids.  They had a blast.  Jonah and Kayla were gone, running as fast as they could seeing who could get to the next dinosaur the fastest.  Christian and Meredith lagged behind with Monda and I .

 

The next morning, Easter.  Unfortunately, we did not make it to church.  I was a bit disappointed but that is part of life and having family live far away.  As the kids slept the night before, I snuck into the bathroom to put together the Easter baskets.  The kids had a nice surprise when it was time to take a bath the next morning.  Once we were all dressed, the Schneider clan drove to Hico, Texas to spend Easter with Grandma and Mimi. 

 

Overall, a GREAT weekend (once I had cash in hand).  Family, the good food and seeing the smiles where just a few of the things that made the drive and being away from Jon worth it.

 

Sorry for all the pictures.  I think between Monda and I, we took over 600 photos.  WOW! and there were SO many good ones.