Almost here...

In less than two weeks I will be able to visit the temple any time I want.  I got choked up as we walked towards the temple building when we toured as a family last Monday for FHE.

 What a huge blessing this is.  I have missed attending the temple.  It is so hard for us to make the 3 hour drive north when we have children.  It is an all day event.  So, we haven't gone in a very long time.

I am grateful for the blessing of being able to attend the temple and how that blessing has given me so much with my family.

What blessings they are.

It WAS a Party!

 This was the official "clean up the place" before you have six girls over.

The castle was made by my wonderfully talented friend Laurie.  It was close to seven feet tall.  Hint:  Use a projector to blow up the image you want.  The part that I wouldn't have done so well with was the filling it in. I could have done it but it would not have been this cute.  She used chalks and I had it laminated at a school supply store for $6.00 and that included the sun as well.  So much fun for little girls.  I made the poster from a link I can't find.  I just imported it into a software program that makes things poster size and printed it out on 4 pieces of paper.  I modpodged it onto a poster board.  A woman that threw another party said she had it blown up to poster size for around $3.00 at one of the copy places.  That would have been nice to know before I pieced it all together.  I thought it turned out great though.  Here are few posters that you can download though neither is the one I used, but close.  I can't find mine. Sorry.  Here are those links:  Flynn or flynn.

 I had seen this marvelous cupcake tree done with those ugly brass chandeliers that look like an octopus.  It had been painted pink and all the electrical wiring removed so you could put the cupcakes on each arm and a mini cake in the middle.  I searched every thrift store for weeks.  Finally, my driver (Mr. Finn) said he wasn't taking me to anymore when we were in front of DAV.  I went in hoping that I could find one.  Really, is that too much to ask?  I got the same answer in every store, "Oh, we always have them, but  not right now."  Whatever!

So... my imagination went to work when I saw these candelabras in black.  They seemed perfect and the cupcakes wouldn't fall off by accident.  See that giant spike.  Genius!

 Could you just die?  Look at how cute that turned out!  I was beyond excited.  Miss Boo decided on yellow frosting and I am so glad she did.  Seemed perfect.  Those cupcake papers are from Joanne's.  I thought they were exactly what her party needed.  Believe it or not, but they were bought a year ago with her party in mind.  And they stay firm.  NO sagging.

This is the party area.  Not overly fancy, but it worked and we were able to have a fun party in 1 1/2 hours.  The cake wasn't on the pedestal yet, but you get the gist.

 I found these boxes at Michaels when they went out of business a year ago.  Knew I could do something with them for her party.

 I downloaded different images off Google Images and modpodged them on the boxes.  I found a "Tangled" font online and used it for the "go, live your dream" on top.

 The modpodge gives them a painted look.  Miss Boo asked me if I had painted all the boxes myself.  Bless her little heart.

 Alright.  Here's the cake.  Finally.  I had seen this "ruffled" look on someone's blog and loved it.  This is my version of it.  I learned a few things, but I think it turned out o.k.  She was thrilled with it, so I was happy too.

 I could have done without the thing behind Rapunzel, but Miss Boo insisted.  I love how it all turned out well.  Did you know it costs $4.00 per 5 inch tier of chocolate cake at your local grocery store bakery?

 Not for this ultra conservative Mommy.  I just make an oval cake and used a bowl to cut out the 5 inch rounds I needed.  Popped them in the freezer for about an hour and then dirty iced them.  Worked like a charm.

I made flower rings from pipe cleaner.  So easy.  I learned how to do it on this website.

 The sun pendant in the back was a picture.  I cut it out with an Xacto knife and used gold paint to sponge it on purple felt.  If you want the file, please let me know and I will send it to you.

I don't have a good picture of the paints, but I used rectangle boxes that I got at Michaels on clearance.  I used the same technique as the oval boxes.  Found some paints at the dollars store.  Cut them to fit the box and with a little hot glue, they became Rapunzel Paints.  I have some labels I attached to the bottom that say that.  Once again, these were all wonderful ideas of others that I used.

 The girls were able to paint when they got to the party.  I posted this one on because the words written on it made me laugh.

 They played "Pin the frying pan on Flynn's nose".  That was so much fun.  Once again, if you need the file, let me know.  I will send you everything I have on the party.  Images, paint pages, games, etc.  I don't have a lot of the links available because I have been downloading things into a Rapunzel Birthday File for over a year.  You can leave a comment with your email address requesting a copy of the file.

 Miss Boo wanted long hair and braided for the other girls.  She was a lot of fun.

I bought the topper at our local grocery store bakery.  It is a kit they use for their cakes.  It was five dollars.  I wouldn't have had to spend the money if I could have found the miniature Rapunzel I bought last year when Sears was going out of business for $3.00.  Sad news... found it yesterday in the top of my closet.  Go figure!

 She said she had the best birthday ever.  It was great to hear the other girls talking about how much fun they had.  They all went home with their own Rapunzel hair, paints, boxes of goodies and art they painted.

 I love the hair.  So easy to make.  I just crocheted a head band with a flower and then attached two strands of yard doubled over to every other crochet hook in the band.

My little helper.  He was horrified that I put this picture on, but I needed to use his head to tie those braids and he is so PATIENT.  Not too mention, he is really cute!

It was a fun birthday.  Can't say I will ever do one with so many details again, but it was worth every second of work to see her face.

Love that little girl.  She challenges me daily, but brings us so much joy in other ways.  She is very smart and equally artistic.  It amazes me how much she works with both sides of her brain.

Oh... I found all the jello jigglers the morning after.  I completely forgot them in the fridge.  Oh well, I enjoyed all the jello flowers and hearts.  Can you believe my kids don't like jello jigglers?  Are they really my children?

This link will take you to Disney Family Fun.  They have some really fun things for a Tangled Party.

I also used this website for ideas on the party.  This is where I saw the idea for hair and improvised with what I had on hand.  It was a great way for me to use all those orange buttons I got at Walmart in the Clearance section.  Who knew orange would work so well.

Saving for Miss Boo

Miss Boo turned eight today.  Will post more later.  I am exhausted.  Six giggly girls.

Nuf said!

 I can't believe how big my little girl is.

 I will give details on the party in a later post.

Tune in for the rest of the story... so you understand why my little boy is wearing braids.

Birds

 Do you ever feel as if you are in one of those Alfred Hitchcock movies?  The ones where the ominous feeling is palpable?  You just know that nothing good is going to come out at the end?  Yet you feel compelled to watch it to the bitter end?

Isn't that how life is?  You are compelled by the very fact that it is your life.  Sometimes unable or unwilling to change the course of events as they unfold.  At the same time caught up in the moment and the sheer horror/beauty of what you are experiencing.

Hind sight always makes it seem easier or dramatic than it was, but I don't think it can truly recount what you felt during it.  I find that my emotions during trials run heavy.  Like a movie with the music thundering in your ears signaling the moment in which something epic will happen.

Trials are like that... they seem almost impossible when you are in them, almost inconceivable that you will be able to survive that moment.

But you always do.  You come out stronger.  At least that is the desire.

One of the conference talks I listened to today resonated with me.  The speaker was sharing about the passing of his mother that had battled cancer for ten years.  At her funeral, a prophet or general authority (I am never good with details) spoke and said that many would say that she suffered because of something she had done in her life, but he said she was a good women and the Lord just wanted to refine her some more while in this life.  It is a paraphrase and probably not a good one, but the message was clear to me.

We are in the last days.  He is refining his chosen people.  Weeding out the chaff.
Where will we fall?  Will we live up to the refinement.  Will it be too hard and give up?

Will we turn to the Lord for strength and guidance?  Will we trust Him?

Will our refinement be sufficient to earn us a place in our Heavenly Father's Kingdom?

Easter blessings

 This year seemed so much more than years past.  Maybe it was that the kids were older and really understood the reason for Easter.  They still look forward to the easter bunny and looking for eggs after church, but they really understood that this was about the Savior.  I loved that.  I don't know if I knew that as a kid.  I really don't think I got it.  I remember having a new dress, dyeing eggs, easter baskets and egg hunts, but not church, the Savior and certainly not the Resurrection.

My kids are in a much better place than I was.  I'm not saying that I wasn't taught, but I do not remember.

 Not that it put all of my children in a better mood.  This was the best one of got of them.  Oh well, at least it is a memory for them when they are older.

 My present this year was a visit from my dear friend Chris.  I didn't realize HOW much I missed her until we hugged when they arrived very late Saturday night.  She was a huge part of my life through one of the biggest challenges and changes that I went through.  She was my rock and made me laugh.

She told me about a job shortly after I moved into her ward, which turned out to be a job working with her for several years.  We had such a great time together.  I really can't imagine having the courage to walk away from my marriage without knowing that she was there.  She wanted me to be happy and didn't like that I wasn't.  I will always be grateful for her.  I have been blessed with amazing friends through my life.
Wow!
I have been so blessed.

They were on their way to start serving a mission in Ohio.  So glad I was on the way.  We realized that she had never officially met my children.  That is way too long.  At least I know we will visit again in two years when she comes back by on her way home. Hopefully it won't be that long ever again.

I am grateful for the Savior, for his atonement that has allowed healing, the release of heartaches and for the joy that has come from the knowledge that he gave his life willingly for me to be happy.  And that He has blessed me with those that have always guided me in the right direction.

The day after

In the immortal words of my six year old.

"I don't feel any different or older being six, but when I turned five I sure felt it."

Happy day after Dude!

It's a party

I have this adorable six year old.  Yes, I did say six years old.  As of 12:01 a.m this morning I no longer have my sweet, adorable, yummy five year old.

Instead I have this overly excited, still sweet, adorable and yummy six year old that woke early with his whole day planned out by him.  He is so yummy.  I can't think of a better word to describe this little guy.  Well, not such a little guy these days.  What will I do when he stops being so cuddly?  Can I dare to dream that he will always love his Mommy best and want to cuddle with me in the mornings just because it is the best part of my day?

I never dreamed having a boy would be such a fulfillment for me.  He just fills me up.  Always concerned about my welfare, not that he doesn't challenge my authority regularly.  But when he does, he is quick to apologize and move on.  He is a peace maker.  A bit of a jokester and quick to laugh.  He loves so easily and without conditions.

I am grateful that I was given this little boy in my life.  He really does fill the rest of the cup for our whole family.

Thank you Dude for being so much more than we ever imagined possible.

 Very sweaty after an  hour of jumping at the Bounce House with his BFF.

 Homemade wrapping paper.  I couldn't find any that I likes, so I printed out the Transformers that he liked and mod podged them on tissue paper.  Cake is easy with him.  He loves cupcakes and so I printed out Bumble Bee faces and cut them out for the tops.  So easy.

 My very talented friend Laurie, did the transformer for the Dude.  He wanted to play "pin the arm" on the Transformer.  He makes me laugh.

 It took only four poster boards at thirty cents each and lots of chalk.  He was so excited.

 I'm glad he had a good day with his friend.

 Optimus Prime was the cupcake of choice.  His BFF wanted it, but the Dude wasn't giving up anything on his day.

 His gift from his Mom and Dad was a Star Wars scooter.

He was excited until he realized it had only two wheels.

All in all, it was a good day.  He needs to go to bed, but I am kind of letting it slide because... how often do you turn six?