Pop Up Party

In my honor!  How sweet.

When Alida told me that they wanted to do something because of the lecture about helping, I said that was great.  So,  you decided to throw a party instead of helping?

Alida: "Yeah!  Isn't that so much more fun!"

Me: Yes girl, yes indeed.

 

Banner, Easy Bake Cupcakes, a disco light on the tablet and pop music while we danced. 

The best party ever.

 

And then instead of dancing Nicholas kind of decided to be a leg-less zombie and chase us back and forth across the room.

 

I got in my steps that day; and I put them to bed without asking for help cleaning up.

 

8, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 1

And so we had seven kids in the house over the weekend.

And the five-year-olds adored the eight-year-old, and

the four-year-olds adored each other, and


everyone adored the one-year-old.

You have a little donut there on your face little buddy.

There was baking.

And piles.

And swimming of course.

And there's nothing like a game of hide-n-seek in high humidity.

I was outside long enough to snap this picture, then I melted.

Happy Birthday Ladies

We had a smallish party for the girls last Saturday with Aunt Brian and Aunt Lori and Noah.

I was so against ever letting one of these cakes into my kitchen with all of the things stuck on the top, that I gave in entirely and let Elaine decorate the whole thing.
She loved it; I shook my head.



Alida took a nap.

We were all set to head across the street to have a pizza party with cake and gifts.

Then a whole other party rolled into the pavilion with a bouncy house, face painting, a carousel (yes, a carousel), a popcorn machine, and a picnic table full of gifts.

So we opted to keep in low-key and inside. It was so hot anyway....

Happy Fourth ladies.

Rapunzel, any princess garb, and lip gloss made you happy.

And the debate continues whether these ladies are identical or not.

The Saturday Outing: Ladybug

Nicholas was eager to help every step of the way when we got ourselves all dressed and off to Lady Emily's birthday party Saturday.

As usual, the spread was incredible.

And the birthday girl gracious.

Which was good, because my two princesses, who insisted on wearing their princess garb, got a little confused about whose birthday we were celebrating...

And Ben just had a smiley sort of weekend, I'd say.

Flashes of "Back Off."

Emily allowed my girls to tear into her gifts, but don't go stealing her momma.

And in a showing of goodwill, instead of fighting for the chair they both wanted, these two just shared the chair so they could tear into their beautiful cake.

It was a lovely party and we are so glad to be a part of these celebrations.

Surrounded

Yes, by children at any given moment.

But also by wonderful friends who have overwhelmed me.
Emily's daddy watched mine and his all morning Saturday so that I could go shopping with Jennifer. And he got them to take a nap--that doesn't happen in our house.
And Jennifer drove. And it is hard to express how meaningful sitting in a car and riding without playing stewardess is. Really.
And, my Valentine's gift from Emily? My first ever hug from her. I think it helped that mine were asleep, and we got to just hang out for a few minutes.


And then on Sunday afternoon, Nancy and Jim had a wonderful party for us. Even Benjamin smiled once or twice.

And Alida, looked at a camera and smiled without something goofy on her face or a round of tickling. She may have been overwhelmed by the princess garb that Nancy had made for her.

I was overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness.

Here we are making pictures of our Valentines that we made for daddy by the Valentine tree so that they can be shipped off to Patric.

Simply surrounded.

Thank you.

Crazy People

Up at 6 this morning.

Tearing through the pantry digging out everything to see if they can take it to the Valentine's Party at school today.

Asked me no fewer than five times if I had read the sheet and remembered to bring their stuff.

One minute into our two minute drive to daycare, "Wheeeeeen are we going to get to the party?!"

The Actual Birthday

Scramble in the door through the rain after daycare and start taking drink orders.

Have toys from their teachers shoved at me to be opened.

Get Dora going before there is a meltdown.

Chocolate milk. Chocolate milk. Apple Juice. Ben what did you want?

Mix brownies. Throw them in the oven and forget to start the timer.

Answer the phone.

Start dinner.

Curse the toy packaging.

I think it's trash night. Did I take the trashcan down?

Throw dinner at them.

Answer another drink order.

Dora is over, begin another round.

Are those brownies I smell? Oh, no. Change a diaper.

Wash my hands, start a load of laundry, finally take my coat off.

Throw dinner dishes in the dishwasher (wonderful invention Jen).

Throw more gifts at the children (Grandma Montana--just thank you, thank you from the bottom of my worn out heart for sending the girls something to open.)

Curse more toy packaging.

Stop to hang new Dora ornaments on the tree--curse the Dora ornaments, but not you grandma Montana because the things I curse often are my lifesavers--i.e. Play Doh.

Do I smell brownies?

Answer the phone.

Ben did you already break one of your toys?!

Choose which child will talk, hand off the phone, and hope they say something.
No. Just No. We're not going to color tonight.

Start explaining to the children now that there will be only one round of Batman before bed.

Step on something and nearly break my ankle.

Take my work shoes off.

Fly to the brownies. Are they done? I can't tell. Take them out.

Serve hot, gooey brownies.

Answer the phone.

Round up three bags of trash.

Give in and get out the colors.
Start baths.

Get clothes ready for the morning.

Remember to take the trashcan to the curb.

So no, the pictures aren't that great...but the kids had a great time and there was little fighting. Thank you all for making their birthday a success.

Happy Second Birthday: The Party

We were finally awake enough to throw a birthday party in the Stuber house this weekend!

Here we are the morning of practicing with our tea party hats, which we entirely forgot once the party got started.

And mom and dad's gift came a little before the party to lure people out of the house for a few minutes.

It was well received.

And Alida is very picky about visitors, but it may be the roaring fire raging on a back-to-the-90's weekend that is stopping her from inviting more people into her cottage increasing the temperature even more.

Did you really turn two already?

The cottage was a hit, and Emily even came by for the housewarming.

And Aunt Cynthia was there to give love--even in the midst of an on-going house debacle of her own.

And nanny Jenny and Aunt Anna came with Georgia. And Aunt Kate drove all the way from Kansas!

The ladies weren't particularly sure what to do with their cakes that were on fire, but Nicholas and Benjamin helped them out.

And then at the end, we remembered that we actually had some tea party stuff...

And Nanny Jenny's Georgia was a peach.

And Emily was an old-hand at dressing the part and being a lady.

And not that we celebrated or anything,

but then the party was over. And we sat down for a few minute in the wreckage of every one's good wishes.

Grandma Cheri even sent some things for the boys.

And Nicholas relaxed in what we are now calling the hot tub.

...before donning his superhero garb of course for the next adventure.

It was a hot but lovely day, thank you to everyone for making it so much fun.