11 Years Ago Yesterday

11 years ago yesterday I gave birth to a 6 pound 1 oz baby girl a month premature. We spent our first two weeks together hanging out in the NICU getting to know one another. Anika has always been a fighter, a ball of energy, a girl that wants to do it all and who is not afraid of failing. We celebrated Anika's birthday last weekend with a little BBQ and sleepover for her and a few friends, then the next day Wayne and I took her out to lunch (a tradition we do with each kid on their birthday) - she chose McMenimans because they have her favorite Cajun tots and rooftop seating. We had to take cover shortly after we began eating though because an exciting lightning storm started happening. It made the meal memorable. Afterwards I took her school clothes shopping and then we got pedicures together. 

11 years ago yesterday I was a scared girl - I had a sick baby and had no idea how I was supposed to take care of an infant. 

We've both done a lot of growing since then.

Happy Birthday Anika - you'll always be my little baby girl.

~Melissa

TWIX® BITES Pirate Birthday Party

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. #EatMoreBites

 Last weekend we had Noah's birthday party at the McMinnville Aquatic Center. Naturally since we were playing in the water - and it's our schools mascot - we added a little pirate theme to the party and made it extra fun with TWIX® Bites.

It's always slightly more challenging hosting a birthday party at a venue - set up time is really non existent, and while the kids are playing you find yourself rushing to clean everything back up. There are a few upsides though - it is short and sweet, meaning you don't have to entertain people for a long period of  time at your house, plus you don't have to clean your entire house either. ;)

Like I mentioned, in addition to a pirate theme, had a chocolate loving theme - with TWIX® Bites, and we went all out! The cake, cookies, ice cream, even goody bags were filled with the TWIX® Bites for everyone to feast on! I think I pretty much bought the whole supply of them off of Walmart's shelf last week! They are found right in the candy aisle, plus there is also a coupon on Social Twist for a $1.00 off two 2.83 oz or larger bags or $3.00 off of two 6 oz or larger bags.

Cookies are always a favorite treat with the kids (and adults!). In fact, I kept the snacks really simple this time since the party time was 2-4 pm and the kids were swimming for an hour of that time. We had mini peanut butter and jam sandwiches, potato chips, apples with caramel dip, squeezable yogurts and veggies with ranch. Everything was kid-friendly!

The cookies were super delicious, very easy to make, and just one more way to #EatMoreBites.

Ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup softened butter

1 egg

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups chopped TWIX® Bites

In a large bowl mix sugar and cream until blended. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Mix in the flour and baking soda, then add chopped TWIX®. Roll dough and wrap in cling wrap and refrigerate until firm - about an hour. Slice the cookies approx. 1/4" thick and place on a cookie sheet. Bake the cookies at 375 degrees for approximately 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let the cookies cool for 1 minute on the sheet and then transfer to a wire rack. 

I've also begun pre-scooping ice cream prior to when the party starts. It saves time and you can jazz it up a bit with other treats like the TWIX Bites I used. I chopped them up and mixed them in two scoops of old fashioned vanilla ice cream for our guests.

The biggest feat which I (attempted to) accomplish was a one of a kind cake for Noah. It's kind of turned into a challenge for me every birthday now. I used to just purchase a cake because it freed up a lot of time, but since when we have a party outside of our house I enjoy the challenge of creating something for the kids, like Anika's flower cupcakes or Emma's princess cake. No they don't look as good, but it's homemade cake and created with love by my two unprofessional hands, plus, I've learned as long as there's lots of goodies on it (like TWIX® Bites!) the kids don't care how it looks!

So I attempted to make a pirate ship. It's not perfect - I got frustrated, but it kind of resembles a pirate...something. I think by the look in this boy's face it proves it's worth the effort.

All in all we had a fun little party that Noah won't be forgetting about anytime soon. After our feast on treats he opened his presents while his friends patiently waited and then they were all off to swim for an hour! We had our party on a Sunday, and the Aquatic center is normally closed with the exception of party rentals, so we had both pools to ourselves - the kids loved it!

Thanks #CollectiveBias for helping make this pirate party even more memorable!

~Melissa

Happy Birthday Peek-a-Boo.

 

Ten years ago today I was one scared lonely girl who grew up quickly as I became a mom a month earlier than expected.

 

I never left Anika's side at OHSU until she was healthy enough to go home with me.

 

Without her, I wouldn't be the woman I am today.

 

We've been through many ups and downs and life events together, but looking back I wouldn't change anything.

 

Happy Birthday Anika, we all love you!!!

 

~Mom 

Sleepover Fun.

Anika celebrated her 10th birthday a week early this year, doing what she's been dreaming of for a year and a half now - a birthday party sleepover in a hotel.

After weighing the pros vs. cons I proposed a deal with her. One nights stay in a hotel with her two best friends instead of a party and presents. Of course she said yes.

We arrived at check in and the girls were in awe - a one bedroom suite with a jacuzzi tub. They staked their claim on the 'spaces' and quickly changed into their swimming suits for the pool.

Later when tummy's began rumbling we let the birthday girl make the difficult decision on where to eat dinner. She  chose the rooftop at Mcmenamins on down town third street, which was a 'fancey' restaurant to the girls.

After their fill of strawberry lemonades, pizza and burgers, we walked across the street to Serendipity's for double scooped ice cream cones.

We eventually made it back to the hotel for round two of swimming, and then headed back up to the room around 9:30 to sing Happy Birthday and devour cupcakes.

The girls then wanted the old lady (yes, me!) to leave them along, so they shut their doors for a girls night of Disney, nail polish, board games, and of course junk food.

I didn't really think they were going to pull an all-nighter though!! Approximately every 15-30 min. they came in to see if it was 6am yet so we could go down for breakfast.

After essentially zero sleep I drug myself out of bed at 6:15 to take them down, and they loaded up their continental plates.

One of them started tiring, and she crawled back upstairs and crashed on the floor for three hours!

The other two did not.

Before we packed up and headed for home I let them have one last dip in the pool.

Anika and I made it back to the house around 11:30, and she instantly laid down and passed out until 2pm, then she walked into the living room, sat on the couch, and was out again until 6:30. She then ate a couple bites for dinner and went to bed at 8:30. My go-go-go hyperactive little girl has never been so worn out in all of her 10 years!

I'd have to say that might be the most epic sleepover to date.

And lots of memories were made for little girls.

~Melissa

Happy Birthday, Little Man.

Three years ago today I had my last baby.

 It's hard to believe he's going into preschool this fall. I can't imagine my life without a little boy to make our family complete.

We had a blast at his party last Sunday, with 85 degree weather I made nearly 300 water balloons for the kids, and then somehow water guns and super soakers got brought out and everyone had a water war. :) Noah was having so much fun he didn't even want to do cupcakes, ice cream sundaes and presents!

Noah wanted a Team Umizoomi party, all blue and orange, so that's what I attempted to create. It seems like when you are the one preparing the party, not as many good pictures get taken. At least I got a few. Someday, someday, I'll get a better camera. Until then, these will have to do.

Happy birthday little man.

~Melissa

Princess Tea Party Birthday Ideas

Hello everyone! Happy February! This month is going to fly by super fast...considering its the 7th of the month before I even get around to blogging! I have lots of stuff going on right now, and I have some possible personal life decisions coming up over the next week, and I will have to sit down and figure out all of the pros and cons of the situation to see which path to choose. I'll talk more about it later. :)

Right now I wanted to show you some highlights from Emma's 5th Birthday Party last month. She had a Princess Tea Party theme, and we made some tea party snacks together and a few simple decorations that the girls absolutely loved.

We created red velvet cupcakes, complete with pink frosting and pearls and flowers on top! The flowers were created by rolling out gum drops and gummy rings! The girls really loved helping make those. 

Next, we made tea sandwiches, I bought a loaf of white, and a loaf of wheat bread, then used my flower shaped cookie cutter, and of all things a shot glass to cut the middles out of each flower! I then swapped the colors so the bread was flip flopped! We smothered them with cream cheese and strawberry preserves.

We also made little baby skewer with meat, cheese and olives. The kids devoured them instantaneously (OK, the adults did their fair share too!)

I don't have a good photo, but I also made a fruit platter with raspberries, cantaloupe and pineapple, and using a heart shaped cookie cutter  we cut out some very special heart shaped pineapple pieces. We opted for apple juice instead of tea, and we have a heart shaped ice cube tray, and I added raspberries to the water before it was frozen. Lastly over there in the right side of the photo are pickle wraps. I never thought anyone would like them until a friend of mine made them once.... so simple, diabetic friendly.... all it is, lunch meat, spread cream cheese on it, then placed a long sliced pickle in the middle and wrap them up. It really is good!

I didn't have the best quality of photos because my camera screen broke, so for right now we are down to the smart phone! If you want to take a peek of photos from the rest of the party HERE.

~Melissa

Backyard Birthday Bash

The birthday party was a hit. The weather turned out beautiful. A little on the hot side, but a great evening for a BBQ. I followed along with Anika's polkadot theme and my dear friend Carolyn bought her a cake to match. She ended up having 7 friends over, 5 of which stayed the night, and of course all of the family. There was plenty for them to do while the grown-ups BBQ kabobs.... a 'beauty' station where they painted their faces and gave each other manicures, then proceeded to the photo back drop to pose for mommy paparazzi. Then there was bean bag toss, which I created from an old sheet of plywood, a skill saw and some paint. We also played balloon tennis, and squirt guns.

We then all feasted on an array of food, then sang happy birthday to the birthday girl and ate cake while she opened presents. The adults began to leave, then the girls party began. The tent was set up outdoors and sleeping bags brought out, along with Cheetos and juice boxes for midnight snacks. ;) We had an extra treat because coincidentally there was a meteor shower all night, and the girls loved looking for 'shooting stars'.

The next morning (after not much sleep) The girls feasted on bacon and eggs before going home. 

It was a fun, exhausting weekend, and summer isn't winding down here yet! Camping at the beach the weekend of the 24th, and then at the end of the month we are hosting our last big BBQ of the year...and it just so happens to be on a Blue Moon. If you don't know what that is, its when a full moon occurs twice within one month. My friend will also be bringing her game of Bunko to teach us all. So our BBQ theme is Blue Moon BBQ and Bunko ;). Should be fun, and you'll know I'll have something creative to post for that!

my beautiful 9 year old

Photo Shoot!

daddy with his princess Emma

My fruit Kabobs - complete with cantaloupe polkadots on top :)

my handsome little man enjoying all of the girls, and cake!! ;)