Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts

11 April 2014

9 Year Spa Birthday Bash

Nine years?!  I cannot believe I have a 9 year old.  Well, an almost 9 year old.  Her birthday is April 18th.  With there being a 2 week Easter break and the fact that we will be away on her special day, we celebrated early with 6 of her friends.

This girl has turned into quite the planner!  She had her party all planned out by early February!  She did some looking online and found a website that advertised spa parties.  It looked like so much fun, but I knew it would be expensive.  And surely it was.  A party for 6 girls would cost £300 ($498).  I cannot imagine people spending that much on a party!!  I've pulled off a theme party before so I was up for the challenge.

I found a cute invite on pinterest and was so happy with how it turned out.

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

We found recipes for making chocolate lip gloss to give with the party bags.  I found someone on ebay that had spa party bags all made up with spa essentials at a fantastic price!

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

I forgot to take photos of the party bags, oops!  Think clear bag with zebra stripes, pink tissue paper  inside stuffed with goodies like nail file, nail polish varnish, lotion, toe separator, etc.
We set up 3 stations.  One for nails, one for facials and another for make up.

Karis with her chocolate facial.

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

Reegan relaxing with some cucumbers on her eyes.

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

The whole gang.

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

 Glow in the dark nails.

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

Make up

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

We played pass the parcel, a game typically played at parties.  A gift is passed while music is playing.  The person who has the present when the music stops, gets to unwrap a layer of the present.  Another thing that we've typically seen here is that presents are given, but not opened in front of the guests.  I understand this one, it really makes sense.  However, Karis was excited to see what she got and asked all her friends before the party if it was ok to open the presents at the party.  They all agreed and had fun seeing all her presents.

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

The sweetest gift of all?  A handmade card decorated and signed by each of her friends.  So precious!

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

Then it was cake time!!  At most parties in England, "Happy Birthday" is sung, candles are blown out and a slice of cake is given in the party bags!!

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

No, no, no!  How can you not have cake at the birthday party?!?!  We can't, obviously!  It's one of the best parts of the party!!  And my kids almost never eat that slice of party bag cake later anyway!

girl's party, birthday, spa, 9 years old

It was a great party!  Fairly simple, packed with lots to keep them busy.

Now I think I want my own spa party!!

Did you have theme parties as a kid?   Or do you throw theme parties for your kids??

13 September 2013

Creating a Lover of Travel

September 13, 2013 0
You know you're creating a lover of travel when you have a conversations such as this.

Brennan comes into our room where I've got our sea glass collection from our beach travels.  Sitting with the glass is a tuft of seaweed from my girl's trip to Alghero, Italy last year.  Have you seen these seaweed balls created by Neptune Grass in the Mediterranean?  Really cool, although it comes on the beaches in droves and can make the beach look a bit messy, captivating at the same time.


Brennan was talking about the seaweed ball and where I got it.  He then says to me "Mom, you need to take me to Italy where you got this so we can get more."


It just got me thinking more about how travel has impacted my kids.  Later I asked him "Where has been your favorite place we've gone"?  He answered, "Alaska."  Then I asked why.  He answered "Because we got to climb a mountain and we went into the clouds and it wasn't raining in there."  It's always so fascinating to hear their answers and the memories made! 


Then I asked him where he would like to go.  He said "Somewhere hot with a pool.  Like Mexico.  Didn't you know it was hot and they have pools there?"  Ha!  So sweet!  


Happy Weekend to all of you!!


04 September 2013

Last Day of Summer, First Day of School

September 04, 2013 0
To end the summer we headed downtown for ice cream.  We have a great little shop downtown, Sugar & Snow.  They make American pancakes and waffles too.  Yum!


My guys also needed new water bottles for school.  Thank you Sports Direct for your great prices!!

They've also been involved in the library's Summer reading challenge.  


They were bouncing off the walls last night and this morning.  They were so excited to start school!  This is the first time they are returning to the school they finished at the previous year!







I'm so glad that my guys have friends next door!  They go to a different school, thus the different colored uniforms.



Brennan will be so happy to see Jake every day again.  They're such good buddies and his mom has become a dear friend!


Summer is officially over (although you wouldn't know it with the high temps we're having).  Bittersweet, but I love Fall!  The changing colors, pumpkins, Fall decorations and celebrations that take you from one to the next!

Happy New School Year!

28 January 2013

Christmastime in Review

It's about time I updated the blog, don't ya think?!

So, I need to go back ALL the way to Christmas!  Sad, sad blogger I am!

*We enjoyed spending a graduation day/going away party for Jarred & my niece, Corrie.  We enjoyed being in the same place for a few months.


*Lunch time with the kids at school.  Boy, do they love it when we bring a special treat for lunch and eat with them.

 *We've not had a chance to visit Santa in the past.  This year they made up for that and got to visit Santa 3 times!


*Finally got my hair cut and highlighted.  It hadn't been done since about March!


*Decorated gift bags for close family members.





*Made t-shirt scarves for teachers, friends and family!



*Enjoyed a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at our host church, Tabernacle.  The kids enjoyed the "snow" machine!




*We also spent Christmas Eve with our long time friends, the Vanns.



*Setting out cookies for Santa!



*Christmas morning excitement





We spent the day with family at our house, but I seem to have been chatting and cooking a bit too much that I didn't get the camera out!

Next up, we head to Tennessee to visit friends.

15 December 2012

Hug Them Closer

December 15, 2012 2
I snapped a few photos of these two doing their reading homework together.  So sweet!

We'd just enjoyed some time with family, celebrating a graduation.  There was food, laughter and saying our goodbyes as my niece and her husband move to California.  


We hopped in the car to leave and all I heard on the radio was over 20 children dead from a school shooting.  I scrambled for my phone to check the web.  I was in a bit of a panic knowing my own children were currently in school.  Then learned it was in Connecticut.

I sat there teary eyed.  All I could do was imagine the horror, the sadness, the faces of frightened children.  

Christmas will never be the same for these families.

We didn't see our children yesterday after school.  They were picked up by Nana & Papa, taken to see a Christmas light show, had their first visit with Santa (That's right, no Santa pics before now. That's part of being a third culture kids) and spent the night.  

We knew they were in good hands.  At the same time I wanted to hug them a little closer.

I join many in praying for these families and this community as they mourn, remember their loved ones and heal.

Hubby and I had a date night last night.  Something we haven't had in ages.  We got a few needed things done and saw a movie.  I don't know when the last time was we saw a movie, alone, together.

And......

I SLEPT IN!!

Hallelujah was that a treat!  Ha!!

I would have slept longer had hubby not been clanking around in the kitchen, God love him! Ha!

I was happy to see my kiddos when we picked them up.  I don't think they were as excited to see us.  Ha! They were having a great time with Nana & Papa!

Most days are filled with some type of whining, arguing, frustration, wanting to pull my hair out and I know it is all contributing to the gray streak in my hair that I'm sure becomes grayer every day.

Tonight, I saw their sweet little photo with Santa and I got to hug each one at bedtime.  Even when they resisted falling asleep! 


 However, I'm thankful.

This world can be a dark place, but I'm going to do all I can to make it a brighter place for my kids because Jesus is that light that came to save this fallen, broken world.




Deeper

  Deeper - adj. 1. extending or situated relatively far down from a surface: a deep pool. It's been a long time since I've ...