Melanie's guide on how to turn a playgroup into a "non-birthday party"

How do you turn a playgroup into a "non-birthday party"?

It's easy.

First you set up a swimming pool play group that just happens to be on the child's birthday.

Next, you make out silly paper invitation (in Microsoft word) for said "play group" and hand them out to 11 boys and 1 girl (yes...those were the numbers), adamantly reminding the parents that this is a "play group" not a birthday party so no presents are necessary.

Next on the list...cupcakes.

To wrap things up...a pinata.

All at the last minute. No more than 24 hours of prep work.

It's easy....no hassle...no stress.....no worries because after all......it's JUST a play group.

3:00PM everyone shows up and.......it's a blast. Everyone has tons of fun!

You can do it.....I just did and it TOTALLY worked!

(You see, we only allow our kids "friend" parties every other year starting at age 5. Since Gabe had his friend party last year......this was definitely NOT A PARTY!.....Yeah right.....Who are we kidding?)

Happy Birthday Gabe.....I love you little buddy!

Pinata fun

I finished it off (or "won" as the kids called it)


Gabe munching on his goodie bag from the pinata

I think all in all Gabe had a fun birthday. He chose the menu for the day (breakfast:cinnamon rolls, lunch:Costco hot dogs and rootbeer, dinner: homemade pizza and more rootbeer), he didnt' have to have "quiet time" and he anxiously anticipated opening his presents all day.

"The Loot"


Then....brownie sundeas complete with chocolate brownie, neapolitan ice cream, chocolate fudge, whip cream, and sprinkles.

We had family movie night (Gabe picked the movie) and the kids went blissfully off to sleep.

I can't believe he is 6 already! Wowsers!

All right......Who authorized the streaking? The "censored" version

Does anyone else feel a draft?

(Okay, so not as cute as the original post, which was not so censored, but I forgot all about the crazies in the world. Better to cover him up but you get the idea!)

Comments to laugh by....

102 degrees outside.

Gabe says (as we walk out of church into the 102 degree weather): "Mom....are all Sunday's hot because "sun" is part of the word?"

Love it.....love him!

Calvin and Hobbs inspired "Worlds most powerful computer[s]"

My kids can't get enough of Calvin and Hobbs. Thanks to Rob and his old-school library we are the proud owners of 6-7 books. Gabe LOVES them! He is the first in bed at night so he can read them and can be found at any time during the day in his room reading page after page as well.

I'm not sure this is such a good thing. Calvin gets into a lot of trouble. Like my kids need any ideas. Oh well.

The other day I was trying to ask Gabe a question and he just stared and stared at me without saying a word. Finally, in a frustrated voice, I exclaimed, "Gabe!" "Hello." He blinks and says......"Oh, sorry mom. My brain was on screen saver."

Laughing I said, "Where did you get that from." The answer: "Calvin and Hobbs."

Of course.....I should have known.

Anyway, Saturday night Gabe asked if we could make "the worlds most powerful computer." "What?," I said. He gave me a "duh Mom" look (you know the one) and found the comic strip so I would understand.

"I AM THE WORLDS MOST POWERFUL COMPUTER....ASK ME A QUESTION?"

"WHY DOES THE WOLDS MOST POWERFUL COMPUTER WEAR LITTLE RED SNEAKERS?"

"I AM THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL COMPUTER. ASK ME A QUESTION."

"DID CALVIN CLEAN HIS ROOM AS I ASKED HIM TO, OR DID HE SPEND THE WHOLE MORNING PLAYING WITH A CARDBOARD BOX?"

"UM...SYSTEM ERROR...DELETE QUESTION AND TRY AGAIN."

"What happened?"......

"Mom booted me up here."

So....this morning I mustered up all the craftiness I posses (which is next to nothing), pulled out a couple of old moving boxes (that hopefully we will not need for a VERY long time), and came up with these.

Super, I know. They will probably be broken in a few hours but hopefully they will enjoy them until then.

A birthday....a bit of bowling..and a swimming pool

It seems like I used to live for blogging. Now I live....and barely blog. Oh well, I guess there is a season for everything. Just thought I would share some pictures of what we have been up to lately. Super boring, I know, but I just don't have anything profound to say.

First of all.....Father's Day. These are the boys projects this year. Rob needed something to put on the bare walls in his office and I came up with this brilliant idea (saw it on a home decorating show once). Some day one of these may be worth millions!

(L to R: Isaac's, Cael's, and Gabe's)

The infamous monkey face. I will admit. I taught them to do it.....and, even though they are cute.......I still do the best monkey!

Our new SUPER, MASSIVE pool! At least the whale slide is cool! The kids love it and that's what counts....right?

My birthday. I'm now a 28 years old with crazy hair. Super!

We actually had a pretty fun filled day. Kids swam, I watched a little girl that did NOT have any understanding of the word "SHARE." Then.....we took naps. I took the boys bowling, all by myself, in the afternoon. Not the best idea. A little nuts (I'm sure you can imagine). Gabe had a good time bowling AND rocking out to the tunes over the loud speaker (of course). Cale thought it was his turn every other time and Isaac thought it was his turn EVERY time so....it was a bit crazy (and I say just a bit to be nice). Next time Rob will be coming with us (a lot.....we have a free kids summer pass...two games a day ALL summer.....FREE! Because my kids are so young I don't even have to rent shoes for them so it really is completely free. Log onto www.kidsbowlfree.com to see if a bowling alley near you participates in this program too (there is one in Salt Lake....I know that much).

So cute!

Rob had today off (Hanford Friday--he has every other Friday off). We spent a good 4 hours out in the back yard preparing it for sod (we called our manager/landlady today and told her that we were going to sod the part that they ripped out and would deduct the price from next months rent as long as she sent her husband over to move the sprinklers...another complicated story. She agreed.....YEAY!) Anyway....so when we were done Rob filled up the kids pool and had a swim. Looks super fun!

(I did manage to snap a few photos before my retina's were burned out)

Just because he's cute. "Cheese"