My son turns 7 next Tuesday, which I can barely believe.  He's my baby and it's hard to see him so independent, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't glad that he can get himself some breakfast.

That being said his birthday party is this weekend and here are a few things that are stressing me out.

1. My dad and step mom are coming as well as my mom and step dad.  I don't know about you but this makes for a Saturday Night Live skit.  Often times I find myself wondering how these strangers turned into my parents.
2. Throw in some stepparents and add some in laws and now you really have a party.  The sad thing is that I see my in laws way more often than I see my own parents so I'm actually more comfortable around them.
3. Years of birthday parties have taught me a few things.  Don't make them very long.  If you don't want to serve lunch or supper have them in the mid-afternoon.  Always have alcohol....not for the kids but for the grownups.
4. Crafts and boys.  All of my kids, including my son, love to make crafts, color, paint, glue, use glitter....you name it.  The problem is that I've come to find out that not all boys like to craft.  Little G wants to paint some ceramic dogs at his party.  I'm stressed thinking about handfuls of boys with paintbrushes in my kitchen.  I should probably put the real dog outside.
5. Gift boxes.  For some reason I'm ALWAYS afraid that I'm going to run out of them.
6. The cake.  This year my son wants me to make a dog cake.  I looked everywhere for a cake pan--no dogs--no bones.  I'm winging it with two heart shaped cake pans.  This may turn out disastrous.
7. Presents.  Anyone else have too much crap?  I'm actually not sure I can take any more Lego's, cars, light sabers or Nerf guns.  I want to raise my children to be grateful and respectful and sometimes I feel like birthday parties teach ungratefulness and disrespect.

Of course, getting to watch my son blow out the candles, seeing his face when he opens that gift he "just had to have" and hearing him say "this was the bestest day ever" make me forget all the above.

After a disastrous first attempt that stuck to the pan so pathetically, I made this version after a few Coronas. I think this may be my new tradition. Drink a few Coronas and then attempt to make the cake.

I was happy with how it turned out. So was Middle G.

Our weekend flew by. I can't believe that Monday is near over already. It started out with Middle G. sneaking in to my room around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and dressing up my foot. Yep...that's a picture of my heel.

Here is Oldest with her Percy Jackson cake.  It has Percy and Grover on top.  She helped make it and seemed to enjoy that.  We colored the batter blue because in the book Percy and his mom like blue food.

Tom's folks and my folks all came out to go to dinner with Oldest and to attend our high school musical--FOOTLOOSE.   My mom and step dad our not pictured because they decided not to attend the dinner. 

They brought their gigantic four month old puppy and no cage so I guess it's best if they didn't stay for dinner but this brings me to THE QUESTION...



If you are invited to dinner to celebrate your granddaughter's birthday are you expecting your child to pay for your dinner?

In other words, was it our responsibility to cover the cost of everyone invited?  Keeping in mind that we went to a pricey Japanese restaurant?

My hubby's parents gave him money for their share.  My dad and step mom said "Thanks" and offered no cash.

Is this my fault for not being more specific with the invite?


Should I have made it clear one way or the other?

If you were me how would you handle it?

If you were my dad would you have expected us to cover the cost of your dinner?

Trick or Treat was a somewhat wet event at our house. Thankfully the rain didn't drench the evening but it made picture taking quite difficult. Here is part of the mob we trick or treated with.

It was so much fun! But now I have too much candy times three so we are set till Easter.


Middle G played soccer on Saturday and for the first time this season we won! It was total skill and the fact that the ref actually called a penalty on the opposing team for pushing helped a lot! I just had to post this picture of my G and her teammate M. G is in 3rd grade and M is in 4th and my MIL is still insisting on how tall my kids are. Tall compared to what??

We were again bombarded by birthday parties. I can't seem to escape them. It must be because my kids are just so well liked. Either that or everyone gets as many as we do and has learned how to weed better.

Here is a picture of Little G at my SIL house. Because of soccer obligations we could not attend my niece's birthday party and went up on Friday instead. My SIL made these cute apple teeth out of apple slices, marshmallows and peanut butter. They would be even funnier with red apples!

The girls had a blast playing dress up! Here's a picture of oldest, middle and my niece. My long weekend is coming to an end. Today was our last day off for teacher in service. Back to the grind tomorrow. Turkey subs...and yes we really have to slice the turkey!

This weekend was again jammed packed full of fun! Friday night was our elementary school Fall Festival, complete with D.J., which my kids absolutely LOVED!




Here's Middle G with one of her good buddies, M. M. was out of school most of the week because she had the flu so it was no surprise to me when Middle G. woke up on Saturday with a fever!

Our weekend was jammed packed full of fun and activities. Friday night we all went to B.O.B., which stands for Battle of the Buildings. Our four elementaries, two intermediates, the middle school and the high school all battled it out for the right to fly the B.O.B. banner.

Our little elementary had quite the turn out and I'm not sure my hearing has returned to normal. My son was beside himself with excitement because his teacher as one of the participates. Maybe next year I'll represent the cafeteria....


This is a picture of our principal running in the plunger/volleyball leg of the contest. That takes some serious concentration.



Our team color was purple and some of the teachers had this iron on on the back of their shirts, which I thought was quite clever and had to take a picture of it. Sadly, we didn't win, but we came in a strong second. The high school won again, which is quite the rip off. For three reasons, they have an entire P.E. department and we have a gym teacher, they have home field advantage as the event is held at the high school, and no one from the high school comes to the event as they don't really care what there teachers are doing...

Next year...we're taking them!



My son's party was a hit and the kids were all very good and not too loud. I think I kept them moving and busy the entire time so they really didn't have a chance to get out of line.

Out of the 12 we invited 9 showed up which I thought was pretty darn good.

It's time, again, for Friday High Five and this week I'm listing five events we have going on this weekend. It the time of the year where it's go, go, go around here.

• Tonight is B.O.B. What is that? That is Battle of the Buildings. Our elementary vs. my daughter's intermediate vs. the middle school vs. the high school. I think you get the picture. The problem is...where do we sit. With the elementary and wear purple or with the intermediate and wear pink....I think I'll sit with the elementary and let my oldest sit with her friends if she wants.
• Soccer. Don't tell anyone but I'm getting a little bit tired of soccer. Especially rainy cold soccer starting at 9:30 in the morning.
• Birthday party extravaganza. It's my son's sixth birthday party. Here's hoping that my headache isn't migraine status by the end of it.
• Parties bring guests and out of town company. My in-laws will be staying over night until Sunday.
• Football fun on Sunday: Here's hoping the Steelers win and Baltimore and Cincinnati lose.

What are you planning for the weekend?

1. Pack, pack and pack.
2. Rig up the video player in the van (love that thing!)
3. Fill the van with gasoline.
4. Wrap and try not to forget my nephew's present.
5. Clean up the entire house so I don't have to do it when I get back.

Anyone want to come over and help?

What do you have planned this weekend?