Tagged!

I was tagged by the awesome Brandy over Momwich (a new fave blog) and since she was nice enough to tag me, I thought I would play along!

If I have tagged you, your questions are down at the bottom. There is no obligation to play along, it is just something fun!

The Rules:

1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Tag them on Twitter, Facebook or their blog

11 random things about me:

1. I lied about my age to get my first tattoo, which I now hate and want to cover up with something new.
2. I am a night owl and routinely stay up past midnight, even though I get up anywhere from 5:30 6:00 am everyday.
3. Some days I don't drink a drop of water, but I drink at least 2 cups of coffee everyday.
4. I can't live without Soft Lips chapstick in Cherry.
5. I competed on the Women's Mining Team in college.
6. Yo Gabba Gabba creeps me out and both my kids hate it.
7. I am a chronic knuckle cracker. 
8. I love all things coconut flavored.
9. I am pretty flexible about most stuff with the kids, but I am stickler for bedtimes and we stick to them 99% of the time.
10. Procrastination is my middle name.

The questions I was asked to answer: 

1. What word do you find you often spell incorrectly? maintance, maintence, maintenance
2. Is it better to get married when you’re younger or wait until you’re older? Not sure what the definition of younger or older is but I would lean toward the older side. I was 27. I think it give a person the chance to find out who they are as an individual before committing to be part of a team.
3. Earrings, Bracelets/Watch or Necklace – which one is always on, no matter what? Watch. I have 7-8 and even though they are all at different times (set ahead so I won't be late) and I usually use my phone to see what time it is, I never leave the house with out one.
4. The job you never want to have? Any job where I would have tell a perent they lost a child. Not because I don'[t think it is a good job, I just know I am not strong enough to do it. I admaire the love and strength those people have and the comfort they bring to those families.
5. Your Favorite Charity? Tough one because we give to a few - the local Rescue Mission, local Food Bank, Women's and Children's Alliance, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and in the past Susan G Koman
6. One website you visit every day? facebook
7. The hardest period in your life? 98-99 - I had done horribly in college the year before, was living at home not getting along with my parents and then one of my dearest friends passed away from leukemia at 20.
8. Dog or Cat? Why? Cat right now - because they are easy. Maybe a dog someday for the kids
9. Tennis Shoes or High Heels – and the what are the favorite pair? Out of the 2 choices, tennis shoes, but I love flip flops. Favorite pair of tennis shoes - white converse
10. The closest thing to you that is red? inside of my coffee mug
11. One Fool Proof Way to Cheer You Up? hearing my kids laughing and playing together

 

 If you were tagged by me, here are your questions:

1. What is your favorite new blog/website of 2011?
2.  PC or Mac? Why?
3. What one word best describes you right now?
4.  Did you go to your Prom in high school? If so, tell me a little about it.
5. What one song causes you to sing along, out-loud in the car?
6. Tell me about your dream vacation.
7. City mouse or country mouse?
8. Who is your celebrity crush?
9. What is your least favorite household chore?
10. Pickles - dill or sweet?
11. What is your go-to quick dinner recipe or meal?

 I am tagging:

1. Miranda @notsuperjustmom   
2. Kate @ksluiter   http://sluiternation.com/ 
3. Ryley @ryles  http://www.thatsmyfamilyblog.com/  
4. Grace @ourarmswideopen  http://arms-wide-open.squarespace.com/ 
5. Alicia @mrshiggison  http://lifewithladies.com/
6. Melissa @dentistmel  http://www.the-mommyhood-chronicles.com/ 
7. Lindsey M. @OTandET  http://tidbitsparenting.blogspot.com/ 
8. Jessica  @southbellebaby   http://www.thesouthernbellebaby.com/
9. Brooke @brookelinville  http://mommalytics.com/ 
10. Alena @Alena29  http://charminglychandler.com/
11. Joanna @RaisingMadison  http://growingupinoz.com/ 

The Pink Hello Kitty Party

Well, I think we managed to pull it off. Peanut said she had a blast and I think all her friends had fun so I am going to call it win on the Pink Hello Kitty 5th Birthday Party.

As you guessed, it was a Hello Kitty theme with LOTS of pink, some red, and a little turquoise blue. I started working on it about a month ago and I have to say that for only working on it some evenings and a little on the weekends, it turned out  pretty good. And it also didn't cost us an arm an a leg.

(prepare for a photo dump)

When everyone first showed up, we had a little fun playing "carnival" type games, coloring and temporary tattoos (which were  HUGE hit).

We had some bowling:

Pin the bow on Hello Kitty:

And coloring/tattoos:

After everyone got a tattoo and we played some games, it was time for treats! Instead of making a cake (which I did for her actual birthday) I made these tasty cake batter rice crispy treats that I found on Pinterest. I bough a couple boxes for the decorating icing and found some super cute Valentines sprinkles in the dollar bins at Target and put those on the table and let the kids go at it. They were all so very serious about their decorating, but they had a lot of fun.

Then we had eight over-sugared 5 year olds, so we actually went outside and played on the tree house, swings and ran around to burn off a little energy.

Once everyone had a little fresh air, we came in and Peanut opened her presents. She got some really nice board games and other gifts from her friends including a Hello Kitty purse, backpack, sunglasses, lip gloss, shirt and headbands.

I made up a bunch of goodies to snack on during the party and actually bagged up a little of each treat for everyone to take home in a gift bag along with a Hello Kitty color book, markers and extra tattoos.

Treats included: cake batter rice crispy treats, oreo cookie pops, pink chocolate popcorn, marshmallow pops, wrapped mini candy bars, red/pink/white M&M's, and cute labeled water and Kool-Aid.

You can see the rest of the decorations and more (yes, more) photos on flickr.

Happy Birthday, Peanut! I hope #5 will be one to remember!

Happy 5th Birthday, Peanut!

Dear Peanut,

How did you get so big so fast?  You went from 0 to 5 in like 60 seconds!

 And has that ride been a wild one! Dada and I joke that you were 4 going on 14 this year with the drama and the pouting. Because the drama - can be a little much for Mama. And the whining - it drives me crazy, but we are working on that now that you are a "big" girl and in the school age class with the other big kids.

Speaking of big girl and school age, your teaches asked if we could move you up early because you just fit better with the kids that were already in kindergarten and you were getting bored in the 4's class. You are ROCKING the 5's/school age class and we couldn't be more proud. Although you need to slow down on the kindergarten talk because Mama is just adjusting to you being in the 5's class and I am going to need all the time I can get to wrap my head and heart around the thought of you actually going to kindergarten.

You are SO smart and quite the talker. You love to sing-talk to yourself when playing or getting dressed and you request the "Firecracker Song" (Firework - Katy Perry) every time we are in the car so you can sing along. You also request the "I Smell Like a Mini-Bar" song (Friday Night - Katy Perry) which makes me cringe in fear (and laugh at the same time) that some one else will hear you and I won't get my Mom-of-the-Year award for letting you listen to that kind of music.

You still love ballet and dancing and princesses. You are very excited to dance on the stage again this year for your recital. Tutus and tiaras are are large part of your wardrobe.

Speaking of wardrobe, you still prefer dresses and skirts and dislike "hard pants" (jeans) although you are warming up to them with right shirt.

You are a young Picasso or some other famous artist. Everyday you bring home a stack of color pages, collages and paintings from school and you are always asking to paint or do art on the weekends. I hope your creativity and passion for art does nothing but grow with you.

You are kind and sweet and giving. You even tolerate your little brother most of the time. You are constantly giving hugs to your friends and teachers and several of them have commented how empathetic and understanding you are with your friends when they are sad. The one thing you have been working on, according to Ms. Barbara, is not being so "directive" with your fiends. But I think it is okay to be directive ~ someone has to be in charge and it might as well be you!

This past year has gone by too quickly, especially with Mama being gone as much as I was for work, and I am sorry for that. I hate to miss a single soccer practice, bedtime story or bath night. I know you don't like it either, but work is part of who Mama is.

Year 4 by month: