Delayed Birthday Pampering

Miss M's birthday is smack in the middle of the mayhem of May, meaning that we were a little delayed in having her birthday celebration this year.  We decided for twelve to go big but small.  She chose a day of pampering at the Spa with a girlfriend.  It was perfect.

Miss M and her friend had a sleepover after a dance company meeting and practice (it's recital week).  We then had Panera Bagels and cream cheese for breakfast followed by a trip to Charming Charlies to "shop and explore."  Miss M's friend had not been to this mecca of all things bling before so it was treat for M to show her the ropes. Of course, they left with bling for their hair and their ankles.

Mr C not wanting to do anything with a spa package choose to play golf, but Miss A was in for the pampering.  I love how both Miss A and Miss M get a little giggly when the are getting their pedicures. Guess they are a little on the ticklish side.  The girls thought this new spa was just classy enough and the chairs just divine enough for massage and relaxation.  What are we getting ourselves into!

It was the perfect way to celebrate this last year of childhood; pampering like a princess complete with polka dots and zebra stripes toes.  Thankfully, we remembered before the event that no nail polish can be visible on recital night which meant that toes are safe as they are in tights and shoes!  The joy of girls is that pampering is always in style!

Scenes from Summer's Start



Poor Mr C is too tall to fit under the monkey bars anyway, his feet drag on the ground. Sisters to the rescue to help!  Book sale to get us started and Food Truck Fries and happy shopping girls.

If I'm honest, I would say that summer is just as busy as the rest of the year.  The only difference is no homework, no school events and an occasional opportunity to sleep past six a.m.  Of course, those days are numbered as Mr C starts drivers' ed next week at 7:30.  What was I thinking?

However, I am loving the chance to read a few books, watch jungle gym races in the backyard, and witness my kids just soak up all that it means to be a kid in summer.  We've already had the chance to experience the farmer's market once this year already and, while we left with just a few tomatoes, the thrill was that a real Food Truck was on site.  After watching the Food Channels Food Truck Race for years, it was exciting to order fries from the sidewalk! 

We plan on making our Summer Bucket List this week.  While I have a little list running in my head of projects I'd like to see us do either as a family or on my own, I know that summer is all about just kicking back and going with the flow.  Not always an easy task for someone who has a daily "to do list" running on paper and in my mind. 

Of course, I'm already dreaming of our vacation later this summer to Colorado, but don't want to wish away the days between. We've got summer camps, golf lessons, swimming and of course rest to do first.  We'll have fun, fun, fun till we can't anymore!



Crafting: Giving New Life to Old

A few years ago for Mother's Day my husband and kids gave me these adorable boy and girl plant holders. For years, they have sat on my front porch holding little vincas or geraniums that normally die long before the Fourth of July.  In the fall, I put away the planters and decided I would either sell them in a garage sale or give them to Goodwill. They were looking a little faded, old, and weathered and not what I wanted anymore.

As I was planting flowers last week, I came across them and decided it was time to donate them. I asked P to load them in the van so I could swing them by in the morning.  In a stroke of genius, he asked why I just wasn't going to paint them and turn trash into treasure.

I knew all that time watching HGTV with me was paying off!  A little spray paint, some acrylic paint for the hat and flower and in about 15 minutes, it was new life!  I used Rust-Oleum American Accents Satin Metallic spray paint in Aged Copper that I found at Lowes' for about $6.00. Way cheaper than new planters. 

The actual painting process was so easy and no prep work required.  All I did was lay out some newspaper on the deck and go crazy spraying.  I then used some craft acrylic paints to paint the girls' flower and the boy's hat.  Super easy and the whole process took less than an hour including drying time and a second coat. 

If I do say so myself, I think they look even better than when they were brand new.  Now, if I can just remember to water the plants, I might have living plants making my porch pretty all summer long!

Freshman Year Finished

Since Mr.C's school didn't get out until the 23rd of May, it meant that we had a long weekend to keep quiet and out of his hair while he studied for finals. Poor guy, he had three really tough finals all on the same day; Biology, Spanish and Algebra II.  Let's just say that by Monday night, he was ready for summer!

I kid you not; this seems to be the faster year ever. I swear it was just yesterday that we were attending the Family Picnic and meeting other families and kids.  Not only has it been a growing year academically for Mr C, it's been a "growing year" for him personally.  He's grown almost six inches this year and outgrown more clothes than you can imagine.  I'll let the pictures tell the story.  Pictures under the arch on the last day of school May 2012 vs Sunday before school starts August 2011.  Same kid! Amazing!

                                   First and Last Day of Freshman Year: First Day of Kindergarten too!

When he told me on Sunday at church that his size 11 shoes are getting a little tight I told him "tough bounce, go shoeless until fall."  Well, maybe I'll buy him some Old Navy Flip Flops!  Good thing he's willing to wear the same clothes day after day and is not the fashion plate his sisters try to be. We'd be broke.

Freshman year has been a great experience for Mr C and our family. Now I'm just praying that this is the slowest summer in history.  We've got to savor the moments.  We've only got a few years left with him in our house!  Not even gonna go there in my mind.

Summer here we come!

Last Day of School: Take One

Friday was the final day of school for the girls.  Poor Miss M!  Now that she's "alone" at the junior high (with the 7:40 a.m. start time), we didn't get to go out for donuts first.  The past few years we've had a small crew with Mr C and Miss M along with a few friends, but this year most of the Jr High crew wanted to sleep in. Plus, Mr C had to be at school at 7:45 and dad was the driver so it just didn't give us enough time.  I've promised M that we will have a donut day for M and C early this summer!

Miss A, after a super hectic week, slept until almost eight, meaning we rushed to our Donut Date with friends from school. Thankfully, she had picked out her clothes the night before and I'd already made her lunch.  No way was she eating chef surprise!

It was a great morning; traditional picture on the porch and backpack picture on the wall.  Miss A was most thrilled that it would be her final day wearing the backpack (according to our two year rule-she gets a new one this fall).  Gotta love how she remembers the "rules."  Now, we just have to convince her get the Eddie Bauer Lifetime Backpack that we never have to replace.  Somehow, I think she's thinking more cartoon or girly girl design!

Miss A was a little sad to say goodbye to her first grade teacher and buddies and so were her parents.  Thankfully, Miss A was invited to a fun Bounce House Party after school so for Miss A the fun continued into the evening and her parents and Miss M got to party too!

It's almost summer for our family!  Poor Mr C had a long weekend of studying for finals ahead.

 Miss M at Honors Night.  A 4.0 is something to celebrate!  We are so proud of this young lady. Of course, Miss A had to be a part of the picture.

In Which I Call Uncle!

I'll admit it the month of May has kicked my behind.  Life has been running at super sonic speed and there have been days that my "to do list" looked more like a generals' war plan for an entire army.  Between three kids, three schools, five sports, plus end of the school year recitals, programs, field trips and just life I've been overwhelmed.

My camera card is filled with precious memories of bridging ceremonies, end of the season golf parties and so much more. My heart is filled with even more from birthday celebrations for Miss M to garden plotting, planting and teacher gift making.

It's almost over. Two of the three have finished school and Mr C is almost done. Three Finals today meant homemade donuts and iced coffee.  After studying all weekend, he deserved the extra touches!  I hope by the end of the May to have gone back and filled in the details of life for the blog, so that these precious memories aren't lost forever.

I told my husband that my only regret this school year is that my scrapbooks are still behind.  Thus, I'll have to "predate" the blog entries so in the next few days  you might have to scroll back to older posts to find out what really happened. That way  when I finally get around to making my 2012 scrapbooks I can remember the order of events! 

For now I'm off to do some laundry, start working on our summer "bucket list" and cleaning out some girl closets so that we can finally see the summer clothes. 

Happy Monday!

Teacher Gift Ideas for End of the Year

I stole these great teacher gift ideas from Pinterest including the cute printables for the tags.  I loved the idea that Miss A's teacher had quenched her thirst for knowledge this year!  While the gifts inside didn't completly match the idea given on the site, I did include a gift card to a local coffee shop.  Of course, I also included my famous caramels.

The carmels have taken on their own life at the school.  My favorite secretary at the school (read the "one who knows all") might have handed me a little tin last week and said how sad she was that it was empty. I'd filled it back in December with caramels and she was hoping I was making some more for the end of school.  How could I refuse?

Sadly, I had meant to make the carmels leisurely over the weekend, but let time get away from me.  When I got to school on Monday to volunteer for Field Day, I've never seen a sadder face, poor Mrs C had been dreaming all week of the treat.  Of course, I couldn't let her suffer long and got up bright and early on Tuesday morning to make a fresh batch for teachers at both the elementary and junior high school and a huge amount for my favorite school secretary!

Miss A's teacher told me she had to hide the carmels from her family because they love them so much.  She said her boys begged her to get the recipe and make them for them, but she said it was a secret and she wasn't qualified to receive the instructions!  Guess this means I'll be making an extra huge batch for the teachers on back to school night in the fall.  Can't have unhappy teachers!!

I'm thinking these gift ideas might make a reappearance at Teacher Appreciation time next year; I'm sure the teachers will be "quenching our thirst" next year too!!