So it is Friday, and I haven’t managed to post one time this week! I thought once school ended that I would be posting like crazy, but it just hasn’t been possible. One of the things taking up so much of my time is a perfectly awesome house that my family will soon be moving into, Lord willing. I will be happy to share pictures and details once the deal is final, but until then I will continue to dig deep into my filing cabinet for paperwork that is requested, drive all over town to 3 different branches of my bank to request a cashier’s check (only to be told that the seller’s realty office messed up and I have to go do it again. And again! 4th time was the charm!), and spend 15 minute increments of time locked behind my bedroom door so the person on the other end of the phone can understand what I am saying without kids screaming, “MO–OM!”
Anyway, today was a special day. My Jason had a birthday. I had a few chances to serve him today, but I wanted to specifically write about the kids. They have been talking for weeks, making plans about what they were going to do for dad for his birthday. Miranda asked last week if she could get online and do a search for how to make birthday party decorations. I allowed her to, and she found a couple of good ideas. Not having a lot of money to spend, they got resourceful and began designing their party. Here’s a picture of their set-up.
They wanted to eat outside and enjoy the weather, so we cleaned off the table, put up the umbrella, and they decorated. Last weekend at a birthday party, my girls learned how to tie together clover flowers to make bracelets, etc. They came up with the idea themselves to tie enough together to decorate for Dad’s birthday. The poor girls started on Sunday afternoon and had a strand 8 yards long. Unfortunately, it was dried and brown by Thursday so they had to start over. They spent a few hours outside today finishing them up. Of course, my girls don’t feel like anything for Dad is complete without including UK (University of Kentucky), so that is why the pendants hanging from the garland. They spelled HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD, UK UK UK UK.
Also, we tried out one of the ideas that Miranda found online, tissue paper flowers. There were tons of websites with tutorials and videos to show how to make these, and they turned out really cute. You can see them in a vase in the center of the table.
One of Dad’s favorite things is Sour Patch Kids. So we bought the biggest bag we could find and had them sitting on the table when he got home from work. I made Stuffed Green Peppers and Homemade Breadsticks, which Elsie and Grant ended up wearing on their face for a couple of hours after dinner since I was cleaning up the kitchen.
Jason is not a cake eater, so I made a cherry crisp and stuck a candle in it. Funny thing is that Elsie blew out his candle with one little blow before he could even try. She couldn’t even blow out her own candles 2 months ago at her party, but she sure knew what to do with Dad’s!
I just wanted to praise my kids a little for being such a servant to their daddy. Yes, he probably would have preferred to sit and relax instead of using the coupon to “take a walk” with the kids. And he might have liked a little more personal space after dinner was over, but instead he let the kids pester him to death. But I know he understood the point of all this affection: they all love him and wanted to make sure he had a good birthday.
Jason Enjoying Sour Patch Kids