Lil' Monster Baby Shower

This was the cute little monster baby shower that we put on for my sister in-law.  It was so fun to put all the stuff together.  I was amazed at all the great ideas others had posted online so it was really easy to find inspiration.  

The fun banner I designed.  It matched the invites we sent around.

I was so happy with how that hat turned out! It was the first time I've made something without a pattern.

My mom is so talented.  Isn't that just the cutest blanket!?

Our monster cake pops.

I loved these little guys.  We tied a whole bunch of them together as another banner.

The party favors.

Showing off some of the gifts she got.  Notice the box under her arm...it was covered in the cutest monster fabric and is perfect for those cards and baby things you want to save!

Just a few of the guests.

Annual Christmas Party

We had our annual christmas party with several of our neighbors.  It is always full of great laughs and we are so grateful that so many came this year.  Turns out we could use a bigger house just for these get -togethers.  

This year the games included:  Tearing a piece of construction paper into a christmas tree in a minute.

Drawing a christmas scene without looking.

The Snowball Toss:  It was a relay where you had to catch a marshmallow in your mouth and then toss for the next person. I thought for sure the boys would cream us gals but turns out we held our own and came out the victors! 

Our last came was another relay which I can't remember the official name.  You had to unwrap a chocolate kiss with oven mits on your hands, and then feed it to the next person in line. The boys ended up winning but it was a close race.

For the best part of the evening, we opened our white elephant gifts! I am always amazed at the things people scrounge up.  For instance... this hat.  I wish I had a better picture of it. It was covered in all sorts of unusually things.

I believe this was unicorn poop or something.

Bethany was so worried that their was a snake inside the scroll.

I do believe it was another successful event.  Mostly because of the wonderful neighbors and friends we have.  We are truly lucky to live where we do!

Scone Sunday

We have truly been blessed with some amazingly good friends!  Every stake conference we get together for what is now called 'Scone Sunday'.  We fry up over a hundred scones and then spend the afternoon eating them.  Many times we have some pretty good laughs and this was no exception.  

Ward Christmas Party

This year for our ward party they'd planned a Night in Bethlehem.  It was so much work but it turned out to be really neat. They asked everyone to dress up so I snapped a quick picture on our way out the door of my two favorite people!

Halloween Party

This year for Halloween we didn't make it down to my parents for the big party.  So we decided to do a small one here.  We had Mitch's brother and family up for a crazy dinner and then played a few Halloween games.

After I gave up on this skeleton man, Mitch took over and made him look great!

For dinner, I set the table with some interesting plates, cup and utensils. That is how we then ate spaghetti and meatballs.  It was an idea I got from my aunt last year and I'm pretty sure we will continue the tradition every year for Halloween!

Notice the bone breadsticks I made.  They turned out pretty cute.

After dinner, we played the donut on the string game.  Turns out it was the first time for some of these people!

Then we played a game where you had to find the eyeballs in the spaghetti brains.

To finish the night we played Halloween bingo and all the kids left with a little pumpkin filled with treats and small toys which some would call trinkets.

The Fancy Soiree!

For Addy's fourth birthday party, we went with a Fancy Nancy theme.  She is super into these darling books right now so when I suggested we do a party with fancy nancy stuff, she was over-the-moon excited.  

This was the invitation we came up with.  We also added some glitter on the skirt and tiara and a little ribbon around the Y.  Then Addy took them around to all her friends.

 On the day of the party it was a little crazy trying to get everything set up in time.  In fact I was still in my jammy bottoms when the first little girl showed up.  Oh well.  

This was the "Posh Boutique" station.

The Ooh-la-la Beauty Salon.

You can never have too many accessorizes.

When all the girls arrived, we read the Fancy Nancy book.

Then they went to Charm School.  We practiced walking fancy while balancing books on our head and learned how to curtsy.   

Then we needed to look fancy so we went to the Ooh-la-la Beauty Salon where all the girls picked out a feather boa, star glasses and a ring. Then they got their nails done, glittery hair and fancy face or body paint.

Don't they look so fancy.

 I told them to strike a fancy pose.  Love it!

 Then they showed off their fancy moves in freeze dance.

 Even dad got into the action!

Next we played pin the crown on nancy.  This only took Mitch a couple hours to sketch the night before!  He even made Addy hang it on her door for a week after the party!

 About this time we had some hungry kids so we went inside for lunch.  I'd made pb&j sandwiches, chicken nuggets, fruit and cheese kabobs, and pink lemonade.  The sandwiches and cheese kabobs were fancy nancy style with frilly toothpicks.  I ran out of time or everything would've been fancy!  We did practice drinking with our pinkies up and those girls downed the lemonade.

It was so cute listening to these girls talk and laugh while they ate.

After lunch we went back outside to the Posh Boutique to decorate tiaras and make bracelets.  Can I just say how much I loved the dollar store while I was planning these activities.  They had everything I needed; the tiaras (which I ended up sewing two together and adding elastic), glitter glue, jewels, stickers, puff balls, and bracelet kits.  These girls loved making these things and so it took a lot longer than I was planning.

 Then we hurried and opened presents.  I loved how all the girls were so eager to give what they'd brought.

 Then we went back inside for ice cream parfaits (cause everything is fancier with sprinkles) and mini cupcakes.  It was really crazy so sadly I didn't get a picture with the parfaits just the cute cupcake after everyone had left.

I also forgot to have the girls take pictures with this cute frame after they'd accessorized. I totally needed someone to be on camera duty while the party was going on.   

Addy took this picture of us.  It was how I bribed her to be happy in the other pictures!

 It may have been slightly crazy and chaotic but this cute girl had so much fun that it made it all worth it!  

Happy Birthday Fancy Addy!