Gettin' Ready...

With Tyrel and Lexie's open house approaching, I had to get to work.

I made banners...

and prepared to paint my bargain finds. (4 pieces for $4!)

Little did I know that a yellow jacket nest was under the bench that I innocently set the sander down on. The yellow jackets didn't like it and started buzzing around me. I tried to shoo them away... I wasn't there to bug them. And then one BIT me! That made me mad! Now I was out to get them. When it started to get dark and they were all coming back home, I sprayed the heck out of the nest and watched them drop and die!
Ha, ha... take that! 

Amber Munt generously let me borrow these awesome crates. I sprayed them down and got them ready for the open house.

After several coats of white paint..I was closer to being ready.

Originally Lexie and I talked about using old lace curtains/tablecloths on tables, to place centerpieces on. Then I saw this on Pinterest and thought I could recreate it. I cut LOTS of different sizes circles out and then hot glued them together (after hand sewing them together was WAY too tedious).

I had this idea. I wanted to put together each area and then take a picture, so I would know how it would look, before the day of. I thought this would help, so that others would know how to help me set up.

The week of the open house I invited Mom, Candice, Karen and Amber over to help me set the scenes. They were patient with me in my scatter-brained indecisiveness.

After several hours of talking, decorating, adjusting and readjusting, we had a good idea about the set up of the open house.

Thanks ladies for putting up with me in the HOT, HOT summer evening. Your support was invaluable to me.

Girl's Camp

Happy Campers?
We'll see...

This year girl's camp was at the ward level. My friend Keri was called as Camp Director. She spent a lot of time and energy making it cute for the girls. I'm pretty sure they will have LOTS of fun.

Levi turns 2!

For Levi's 2nd birthday, we celebrated in Grueber Park (sp?).

Candice's dad and step-mom won a jump house rental from a silent auction and gave it to their family to use. Levi was the lucky recipient.

Candice made cute CAR themed food.

Levi was fun to watch as he tried to blow out his candles.

Oops.. things got a little juicy.

With some sibling and cousin help, the candles were finally extinguished.

The cousin crowd descended upon the birthday treats. Yum, yum.

Hard to believe that Levi is already 2 ...time flies.

Happy Birthday Big Boy Levi!

Taylee the Baker, Maker and Cake Decor-a-ter

Taylee said to me, "I wish I could make and decorate a cake for someone."

(I'm guessing she secretly would have liked to have made/decorated Treyson's cake.)

I suggested she call Candice and offer her services for Levi's upcoming birthday party.

She didn't call.

Then as Candice and I were texting later on that week, she mentioned Levi's cake and not being excited about making it. I told her what Taylee said to me and offered her services. She thought that sounded like a great idea... an answer to her prayers. :) 

Later that day, she asked Taylee to make a CARS cake, like one she had seen on Pinterest. Taylee was sooo excited!

The morning of the party, Taylee got to work.

Taylee did the bulk of the cake, but I have to admit I jumped in a few times..just couldn't resist so much fun.

Taylee couldn't wait to use this sugar paper. It worked perfect for the checkered sides.

Look what I made!

The finished cake on location with Lightening McQueen candle.

Nice job Taylee!

Happy Birthday Treyson!

Treyson requested a PIZZA party for his 11th birthday.

He wanted pizza for dinner and pizza for cake.

He was very specific about what kind of pizza he wanted for dinner... Idaho Pizza Company.

Jason and I didn't know of one close to us, but Treyson said he knew of one. He described the location the best he could..and we found it.

This boy LOVES his food!

We invited Grandpa Waite and Grandma McKinley over to celebrate too.

Earlier in the week Treyson was talking about his birthday... wondering what he might get for gifts. We talked about how turning 11 is getting older and how maybe he doesn't need as many toys. Like maybe clothes might be nice. (Just trying to prepare him a little.)

He LOVED the mp3 player Rylee passed along to him.

He was perfectly happy with the clothes he received (jeans, t-shirt, jacket, shoes). He also appreciated the Zhu Zhu Pet house Abree made him, the candy and book from Grandma, money from Grandpa and a model car too.

Pizza Cake; white cake "crust", strawberry jam "sauce", grated white chocolate "cheese" and fruit roll-up "pepperoni" and "green peppers". Sounds kind of strange, but it was actually good...sweet, but good.

Grandpa Waite helped Treyson put together his model car... a Ford Mustang. Treyson has a thing for Mustangs. :)

Happy Birthday Treyson!!!