It's Over

We started school this week.  I am mourning the quick passing of summer.  I love summer.  It's so summery.  I thought I would be ready and excited for this school year, but I'm not.  I feel just like I did at the end of summer when I was a kid.  It's like grieving the loss of being carefree.  That's right, I said grieving the loss.  That is how hard I take summer coming to an end.  I had to share my sadness.  I know I will move on and get excited about new seasons and new experiences this year, but right now, this week, I'm sad.  I miss summer already.  Goodbye frolicking at the park.  Hello work and staring out the window wishing I could sit outside for hours for no reason.  Goodbye swimming pool.  Hello hoodies.  Goodbye picnics.  Hello boring old brown kitchen table.  I think you get the point.

SAHL signing off.

Awww...Look at That

Is this the sweetest thing  you've ever seen, or what?  I dare you to show me something sweeter.

It's Been Too Long!

I've missed you.  You old you.  You, the one person who reads this.  When I say you, I mean me.  I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who reads this, but I'm going to update myself anyway.  Here are some pictures from the Big L's Robin Hood birthday party.  I know, I know, it was almost a month ago now.  Better late than never?

This is the castle entry.  Biz wanted the "party room" to look like the castle.

I hope you can tell what these cookies are supposed to look like!

Here's the birthday boy with his arrow cookie in his bow.

The party kids!  Aren't they cute with their Robin and Maid Marion hats?  Did you notice that Aevie had to be a Robin Hood?  Of course, because Bizee was.

My beautifully talented sister, Amber made this Pin the Tail on Prince John poster.  Isn't it so awesome?

She was so close!

The bow and arrow contest.  She looks like a natural.

Here are their bags of "gold."  When I say gold I mean candy.  The kids had to find these little bags on the grown ups or the "rich" and try to steal them.  I didn't get any pictures because I was running away from greedy hands!

3 Reasons I love Staying at Home

1. If all my shorts are dirty I can just cut off a pair of sweatpants to wear for the day. This is totally acceptable in my line of work.

2. My lunch hour can be anytime from 11 am to 3 pm. Or, on a good day lunch can actually last from 11 am to 3 pm. When I say lunch, I don't mean a break. I mean, actually eating.

3. Number 3 really should be dedicated to the fact that staying at home allows me to be with my children all day. Although this is wonderful and the real reason I stay at home, I want to dedicate number 3 to something else. The third reason I love staying home is...wait for it...I only have to wash my hair every 7 to 9 days! Isn't that beautiful? Doesn't it almost bring a tear to your eye? I know, be jealous, be very jealous.

I totally forgot...

about my blog.  oops.  Oh well, I'll write something tomorrow.  Yes, tomorrow.  I'll think about it tomorrow, at Tara.

SAHL, signing off.

Fun Flower Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes for Ilsa's party in Minnesota.  I stole the idea.  I admit it, but it was such a cute idea!  Last year, a little girl on Kyle's basketball team brought them for treats.  Her mom told me how to make them, so maybe I didn't steal the idea.  I just, sort of, borrowed it.

For these cupcakes:

Bake one dozen E, D, N free cupcakes.  Spread each cupcake with icing.  Cut big marshmallows in fours crosswise.  Lay sticky side of marshmallow in sprinkles or colored sugar and arrange on cupcake to form a flower.  For the inside dot I just piped it from a bag.  Super easy!

Ilsa's 1st Birthday Party!

Ready to open presents.  Okay, so I'm ready to open presents because the Shib had no idea what she was supposed to do.

See?  Look at the confusion on this child's face.  I don't remember mine, but I feel like 1st birthday parties have to be somewhat traumatic.  Maybe that's why we don't remember them?  Or is it that whole one is way too young to remember anything?  Either way, trauma.

This is a picture of Biz smashing balloons because, again, Shib was traumatized by the first pop and had to go inside.

Here she is totally freaked out and not understand what was going on.  She was a trooper though, she just sat there looking stunned.  Not one tear.

As you can see the eating of the cake was a little bit of a scary endeavor as well. 

She got a little more comfortable with the sugary goodness though.

Happy to comfort another baby.  I think her maternal instincts kicked in and she had to be happy and strong for little pink baby.