My cake adventure

The kids' birthdays are 2 weeks apart so we have done joint parties for the last 4 years. I've always ordered their cakes, but this year I'm trying to save some money and I'm doing it myself. My friend Carrie in Iowa has helped me out with some pointers and I have been practicing. The party isn't until the 14th, but I want to be sure I can do this. And if I can't, I want time to order cakes!

Danae is going to have a cupcake cake in the shape of a princess dress and David's is going to be a shield. I'm working on the shield today. I'm intimidated by the whole process, but hopefully I'll come up with something that doesn't look like an 8 year old did it!

I'm so glad for Pinterest for ideas!

We went to Chicago!

Last weekend, our family went to Chicago and met up with my mommy friends. We went to Legoland and Build A Bear and swam at the hotel. It was a really nice get-away. The kids made their first Build A Bears. Danae made a Hello Kitty and David made a puppy. He bought a Spiderman costume for his. It was a fun thing to do.

Legoland was amazing. I can't believe all of the things they can build with legos! The kids enjoyed the rides, the movie, and building cars they could race.

I loved the time with my mommy friends. We "see" each other online every day, but having real time together in real life is wonderful!

If it doesn't move, laminate it!

I have an office supply obsession. As a child in a store with my mom, I didn't ask to go look at the toys. No. I asked to go look at the office supplies. You could find me drooling over stationary when I was 12. I was a strange child.

I think I might be a stranger adult. But that's another post.

I own a laminator. It's a simple one that I bought when Amazon had it on it's Deal of the Day. Actually, I bought three of them - one for me, one for the church, and one for a friend. Share the office equipment love!

Today I laminated and laminated and laminated. I bought Danae the All About Reading curriculum at the beginning of the year, but I didn't buy the folder games. David is showing some interest in reading so when I ordered him a workbook, I went ahead and got the folder games as well. So that they last through all of the wear and tear of my littles, I had to break out the laminator. Twist my arm.

So today I laminated 10 folder games and we played two of the games - they're fun!

And I got to use my laminator and my paper cutter and my tiny sharp scissors. It was a good day.

I'm ready for Spring too, small people

My kids are still at the age where they think I have control over everything. This morning David asked me to "turn off the sun" because it was shining in the window on his face. I told him I couldn't, but that I could move the blinds. That seemed to work for him.

And Danae has been complaining endlessly (working on that complaining thing) about how cold it is. She is ready for it to, "be hot every day" so she can play outdoors. Believe me, I'm ready too children!!