nanaCompany

:: jack 'o lantern!

This weekend we were up to our ears in Halloween fun.  Nicholas had new and old friends come over Saturday and I whipped up a party faster that you can say "jack o' lantern!"  Of course, I didn't sit down all day, but the kids had fun.  We did cookie decorating, pumpkin carving, balloon drawing, play-doh, and baking: we baked a Boston Cream pie and a pumpkin pie, from scratch.  Nicholas had been begging me for days to make the pumpkin pie and I was sure he wouldn't like it ~ when it was his turn to use the mixer, he said, "ew, that pumpkin smells disgusting!"  But, after a can of sweetened condensed milk and several dashes of spice, he did, in fact, like  it.  Of course, gobs of whipped cream helped, too.

The house was filled to the brim with chocolate and candy corn and sweets (and pizza), so you can imagine how we all felt at the end of the day.  As usual, I forgot to take pics, so the next morning I snapped a shot of what was left over:

Someone, please, tell me to stop eating the pumpkin pie, it is sooo good!  (I didn't even think I liked the stuff!?!)  And in case you thought I forgot...

A needlebook tutorial is absolutely coming next.

xo amy

... we had a little Easter party

When Nicholas' best friend Elijah came over to the house yesterday, we had an improptu Easter party...

There was an Easter egg hunt.  Anne hid all the eggs in our house (I think there were 96) while I took the kids to the park.  Of course, Elijah found the most eggs and the most gold coins ~ that was no surprise, because he's quick as a fox.  (When I try to give him a kiss, he always gets away!) 

The kids helped me put marshmallow bunnies on "sticks" ~ to be toppers on the cupcakes.  For some reason, that was a big hit.  They loved that ~ and putting the cupcake liners in the pans, beating the cake with the mixer, and eating the batter with their fingers.

We boiled and decorated Easter eggs.  Two dozen of 'em.  And if I had to vote, I loved Nicholas' blue egg the best...

There's Olivia and Elijah...

And here is the cake that Anne decorated...

So, the children had fun at our unplanned party, 'cause those are the best sometimes, don't you think?  Now it is actual Easter Sunday and I have to go clean up the mess before our friends come over... We're having a ham today!  I hope you're all enjoying the weekend...

Happy Easter!  

xo amy

a balloon story

oh, how those kids went crazy over the balloons.  And when the sun came out next day after Livi's birthday party, we thought we'd take those balloons out for some fresh air...

Several passersby yelled out, "Make sure those balloons don't carry her away!"  But Livi handled them just fine...

Until Nicholas asked if he could have a turn holding the balloons, and Olivia said, "okay."  She handed them to him...

But he never got them...

They floated so quickly, high up into the sky.  Up, up and away...

Oh, the agony.  My kids sobbed ~ loud, tearful, whimpering sobs~ the whole walk home.  I almost wished I'd never bought those horrible balloons in the first place, they were so sad (though I was trying not to laugh, it was just too sweet).  Back at the house, Grandma, Grandpa and Daddy already knew what had happened... they'd seen the balloons flying high up in the clouds.  And later, my kids were philosophical about it.  Nicholas told Olivia he'd get her more balloons on his birthday and that her balloons would travel all the way to Saturn before they would pop. 

"Saturn?" 

"Yeah, Saturn." 

"Okay." 

And I told them that Saturn is a balloon's most favorite place in the universe... and, of course, that there would be more balloons... someday... soon...

Olivia turns 3!

It was sunny and bright the day before and after, but Saturday was just plain dismal.  Gray.  Thankfully, Olivia didn't notice ~ she was too excited about her birthday party ~ and we were excited for her because she's so dang sweet.  Now as head of the party committee at my house, I can attest to the extra effort it takes when dealing with a limited budget, as well as the flurry of activity required when all the princess party planning has been put off until a week before the party... (bad mama!).  But it all came together quite nicely, I think, bit by bit...

She was truly most excited about decorating her birthday cake this year, so I really had no choice but to make her a princess cake ~ she's been watching the how-to video on our iPad (howdini.com) for months.  She's watched that video so many times, she can quote every word.  So, my helper and I baked and decorated this Cinderella cake together.  Livi added all the little pink pearls herself, and that was by far her most favoritest part ;)

We also made cupcakes with sprinkles and lollipops... (lollipops are one of Livi's major food groups, ya know, along with macaroni & cheese, pretzels and chocolate)...

See the Katie Daisy designed cupcake wrappers?  So pretty.  There is a whole spring line at Target right now using Katie's designs, including the paper plates we used, the pretty gift bag, and also a tea pot and cookie jar!!

I wrapped Livi's presents in paper and fabric... the ribbon are fabric strips from my stash (sometimes I had to sew two strips together to get the right length), tied simply.  It's nice to know that I'll never be limited to my actual ribbon supply when I can easily make my own!

Treat bags were filled with chocolates.  Luckily, I had these Martha Stewart bags on hand...

I made the tablecloth with pink gingham and used this tiny berry calico as an accent at the joined seams...

A bunting from the children's room was moved out here for the party...

Those giant 36" balloons are from Sweet Lulu and they were indeed the largest balloons anyone had ever seen.  The kids went crazy over them (kind of a funny story, later).  You should have seen me struggling to fit all five of them, all blown up, into my car... it wasn't going well until a very sweet lady came to my rescue.  I actually don't think the balloons' size translates here in the pictures, nor do I think my florist filled them up to capacity, but they were impressively large.  (The local shop charged me $4 per balloon for helium, just for your reference.)

Then, of course, our princess had to have a throne... I made a pillow with pom pom trim, a mini bunting with her name on it, and threw a few princessy things on an armchair... ta da, a throne! 

You know ~ a place to accept visitors and receive gifts...

She loved it.  (Which is precisely what I wanted.) 

Happy Birthday my dear Olivia!  xo Mommy