Baby Shower Gift

I created all these fabric hair accessories and gave them to my sister-in-law, Rosanne.

Rosanne is having her first baby in September.

 

 I found this board complete with rainbow colored elastics and knew it would work perfectly to clip on the hair accessories.  The best part is that Rosanne can hang this in her baby's room and it will look like a work of art!  I also gave her a couple of baby headbands I created out of knee high nylons and ribbon.  She can choose a hair accessory and clip it on to the coordinating headband.  I love to be crafty!

New & Improved DCK4Dad

Each baby shower I go to must include my signature gift, "A Diaper Changing Kit for Dad."  I'm pretty sure I got this idea online a couple years ago.  Introducing my newest product: Diaper Changing Kit for Dad - the Deluxe Travel Edition.  (I totally made this up out of things that I already had at home.  My brain is pretty clever, don't ya think?) 

I wrapped up this kit in bubble wrap tied it with a ribbon. 

I attached a cute teething ring and a description of the kit:

Boys will be boys

and THAT'S why  I'm

presenting you this:

Diaper Changing Kit for Dad
the Deluxe Travel Edition

This kit is perfect for the on-the-go
Dad.  It includes:

- SLASH GUARD
  (garbage bag apron)
- NOSE PLUG
  (clothes pin)
- HAND SAVER
  (plastic gloves)
- CAR/CARPET SAVER

  (changing pad)

- DON'T STRESS THE MESS
  (wipes)

BONUS iTEMS:
- PROUD DADDY BUMPER STICKERS
  (to proudly display on his "Swagger Wagon")
- GREEN ENVY BLANKET
  (because everyone will be green with envy of this
   awesome gift)

The outer wrapping is the green blanket (mentioned above).  I attached a baby card to some fun ribbon and.... viola!  The gift is ready!

**My original Diaper Changing Kit for Dad includes: wipes, garbage bag apron, a clothes pin, and a pair of plastic gloves.  If I happen to have an extra baby onesie around, I include one with the kit.  It's a fun gift to give and always gets a good reaction out of the people at the baby shower.

I Should Get Paid for Advertising This:

ATTN all you mommas out there who have kids who eat ALL.DAY.LONG. 

Wanna know what my favorite child proof door lock that REALLY works? 

Well, here it is! 

BUY IT!

Put it on your pantry door.

You'll love it... GUARANTEED!

*** Disclaimer:  This product will not keep your kids from begging for food. 

That's what duct tape is for... j/k ;)

Brian's 5th Birthday Festivities

For months, I'm talkin' like since last fall, Brian has asked almost daily when he can have his Curious George birthday party with his friends.  The day before the party, the boys helped me make the Curious George frosted brownie cake.  Brian and I made this poster for the front door:

I drew this for a the "Feed George Bananas" game:

The party turned out really well.  All eight kids Brian invited came.  We cleared our table and chairs out of the dining room and spread out a picinic blanket on the floor.  The kids had popcorn, we played laundry basket basketball, "Feed George Bananas," and made Space Mud.  The Space Mud didn't turn out, but the kids had a fun time helping me squish it.  Next it was time for presents.  Brian opened all the gifts in less than 5 minutes.  He loved his gifts and thanked his friends.  The brownie cake, mint chocolate chip ice cream, and Hawaiian Punch were all a big hit.  Each kid left with a goody bag.      

Here's some of the party animals:

Yesterday, Brian woke up, dashed into our room, jumped up and down, and said over and over, "It's MY birthday!  I'm 5 years old."  I made Brian a french toast birthday breakfast. 

Here's the birthday crown that Brian made in preschool.  He brought Nutty Buddy bars for the class treat. 

Here's his birthday cards and stickers.  Brian's main present this year was his bunk bed and new bedroom.  (We're still finishing up his room and we'll post pictures when it's done.)  Brian also got a couple of new shirts 

Brian's main present this year was his bunk bed and new bedroom. (We're still finishing up his room and we'll post pictures when it's done.) Brian also got a couple of new shirts, some glowsticks, a laser gun (his favorite), and these quiet activity folders I made him.  These quiet folders were a bigger project that I thought they'd be.  I had to color all the pieces, cut out the pieces, glue them to the folder, get the folders laminated, cut out all the pieces, and put velcro strips in the right spot.  Phew!  I'm glad that project is over with.  I was even smart about it and had small mailing envelopes laminated to the back of the folder to store all the pieces.  The boys loved playing with them and hopefully these activity folders will keep them quiet in church. 

For dinner we had a pepperoni pizza picnic in the dining room. 

We had another frosted brownie cake for dessert.  We felt bad because we couldn't find the special Curious George cake topper we used for the party.  Oh well. 

So we now have an official 5 year old in the house!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! 

This morning, my boys woke up to this on the back of their bedroom door: 

They were so excited that they got a "heart attack" from their Mommy and Daddy.  Then as they got to the kitchen, they were greeted with this scene: 

I had some extra cards that I made for Card Club and wrote out a nice love note to each of my boys.  Don't I have three good lookin' Valentines?!

Brian, Tyler, and I made french toast and orange juice for breakfast.  After breakfast, the boys went on a search for numbered hearts (Brian's learning his numbers) and they found some candy at the end of the search.  I made homemade chocolate chip truffles and these tasty pretzels: 

I promised Sam that I would make our traditional Valentine's treat, no bake cherry cheesecake.  My little boys insisted on helping.  The cheesecake didn't look beautiful but it made with love.  We had one of my favorite meals for dinner, balsamic pork and pasta along with some homemade bread. 

We hope all of you had a fun Valentine's Day too!  Isn't this the sweetest preschool project ever?!  In case you can't read it, the heart says, "I love you THIS much!"

Grandma's Early Christmas Gift

Here's a video of Grandma Hallstrom opening her early Christmas gift from her entire family.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My Early Christmas Gift for Grandma Hallstrom

Baby Shower in a Box

My sister, Jenny is having baby #2 (a baby girl) in January. My parents are especially excited for this baby because she'll be their first granddaughter. Jenny had a baby shower in Las Vegas over the weekend. No one in my family could be there, so the women in our family sent her a "Baby Shower in a Box." I did all the shopping and gift wrapping and Sam mailed the box off for me. Oh man, it was so fun shopping for a baby girl!!! Here's what we bought for the baby:
Below is the cutest little onesie from my mom. It says: "I'm nuts about Grandma." It's a newborn size and I told Jenny that her baby girl must wear this when Grandma comes to visit

A Wedding Gift - a framed piece of paper that says:

SAMUEL

Local origin of name: English

From the Hebrew root name "Samuel"

Meaning

(Shmuel) 'His name is God' or "God has heard' 1 Samuel 1:20

~ Emotional Spectrum ~

Sadness is soon overcome by joy with Samuel.

~ Personal Integrity ~

You would never make a mistake placing your faith in Samuel.

~ Personality ~

Always happy, never bad, full of pep, and never sad.

~ Relationships ~

Many people will find him their best friend.

~ Travel & Leisure ~

Born to travel!

~ Career & Money ~

If money is not wasted in youth, he will handle it well as an adult.

~ Life's Opprotunities ~

A mentor in the early years will help him achieve success.

LISA

Local origin of name: English

From the Hebrew root name "Elizabeth"

Meaning

(Elisheva), 'Oath of God' or "God is my oath' Exodus 6:23

~ Emotional Spectrum ~

If you are looking for laughter, Lisa is your person!

~ Personal Integrity ~

No one would doubt her word.

~ Personality ~

Pep doesn't always come in pills.

~ Relationships ~

Doesn't need much out of life but to be loved.

~ Travel & Leisure ~

Born to shop!

~ Career & Money ~

The right job is within her grasp.

~ Life's Opprotunities ~

A combination of education and planning will server her well.

Married for Time & All Eternity

in the Palmyra New York

Temple May 10, 2003

Happy Mother's Day to ME!

Isn't this CUTE?! This is Brian's gift to me that he made in preschool. He was so proud of it and loved showing me his RED handprints. (Red is his favorite color.) Anyway, my favorite part about the card is how Brian is sticking his tounge out in the picture. That's MY BOY!