gift for baby "i"

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the cloth bag the gift went in which was perhaps my favorite part!

Advent Calendar

I got this a few years back (as gift? not sure), but it is another Martha Stewart craft kit. It was really easy to put together and super fun for O. On day 25, the front door was opened to reveal a big present inside. I wish it was reusable, but think it is a one-time use thing.

Christmas Treats

You can hardly tell, but there are snowflakes on top of the chocolate cupcakes. I used Martha Stewart stencils from Michaels for this (with powdered sugar). The first time I tried this, the snowflakes disappeared. I thought it was because the cupcakes were still warm. The second time, they disappeared again. Either you have to do it immediately before serving or these particular cupcakes are just too moist for stenciling!

Christmas Decorations

I can't believe how many decorations I seem to have, but when I put them up around my house and take pictures of them, I see room for more. Xmas is the one time where I don't know if I'll ever be able to lose the vintage cheer!

Hmmm....which one?

I had some fun over at picnik.

Little Owl

O's 2nd Birthday

When we got home from Saskatchewan, O went crazy over helicopters and airplanes. Lucky guy has a helicopter flight school owner for a father and lives 5 minutes from the airport, so he gets lots of exposure to both! Having a helicopter/airplane party was a no-brainer this year!

More of O's Party

Just to show how much he loves planes and helicopters - this is what we found him looking at while we were preparing for the party. The kids had a treasure hunt outside where they looked for airplanes and helicopters. They then turned in the planes/copters for their favor bags, which they had to fill at the "baggage claim." One friend of O's came over a few months later and asked his parents, before arriving, if he might find helicopters in the yard again. I was very lucky to find helicopter/airplane/transportation things at Michaels - build your own helicopters, scratch art, and magic grow capsules. Oh, also note the airplane-shaped airplanes (hard to see, but look really hard). I think Amanda gave me the airplane mold before O was born!

10-10-10 Surprise

My family was all planning to come out to BC for my graduation and then I learned that, previous this, my brother was planning on having a big bash for his 10-10-10 birthday party (October 10, 2010). I was telling my sister about this and she had the idea to see if we could get some of his good friends to fly in to BC for the celebration. They came and we surprised my brother pretty good (unfortunately he wasn't feeling super well, though). Not pictures are all the people, the good East Indian food, and all the presents that came in 10s (e.g., 10 books, 10 fire starters, 10 kinder surprises, etc.).

Ideas for Party #2

Favors:

http://www.thebirthdaypartycompany.com/products/show/288/Robin%20Hood%20Pencil

http://www.pepperspollywogs.com/blog/index.php/robins-hood-party-tale/

Games

http://www.pepperspollywogs.com/blog/index.php/robins-hood-party-tale/

It's been done before:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moline/4380451064/in/set-72157594570276788/

http://weefolk.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/robinhood-in-sherwood-forest/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelingteaparty/3319426566/in/pool-1114384@N20

http://handmadecathygaubert.blogspot.com/2008/10/our-forest-party.html


Graphics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatocoolville/2089865244/

If I were to invite a dog...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mercuryglassmoon/4058763691/

Felt Campfire

I made this for Beginners Sabbath School. It is the lesson where Jesus feeds breakfast by the sea to the fishermen. I hope to put up a pattern for it soon.

Playhouse

I made this playhouse using the patterns and inspiration from www.homemadebyjill.blogspot.com with a few of my own adjustments. Oliver's cousins love it, and I hope that Oliver will grow into loving it as well!