Withdrawal Symptoms...

It's been almost two weeks since I have blogged and I'm going crazy about it.  I am having severe withdrawals!! The last two weeks have been so busy.  Here's where we have been...

More blog updates soon!

Pink Carpet Princess Party!

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe July 4th holiday!!  We had a great weekend spent with family and friends and we even got some AMAZING news from my baby brother!! 

For this post, I am linking Sydney's 6th Pink Carpet Princess birthday party pictures to Lucky Linky Tuesday at Lucky Star Lane.  

Here's one little sneak peak from her VERY girly party.  Click HERE to read the post.

Our Messy Artsy-Craftsy Afternoon!

Growing up, my mom always had such creative things for us to do in the summer.  We had so much fun doing projects and activities and I know that's why I still love to be creative today.  I asked mom for a artsy-craftsy goopy recipe we did as kids and she pulled out a sheet she had saved from the Houston Chronicle.  She made me a copy and Blake and Sydney have been asking to make a few.

We headed to USA Toy, which is so fun by the way if you have never been.  They have everything from party supplies, to toys to teacher supplies.  Right up any kid's alley!!  I wanted to get that thick butcher paper that a lot of restaurants have on their tables for the kids to color on.  They had it for .15 cents a yard.  What a steal!!

Once Brody took a nap, we made the fingerpaints and goop.  I told the kids to go grab an old, messy t-shirt so they wouldn't ruin their clothes.  I thought that Blake might not enjoy our crafty afternoon since he is a big boy of 10 now, but he still loved it.  I think it's any kid's dream to get all messy, it's more fun!!

Here are the recipes, so easy by the way! 

Fingerpaints

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup of cold water

Craft/poster paints in various colors

Mix to smooth consistency.  Cook until clear and pudding thickness.  Add poster paint or other coloring while warm.
  

I divided the mixture in three bowls and we used different colors.  I made the mistake though of not cooking it (kids must have distracted me) and so they had runny watercolors.  So I will be making this again (the right way)!!  I even had fun painting, notice my rainbow in one of the pictures below!!

Goop

1 box of cornstarch

Water 

Food coloring

Mix cornstarch with enough water to make a pliable wet substance.  The mixture holds its shape when worked with hands, but "melts" when hands are still.  Food coloring can be added for color.

Blake and Sydney LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the goop!!  I added green food coloring to make it look monsterish.  They fought over it and so next time, I will make two batches - one for each of them!  Also, by this time, the butcher paper was starting to get wet once they started putting the goop all over it.  The next time I make it, it will definitely be an outdoor activity!!!

Here are some of the pictures of their fun!

Sydney before the messiness begins!

Look at Blake's mean face, he didn't want to share goop!

Overall, it was a fun afternoon, enjoyed by all!!

Friday Question Friday...

TGIF is all I can say, it's been a crazy week here in my household and a week of recovering after seven games of baseball in 95 degree Texas heat over three days.  A week full of kids fighting, baby refusing to nap and sleep at night, endless dirty diapers, a messy house, mounds and mounds of laundry, messy counters, and now, this momma needs a nice, long holiday weekend to chill out before our Baseball World Series begins next week for seven endless days!!!

1. What is one thing you miss the most about childhood?
Having absolutely NO cares in the world is what I miss most about childhood.  I can't just pick ONE thing, I have too many and have to list them!!  Having everyone do stuff for you was the best!!  Mom and Dad catered to our every whim - bought my clothes, groceries, cooked my dinner, washed my clothes.  I loved playing until dark (with no fear of child predators or kidnappers), had no worries about money, played all day with friends during the summer, swimming all day, spending the night out, skating at the skating rink and not actually thinking the music is too loud, Silver Spoons, Diff'rent Strokes, Punky Brewster, Three's Company, CHiPs, Gimme a Break, Little House on the Prairie, Wonder Woman, Saturday morning cartoons - they were the best, going to AstroWorld, watching The Goodyear Blimp fly over our house at nighttime all lit up in the fall and going to dinner as a family at J. Christopher's - they had the best pizza and they have since closed.  I loved my childhood and hope I can create wonderful memories for my own kids so they can look back and think I had a lot of fun growing up!

2. Are you still friends with your friends from high school?
Yes and No.  My really good friends from high school are far away and not close to where I live.  Thanks to Facebook, I have stayed in touch with them but I wouldn't say we are close anymore.  Since I haven't moved away from where my high school is, I run into people all the time.  I love it!!  It's so fun to see them with kids now and how they turned out. 

3. Is there a catch phrase, cliche, or word that just drives you bonkers every time you hear it?
"It is what it is", facetious, Festiva (as in Ford), pupil, nosh, spasm, tresses, sushi to name some.  I'm sure I can come up with some more, pressure, pressure to get my blog post finished!

4. What is one thing that you think symbolizes America...besides "Old Glory"
The Statue of Liberty, the city of Boston, baseball, apple pie and freedom.

5. What are your 4th of July weekend plans?
Well, since we have been gone the last two weekends watching my brother's baseball and having our own baseball games, I am looking forward to a low-key kind of weekend.  My sister's new pool is all finished up and we will probably hang out at the pool with family, watch fireworks and try out some new recipes.  I made a July 4th tutu for Sydney and need to get some cute pictures of her wearing it.  That's all, nothing fancy. 

Happy 43rd Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Forty-three years ago, on a very hot day in Detroit, Michigan, mom and dad were married.  That is such a long time!!  Four kids and eight grandkids later (and one on the way), they are still going strong!  When I called them tonight to wish them Happy Anniversary, I couldn't reach them and called my dad's cell.  I knew he would answer and as I guessed he had taken his bride to one of their favorite restaurants for dinner, how cute!!

They have both taught me such valuable lessons in life.  Lessons on compassion, determination, motivation, the importance of an education, selflessness, patience and kindness.  They have given me my creativity and made me the person I am today.   Thank you mom and dad for loving me and for all the wonderful gifts and memories you have given me in my life!  I look forward to the day that Tim and I can say we have been married that long!!!  I love these wedding pictures of theirs.