A Successful Princess Birthday

We did it!  We pulled off a really great princess birthday party for Allison, including a visit from Snow White.

This week, we found ourselves surrounded by streamers, tulle, ribbon, flowers and many other decorations.  Alli wanted our house to look like a castle decorated for a "royal ball".  Knowing this could take quite some time to accomplish, I started last Sunday tying ribbons, hanging streamers, and arranging flowers.  I was a little leery of starting so soon and having the decorations within the boys' reach, but nothing was touched!  I was in total shock that I didn't have to make any repairs.  The boys were sooooooo good and really acted like they didn't notice them.  Daddy on the other hand had one big complaint.  His nice comfy office chair was taken to make a throne for Alli and replaced with a folding chair.  That was the first thing that was taken down and put back in its place.   Although we didn't hang streamers from the ceiling in the living room, Alli was excited about the decorations and that I let her use our formal dining room for the birthday table.

The party was a lot of fun and the girls were absolutely bursting with energy.  Here is how the party played out.

When everyone arrived, they went to the Nail Center to get their fingers and toes painted, then they could go into Alli's bathroom and put on a little make-up.  We then played a few games...Pin the Crown on Jasmine (princess way of playing pin the tail on the donkey), Hot Slipper (hot potato), and hide and seek.  The girls then dined on pizza for lunch.  All of a sudden the girls spotted poisoned apples scattered all over the living room...and the phone rang.  It was Snow White and she wanted to come wish Allison a Happy Birthday, but they had to find all the poisoned apples and get rid of them.  (I think all of you reading this could have heard screams coming from our house)  They raced around the room scooping up apples like you wouldn't believe.  Then the doorbell rang and they screamed even louder!  Alli openned the door and in walked Snow White with a basket full of flowers she picked for Alli on her way to our house.  The screams turned into little giggles as they all got to take pictures with the princess.  We got the birthday cake out and Snow White sang Happy Birthday.  We were all in AWE of her beautiful voice, in fact, one of the little girls said, "it was the real Snow White, because only a princess can sing  like that."  Alli was so nervous and a little shy that she had trouble blowing out her candles.  Then Snow White had to leave to get back to the 7 dwarfs.  As soon as she left the giggles turned back into screams and singing (the girls were trying to sing like her).  They all sat around the table talking about how they couldn't believe they got to meet Snow White. 

It was a lot of work, but soooooo much fun.  I did it all just to see that beautiful, huge smile that came across Allison's face.  That is all the thanks I need, but hearing her say that it was the best birthday ever felt pretty good, too. 

***Snow White was played by a high school girl who lives in our neighborhood.  She is very much into drama, has a part in the school's play The Wizard of Oz, and has won many singing competitions.  This was a big surprise to Alli and she truly believes it was the real princess.

Happy Valentines Day!

We had a great Valentine's Day and we hope all of you did too!

We tried to incorporate all things Valentines in every part of our day that we could.  For breakfast we had heart shaped pancakes, yummy!  For supper, heart shaped pizzas that tasted pretty good too if I do say so myself.  Alli and I also made a cake that was decorated with strawberries in the shape of a heart.  It was fun to do things just a little bit different and add a little bit of excitement for the kids.  They also enjoyed the presents they received in the mail.  Thanks Grandpas ans Grandmas!!!

The afternoon was fun too as Alli had a play date with a friend from school and Cole had a birthday party.  It was a good thing Daddy offered to take Cole to his party, because this Mom doesn't do very well with exotic animals.  The minute they brought out the 8 ft yellow snake would have been the minute they saw an Alisha shaped hole appear in their fence.  Cole and Daddy enjoyed it though.  They talked and talked about the kangaroo, alligator, snake, and Cole's favorite, tortoise.  

It is Monday again and Alli doesn't have school today, so her friend Maddie spent the night last night.  This Saturday is her Princess Party, that means only about 5 more days for me to prepare.  Yikes, it will be a busy week!  Jeff and I also look forward to a night out Friday night for a Mardi Gras party downtown.  Hope everyone has a good week.  Happy President's Day!

Golfing with Daddy

Cole got his day with Daddy.  The two of them went on their first golf outing this last Saturday. 

I don't know who had the bigger smile on their face, Cole or Dad!

I think they have many future golf outings planned.  I hope they become golfing partners for life!

It's February????

I guess spring is already here.  Tornadoes ripped through Edmond Tuesday afternoon and left a track of distruction.  Being only 1/2 mile to a mile away the kids and I hid under our stairs in a closet praying.  We were spared, but unfortunatly many families homes were not.  No lives lost though, so thank God for that.  I am very proud of the way the kids handled the situation.  The boys didn't know what was going on, but Alli, having hid in the closet before, did know and was scared.  In the last few days, she has relaxed a little bit and just talked to us about it.  I hate that she was so scared, but she needs to be aware of the weather in Oklahoma.  

She also helped me in the heat of the moment.  All 4 of us huddled under a blanket and I started to say a prayer and when I stopped to talk to Jeff about what the news was reporting, she picked up where I left off and prayed herself.  I can't say how proud I was of her.  She also told many of our neighbors, "We are safe because we prayed to God."  

No matter what I do, I know many scary things will come her way, I just hope that I can help her build a strong foundation and faith in Christ.  I want her to know He is aways with us and will always take care of us.  

Psalm 124:8

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

It's February!!!

We have officially thawed out and are back to our regular, busy routine.    It is now February and at our house that means only one thing, Allison's birthday.  She is so excited she has her own calendar to mark off the days until the 26th.  She has soooooo many ideas for her Princess Party that her parents are having trouble keeping up.  She wants to go all out and "have the best Princess Party ever!"  Including a visit by the real princess Sleeping Beauty.  This was supposed to be a surprise, so I told her that I don't have Sleeping Beauty's phone number or address to ask her to come and that I will dress up as the princess.  "No,"  she says.  "I want you to dress up as my servant." She still doesn't know that we are going to attempt to have a princess visit, but somehow that girl finds out about everything.  Stay tuned....this party could be interesting.

Cole had Pajama Day at school yesterday and they invited the parents to come

 up for a Pajama Parade.  It was so cute, they walked down the halls and showed off their PJs and favorite stuffed animals.  He was so proud that Alli and Nolan came to his school.   He also found out that he is old enough for t-ball this year.  Sooooo excited!  He has told everyone how hard he is going to hit the ball.  It has been warm enough the past few days that we have been outside "practicing".  I think he may drive his parents CRAZY before the season starts in March.

Nolan is saying more words everyday.  Alli and Cole are constantly trying to get him to say their names.  I-eee (Alli) comes out pretty good, but he can't say Cole.  We have worked on Bubba, but that hasn't come out either.  He enjoys going to the Kids Klub at the the athletic club I attend and being babied by Alli.  It is fun to watch the kids play together.  Enjoy the pictures I have attached.