The Big Backyard Surfin' Party

The Surfboard Cupcakes

Part of the Decorations.
We had 2 pools and a water slide in the backyard for their entertainment.
If you click on the picture, you can see the really cool picnic table
Alan built last weekend under the fort.

The Birthday Girl
We took each girl's picture with Z and her surfboard.
They were so funny.  They couldn't wait for their turn.
We'll give them the picture with their thank you card.
(It's a Potater Patch birthday tradition.)

Most of the surfer girls

Yesterday was the highly anticipated 5 Year Old Surfer Girl Birthday Party. We had a grand total of 17 girls and 1 big brother slashing away in our backyard. Needless to say, it was a wild afternoon but a great afternoon. Z had a fantastic time. Even though it was about a million degrees and the mommies all looked like one big puddle of sweat, everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. The girls got along wonderfully and played so hard that I'm sure they all slept extremely well last night. I know the birthday girl could hardly keep her eyes open during bedtime prayers. All in all, it was a successful party, especially since Z was so happy.

Lesson of the Day: Parties can be a lot of work but are totally worth it when it makes someone you love feel so special.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for all your help before and during the party!!!

Earring Torture for 3

Right now, I am very thankful I only have one girl and that I only have to go through the getting the ears pierced once. That was torture! Z has been talking forever about wanting her ears pierced. She has begged and pleaded. We have window shopped for earrings. I have warned her over and over, "Z, getting your ears pierced is kind-of like getting a shot in your ear. It hurts but only for a little bit." But she was determined and she insisted that today was the day. She excitedly picked out her earrings (pink crystal hearts). Earing #1: She bravely sat in my lap, squeezed my hand, earring went in, she cried like crazy but no more than a shot. Earring #2: Refused to sit, started screaming when the lady came close, started crying and proceeded cry for the next hour. I think she tried every way possible to get out of earring #2. Long story short (after many prayers, moderate bribing, pleading, and begging on my part) we finally got earring #2 in. She screamed like someone chopped off her left arm and I have vowed not to go into that Walmart for quite a long time (if ever). I felt like a terrible mom but by the time we got in the car, Z was grinning and showing off her new earrings. In fact, she was very excited when I took the picture to show everyone. I asked her if she was glad she had it done and she said yes. She sure looks cute with her earrings too. But as J (my partner in this crime) stated on the way home, "I have definitely learned a lesson today. If I ever have a daughter and she wants her ears pierced, I am going to have NOTHING to do with it!"

Lesson of the Day: Do yourself a favor, pierce them when they are a baby, find one of those places that does both ears at one time, or just wait until they can drive themselves to have it done.  

Has it really been 5 years?!?

Birthday Morning Excitement

Totally excitement in the Potater Patch this morning.  The Ladybug is turning 5 today.  So far, she has opened family presents and cards, enjoyed a pink sprinkled doughnut, and is now watching cartoons.  In her world, she's had a pretty perfect morning.   In just a little bit, we will go visit our new kitten, Sugar (she'll join our family at the end of next week).  Later today, Z is going to get her ears pierced.  She has been asking forever and we told her she at least had to be 5.  So today is the big day.  We'll have some chocolate cake and a birthday dinner and try to make this day extra fun!

On a sentimental note:  I can't believe it's really been 5 years, but what a 5 years it has been. She is such a gift from God. I think God had a great sense of humor when he added her to our little family. She's infused our family with quirky humor. She entertains us on a daily basis. She makes her daddy and me shake our heads in wonder. She's lovable, silly, girly, beautiful, funny, artistic, expressive, and smart. She added just the dimension that our family needed. I love her to pieces and although I'm so happy for her that she is turning five, there is a part of me that's a little sad. As Alan told her last night, "I'm just going to make your birthdays go backwards. You're not turning 5 this year, you are turning 3." I think we're just trying to hold on to this precious time a little bit longer.

Happy Birthday, Little Ladybug! We sure love you and we're so happy you are ours!

2 kids+1 beach ball+1 ceiling fan=1 big uh-oh

I'm downstairs this morning, eating my daily bowl of oatmeal and watching the news. I had just sent the kids upstairs to play (for some reason they always want to watch the news with me). I could hear them laughing from one of their rooms, when all of a sudden, I heard a big thunk, heard something loud hit the ceiling, and then heard a very loud banging sound. Not good sounds but there were so screams or cries for help. I ran up the stairs anyway to find my two sweeties standing in the hallway outside Z's room with their eyes as big as basketballs. My eyes followed their eyes to see Z's ceiling fan hanging at an angle, missing two blades with the other blades banging against the ceiling as they were slowly coming to a stop. As I reached the top of the stairs and the children started filling me in on what had happened, the three of us jumped at the same time as we watched the broken ceiling fan crash to the floor shattering light bulbs everywhere. Come to find out, the two of them were playing with a beach ball in the house. One of them tossed it in the air, it got caught above the blades of the ceiling fan, snapped one blade off, Z ran from the room, snapped another blade off, J ran from the room flipping off the light switch as he went, and then I joined the story. As Z said, "That was freaking me out to death!" and J said, "I was so scared my legs were shaking." I'm just thankful they got out of the room before either of them were crushed under the fan or impaled by a piece of it. I'm also thankful J was smart enough to flip the switch off on the wall.

Apparently, it looks like the screws were stripped. The fan was so heavy, I had a hard time maneuvering it downstairs. I don't think it was properly supported either. For all I know it could be original to the house because it was the actual metal on the blade that snapped.

What a morning and it's not even 9 o'clock!

Potater Kid Lesson of the Day: Do not toss balls in the house....even beach balls! I think they really got the lesson this time :)

Dead fan's new home in the recycle bin

What's left

What did I do 15 years ago this week?

I got married!

On June 8, 1996, I married my Alan.  It's amazing how each year your love grows and grows.  We chose each other that day so long ago and we still choose each other today. What a great decision!

Too busy for my own good!

Summer break for kids, big anniversary tomorrow, VBS lesson prep, 5th birthday and party, new large group prep, Alan's birthday approaching, my part of 750 VBS crafts to count, cut, etc., a room to decorate by Sunday, Father's Day, a set to build and a very large room to decorate in 1 1/2 weeks, one house in desperate need of cleaning.....Oh, July...I look forward to your almost blank calendar days.  I need about 3 more of me for the next 2 1/2 weeks.  Pray for energy!

What's that falling from the sky?

Yesterday, it rained for the first time since....I have no idea, it's been so long! But since it was the first Monday of summer break and about a million degrees outside (no kidding...we're setting records for days over 100 already), the kids thoroughly embraced the rainy summer afternoon. Alan snapped this shot of our two little monkeys trying to catch water on their tongues. A little while later, they were running around with no shoes or shirts and soaked to the bone. Z summed up the fun during her prayers last night with, "Jesus, thank you that J___ and I had so much fun playing in the rain without our shirts and shoes! THAT was FUN!!!!!"

Lesson of the Day: A summer rain, soaked clothes, and a little mud between the toes is sometimes the best summer fun!