a budget birthday

Is it wrong to enjoy being sick so I can lie in bed and do things I enjoy.......read, watch tv, read endless crafty blogs which stir up way too many ideas in my head?

Since I am supposed to be resting---and I get winded just by walking around a few minutes---I thought I could take advantage of my "time" in planning the ultimate superhero party for Zan. I can't believe his 5th birthday will be here in a few weeks! As much as I dislike superhero stuff, he loves it, and I'm going to attempt to make the birthday spectacular!

I made the cutest invites with this picture and Vistaprint......which I am not letting myself visit anymore while "resting"---I am seriously addicted to the site.

I have also found SO MANY cute things to buy for the party but decided I am going to make myself make use of the insane amount of craft supplies and fabrics I already have to see how cheap I can make this fantastic party....I shall keep you all posted!

Now I am off to coloring more coloring sheets (out of superhero coloring books just collecting dust in the playroom) for decorations for the party in a few weeks.......since I love to color this is the perfect way to recover from walking pneumonia.......ah---the piece, the quiet, the craftiness, the thriftiness.....

an adorable tea party

One of my favorite girls in the world, my "niece" Katie, turned 8 this week. I cannot believe it!! I'm glad I got the honor of attending her very special tea party this weekend.

Here are the girls before the party with their dolls.

Being the very sweet and helpful girl she always is....Katie helps the little ones with their jewelry.


Isn't this party a dream come true.......fancy, fancy, fancy!!!

Sue was so creative in her party planning for her little girl. Look at these flowerpots....They are filled with ice cream and oreos (dirt) topped with an artificial rose!
The extremely cute invites and menus....

And the cupcakes. The "roses" are actually fruit roll-ups---I will be stealing some of these ideas when Kaya gets a little older.
Sue also had a wonderful craft table for the girls to go to when they first arrived. Here she is helping one of the guests make a fan for herself and a mini-fan for her doll.
They also decorated tea-cups with paint pens.
And all of the girls looked so fanciful and adorable all dressed up!




When I asked Kaya what her favorite part of the party was she said, "My favorite part was when Katie opened her gift from me and was so happy."

As a mom, that made my heart smile. Sometimes she can show me that she has the kindest soul.

My favorite part was getting hugs from the "little" girls when they got tired and cranky and really had no use for partying anymore!
Camden ran across the room to hug me. I'm not sure if Kaya was up to sharing her mommy though---as you can see---
They finally decided to settle down again and be best friends. Amazingly these two highly energetic girls let me hold them and rock them for almost an hour while Katie and the big girls unwrapped gifts and acted silly. We just sat in the background and watched.





It was a perfect party with perfect friends! Happy Birthday Katie Rose!!! Love, Aunt Korisa

radiator springs cake

This is my last of the birthday pics.......I have many more but those will be put in albums.......enough already!

But this is the famous Radiator Springs cake. Remember how I said the cake would be fabulous even though Zander wanted the same exact party this year....I decided to make the entire town of "Radiator Springs" from Cars Movie..... here it is....

It took 4 cake mixes, 8 1/2 batches of homemade buttercream icing, and 1 1/2 days (with my crazy, curious kids in my business) to make. BUT the scariest part was getting it to the party at the Bounce House all intact....that part took 3 vehicles with 3 very careful humans holding it! But it made it......phewwww.....

zander's birthday lunch

Since my kids first started eating they have loved sushi. Probably because I have always enjoyed going too......the salad, the soup, the rolls, the sashimi......yum. I could probably eat it every day.

So for Zander's birthday lunch he wanted sushi. We went to our favorite Japanese restaurant to enjoy hibachi and some sushi. We had a great time eating with the grandparents!

Zander eats with his chopsticks!

Can you catch the food the chef throws, Kaya?

Mommy did it!

Zander eyeing the sushi.

Part of the fun--an onion volcano.

Special treats for the birthday!!

Happy Birthday Zan!

4 years ago I fell in love

I've been so busy the past week getting ready for this little guy's birthday. We celebrated Saturday "Party......Zander style!!" and on Sunday with some of his grandparents. I have some fun pics I'll share later. (I'm in a rush to get us to music camp this morning)

In one way it seems like it can't be possible that he is already four. In another way, I can't remember life without him.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy.........mom is proud of how much you have grown--- inside and out.