Arden’s 3rd Birthday

Invite

Angelina Ballerina is Arden’s favorite. Too bad the ballerina mouse’s peak popularity was about 5 years ago. There is NOTHING out there besides some crazy expensive stuff on Amazon and Ebay and a few books and dvds. I did the best I could. Which meant I had to make a bunch of stuff. And I was trying SUPER hard to keep everything under $300. I almost did it too!

I made and bought cheap just about everything. My mom made the cake. A lady from Kennett, MO made the cake topper and most of the other food was bought! I started working on the decorations the week before and it took me the whole week to finish. I ended up taking off work on Friday to shop for food and finish the decorations and get everything ready. Mom and dad came up to watch the kids for me later that night so I could go up to the church and set everything up. Jarrod was working again. It took my friend Lori and I about 2 hours to get everything set up (including Arden’s new princess tent I bought- which came with zero instructions!- That was fun!).

Decorations

This right here is resourcefulness at it’s best! The base is a flipped over paper plate, with a piece of foam hot glued to it then I made the Angelina Ballerina part out of cardstock (designed and printed) sat it on top of the foam to hide it. Then I covered the rest of the plate in little pieces of cut up tissue paper. I made a pole out of 3 balloon sticks wrapped in tulle, and stuck 6 balloons on top for a balloon topiary centerpiece! I think they turned out cute and were SUPER cheap! I had planned to make 6, but ended up only making 5 before I wore out. It worked out great, as we only had 5 tables at her party anyway! I might attempt these again. I got pretty proficient towards the end.

I saw this idea on pinterest and thought “That looks easy!”. . . Easy, yes. Horribly time consuming. . .uh, heck yes! I had no idea it would take me about 4 hours total to make this! I worked on it for 3 days! I had planned to hang it, but since I used a wooden 3 instead of cardboard it was a little on the heavy side. We ended up just setting it on one of the tables and it still looked cute. Not sure if it was worth the effort though!

Another pinterest idea. A pvc pipe with streamers and decorations hanging from it, attached to the wall by hanging it on 2 command hooks! This was genius, since we can never figure out how to hang stuff at the church since we don’t want to hurt the walls. It looked cute and was (again) super cheap! I bought the fans online and added some extra decorations to them to fit in with the rest of the décor. This took be about 2 hours total. I did it Friday morning while I was alone! There is no way I could have worked on this with the kids home! I cut all the streamers out in 7 ft length strips and then hot glued them to the pipe. Some on the front and back and tried to overlap them so the wall wouldn’t show behind it. I ran out streamers so the very last white part is a little wider! But I think for the money and time it was a pretty decent investment!

The cake topper was just the cutest! She was perfect!

Super cute!! And it was SO yummy! Gigi makes the best cakes!

The top was Strawberry pink, and the bottom was white cake tinted purple! How perfect?!

It’s so hard to decorate the fellowship room at church, since it’s so huge! It’s perfect since there is room for a bouncy house and for the kids to run around, but to try and decorate it is a nightmare! I think I did pretty good considering!

We had brunch, so for food we had doughnuts (with sprinkles of course) and doughnut holes, fruit, mini quiche, mini cinnamon rolls, mini muffins, deli spirals and I made sausage balls, too. By far the best idea ever. Birthday brunch was so easy and good!

I found these amazing tablecloths on sale online! I paid less than $25 for them both?! And the best part is we can use them again! Next time I will remember a steamer though!

The drink table. I made this Happy Birthday Banner with a borrowed Silhouette cutter. It took me a bit to figure it out! But it also turned out cute and really wasn’t that hard or expensive. The paper was on sale at HobLob 1/2 off!

My mom made the little puffy tulle wands! They were so cute!

Table centerpieces with some confetti on the table worked perfect!

Party Pictures!!

The kids played in the tent almost as much as they played in the bouncy house!

Arden, Darcy and Laney.

We ate, opened presents, played on the bouncy house, had cake and ice cream and did lots of visiting! It was a fun FUN party! It was a lot of work but worth it to see her smile!

I tried so hard to get a picture of her in her cute shirt and skirt at the party, but it just wasn’t happening. So I tried again when we got home. This is the best I got.

Happy- Birthday Girl!

Over it- Birthday Girl. . .

Meltdown-ing- Birthday Girl!

It was a looong morning and she was ready for a NAP!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!

Labor Day weekend

Jarrod had to work Friday night and part of Saturday, so the kids and I went to Hickory Ridge Friday night and spent the night so Jarrod could actually rest when he got home! We played and swam and took naps! Saturday at lunch Doug and Kay and Grandpa came over and ate at mom and dad’s. Then Jarrod got there later in the evening and we headed to Searcy.

The kids built a bear cave with the couch cushions.

I think her baby is a little big . . .

Jarrod finally got off work and met us in Hickory Ridge and we got on the road to Searcy. On the way, Stratton decided his tooth was loose enough and it needed to be pulled. I gave him a kleenex and a few minutes later he had it out! Three down in a month!

We got to Searcy late and tried to stop at the Bulldog for supper but Miss Attitude was in one of her lovely moods so we just went on, then she screamed the whole drive to Searcy that she wanted to eat supper and go back!! Not happening sister. We slept in on Sunday and had breakfast before getting around and then we met Jennifer, Daniel and Archer for lunch. We all went back to Terry and Margie’s and ate a late supper from Taco Bell! Then we waited till Nan and Pa got home and visited with them before heading to bed. Sunday we had lunch with the whole crew!

Sunday afternoon we left the kiddos with Nan and Pa and headed back home. Sunday night we had dinner at Matt and Carla’s for Matt’s birthday and then went home and crashed! Jarrod got up Monday and rode with Dillon to Hickory Ridge to get my car. Then came home and worked in the yard and garage. I took the opportunity to clean the kids rooms out since they were gone! I pretty much spent all day going though closets, bins, drawers and toy boxes! It was productive though! Lots of stuff for the garage sale next time! Jarrod loaded up most of the stuff and took it to our storage unit. Then Nan and Pa brought the kids back and we had supper and went back home and got ready for a BUSY week!

A year has passed. . .

And hardly a day goes by that I don’t think about her.

 

There are several times this past year when I will see something or remember something randomly and it hits me and I will have myself a little cry. Like cooking with her dressing pan, or finding a card she made Stratton in his treasure drawer, or even seeing a crystal hummingbird in TJ Maxx. Ha! I had to buy it by the way, since it made me cry and all!  But overall, I think it’s been an easier year than I thought it would be. For all of us. I think in my opinion we’ve all done better and been better at going on without her than I thought was possible. Not that we are used to it, but I think life just moves on and we all had to deal with that rather quickly. It’s of course not the same and I feel like we will adapt to the new normal, but we will never get used to her not being around. I miss her terribly some days more than others,  and sometimes I think about her and get really sad, and sometimes I think about her and smile. I guess that’s the cycle of grief though. I can easily let myself get emotional over the fact that my kids are growing and changing and I wish they could have had more time with her, but then I have to remember that while they can’t see her and have a relationship with her on this earth anymore, she is a part of everything they do and she is continually watching them grow and experience life just from a different perspective. This year has just been one roller coaster, and I have learned so much. Mostly, that we can’t take one single day for granted. And that I am so greatly blessed!

Bye- Bye Summer.

Well, the last days of summer have come and gone. It’s hard to believe it’s September. We are busy as ever! The last few weeks have been slower than normal. I think getting back into a routine of being in school has helped a little.

They sure drive me crazy, but I love them so!

We’ve spent time at Gigi’s pool. . .

Arden at the Kirksey family reunion

Look at that! They are touching and not fighting! Cherish the moment!

We have had ice cream a time or two!

We had family pictures made with a local photographer. Still waiting on her to finish editing!

We had a few really nice cool days, so we enjoyed playing outside!

One day after school. This was in the 5 mins in between school and our house! He was pooped! And then he was furious I took his picture!

One Saturday evening it was nice so we went to play putt putt but they just wanted to ride the animals, go figure!

We have a bunny living around our house somewhere. We have seen it a lot lately!

Arden is really testing us! Hello, terrible three’s!

Snaggle-tooth has been to the dentist and lost 3 teeth in the past month! He’s racked up $15 from the Tooth Fairy!

Arden’s first day in the White house!

Arden’s first day in the White House!

August 24, 2015

Montessori School

Arden got to move up to the White House! I think she’s perfectly happy, but I’m the one that’s is not dealing with it so well! It just makes her seem so BIG! I’m not ready for her to grow up. She had a great day and her new teachers just went on and on about how sweet she is! I think she (and I, eventually) will like the change. It’s just hard leaving the ladies at the Byrd house. I have really come to know them and trust them. I know how much they love Arden and I just hope she gets the same attention and care at the White House, and I’m sure she will! We just love Montessori!

First Day of 1st Grade!

Actual 1st day, not such a great morning.

Retake on day #2- much, much better!!

Stratton’s first day of 1st grade!

August 17, 2015

Valley View Elementary

Mrs. Valerie Mason’s Class

Helmet and Heels 2015

Seriously one of my most favorite nights of the year! We had so much fun! Lori got us a table and invited a fun group of girls, there was only one I didn’t know. But we had a blast! I even got picked up and dropped off at home which was super nice! Jarrod’s parents came up and helped Jarrod out since he had to work late and thought he might have to go back in before I got home. But he didn’t have to go back out after all. I didn’t stay out too late, I think it was about 9pm when I got home.

Oh, and we got picked up by the limo. . .I will never forget this moment as long as I live! Too hilarious!

Coach Taylor and Lori, Jesse and me after the event in the parking garage- oh, the memories!

We are ready for football season to start now!