Hello Kitty Birthday Bonanza

I suggested to my daughter that this year we could have her birthday party at a fun place this year, like a rec center or goofy golf and whatnot kind of place. I was excited at the thought of not cleaning my house and making food for everyone and not cleaning up any mess when it was over. Win-win, right? Well, she said she wanted a Hello Kitty party at our house with a pinata in the backyard, because that would be pretty and fun. So I get out the broom and dust rag and cookbooks and got to work. I made the pinata and was quite proud of myself until I burned a couple of good sized blisters into my hands with the hot glue gun (it is a dangerous tool, people!). In the end we had a lovely party with all sorts of family and friends. And now I have an entire year to figure out how to persuade her to agree to a party elsewhere.

When Summer's Beginning To Give Up Her Fight

It happens every year and I always think next year will be different. Summer is ending and I've forgotten to savor every minute of it before the nasty winter comes barreling in. We got so caught up in getting ready for school and not having enough work and repainting our kitchen cupboards (still not done) that summer has sailed right passed us. We didn't get to go camping this summer and we got such a huge, lovely tent last year. Totally missed the state fair. Couldn't quite fit in that trip to Michigan to visit relatives, and watch the wonder on Willow's face when we cross state lines, because it's more magical there. But there isn't time to mourn the death of summer because there are school field trips, birthday parties to plan, and a million other things I need to do this fall. But before it's too late, maybe we can squeeze in a couple of more nights catching lightning bugs, or go see daddy's band play one more time.

Walmart Lovelies

I just can't stop looking. This website makes me simultaneously want to spend all my free time at Walmart and never go there again.

Really?

So, Willow was playing with her cousin recently and he was telling her about bad guys, the bad guys that his dad catches at work (he's a cop) and Willow says "Bad guys? I thought God washed all the bad guys away! Are they coming here?!!"

Really?

Hyperventilating

Comfest starts in seven days. I need at least three weeks of preparation. Shit.

Ribbit

My husband found some wee baby frogs at a job site this week and they have now taken up residence in my living room in a HUGE aquarium. It started off as one tiny frog (think the size of a nickel) and he thought it was just SO cute that he had to bring it home. So we made a little habitat for it in a five gallon bucket and it really is just so cute. The next day he brings home two more. "They were right by my truck. I didn't want to run them over, so I brought them home." So the next day here he comes with a giant plastic container with FIVE, count 'em, five more frogs. We had to borrow a large aquarium and make them a little frog jungle. They really are very cute and the kids are getting quite good at bug catching to feed the frogs. But seriously, one more frog and it's either them or him. Anyone want a frog?

Strawberry Fields Forever

Last night Willow had her second sleepover with her best bud Finn. This time around we let them do all sorts of magical grown up things that she had been asking to do, like go to the park after dark and catch lightening bugs, have cookies and milk right before bed, and watch a movie AFTER bedtime. Well, you will be glad to know it was all a smashing success. We caught thirty lightening bugs with the help of the neighborhood kids. They learned about dunking cookies in milk, after which I heard, "Mom, why didn't you ever tell me about this? Do you keep ALL the good secrets?" And three Scooby Doo videos later when I had to tell them that, seriously, it is time for bed, all I
could think was, you guys were so much cuter

last year when your little four year old brains couldn't stay up past ten. It was MIDNIGHT! My five year old can now stay up until midnight. It's all down hill from here.

p.s. we let all of the lightening bugs go, except for the one that got smushed in the lid. oops!