Happy Birthday to Me

Jordan AGAIN didn't plan a surprise birthday party for me.  Maybe for my 40th???  Although I don't want to think about getting to that age, actually.

It's OK :)  We just played it low-key and had a fun lunch at Cheesecake Factory with my parents (they seem to always be in town for my birthday, so, lucky me!) with the most delicious MANGO LIME CHEESECAKE.  YUM-O.

Then, later that week, we went to Famous Dave's with a few friends:

The happy couple :)

Rachy and little Sloaney-Pants looking at the menu.  Sloane is way into it!

Roberto and Natalia and baby Siena.  What cuties :)

Peter and Jenny and their little cutie bug, Eli

Fun Fun Den Bestes.  Sloane looks so cute :)

Yummmmmy nachos!  We got them for free for making us wait so long :)

I actually ordered a mango drink...that NEVER happens.

Little Nenners.

Sloane is so hungry, she's eating her own hand!!

Cutest Eli

What a fun birthday!!

Potty Training Saga

What a nightmare.  After trying like 3 times with many accidents etc. Claire is finally.... (well I don't want to say "POTTY TRAINED" because I'm afraid she'll regress and I'll jinx myself actually, but you can think the words in your head for this post's sake) you-know-what!!!!  (I hope...)

For a while now, she's been obsessed with her panties.  I bought her like 4 different kinds (Fairies, Princesses, Hello Kitty, and Dora) hoping it would motivate her to go in the potty.  Then I bought a thing of Pull-Ups, hoping (even though everyone said they were dumb except for as a diaper for bed) I could train her with them, and then I just waited til she was a bit more ready I guess.  It's all a blur, really.

Here she is sleeping with her panties (and lip gloss, of COURSE).  Ps. Claire's four favorite things in life are:

1. Panties
2. Lip Gloss
3. Clippies (barrettes) 
4. Band-aids

For a while she would carry her panties around with her everywhere she went, like in this picture.

Then, Grandma Nor (Taylor) got her this purse and she started carrying them in there.  EVERYWHERE SHE GOES.  And that's how it still is.

Remember this shot from Siena's birthday party?

Yep, that's the "Purse of Panties" right there....

But she also likes to carry other things, like "Baby Jaguar," all kinds of dolls, shoes, lip gloss, band-aids, you name it.  She doesn't like to be empty-handed.

And now, she goes on the potty. It's pretty awesome!

Randomness and great ideas I've come across...

Hilarious magnet at my cousin, Sacie's house.  She collects hilarious magnets :)

Did these letters for Pippa, my niece, and painted the tree branches.  So fun.

This is the BEST idea since sliced bread!!!!

LOVE it when my flowers don't die on me!!!  (Now, this pic is from a little while back.  It looks a bit different right now...don't ask)

My friend, Natalie and I decided to purchase some herb plants and then share them.  She has the Rosemary and I have the Thyme, and then we split the other herbs :)  Isn't that an awesome idea? I know.  (Well, I saw it on Studio 5, so I can't take all of the credit) Now I need to start actually cooking...

Don't you just LOVE this homemade cake plate???? This was at my friend, Holly's house.  I NEED to make one of these.  Very soon.

Check it out.  LOVE being organized.  These are my paint colors in my house.  How easy access is this? So you put some of your paint into quart sized containers and then every time you need to do a touch-up because your child drew all over the wall with permanent markers or something equally horrifying, it's so simple.

The Party of the Century

So my BFF #1 (apart from all of you other BFF #1's too!) has an adorable one year old named Siena.  Siena doesn't understand it for one minute I'm sure, but she LOVES Sesame Street. She'll sit and watch it for hours!  (Well, Natalie is an amazing mother, so of course she doesn't LET her, right??) So, Natalie prepared an incredible First Birthday party for her, in a Sesame Street theme.

I told Natalie that although I have no clue how to use Jordan's camera, that I'd do the pictures....good thing I know a few things about Photoshop, since I could only use the darn thing on "auto."  I'll learn how to use his camera soon enough though...

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Siena Street?? :)

Natalie MADE this cake.  Can you believe her talents????

It was my idea to do pipe cleaners rather than fondant for the curls.  Let's simplify life, right??

Natalie really wishes the Sixlets would have stayed stuck to the cake...but it's GORGEOUS anyway, Nat!

Siena in all her cuteness!!  Should I have Photoshopped out the ketchup on her chin?  Maybe....maybe not.  It's authentic, right?

Candy galore!!

I painted that.  Very proud :)

There was a bouncy house (being the party of the year, and all!)  Notice how Claire has her "purse-o-panties" with her, her "Baby Jaguar" (You know, from "Go, Diego, Go!"), a plethora of necklaces, and another purse (behind the panties one) with Cinderella princess shoes.  She is also wearing some princess shoes.  Natalie and I decided that she is the epitome of a child-version of "The Bag Lady."  Sad!  LOL LOL

Just love this shot.  This is Natalie's niece, Brooke.

Love my cutie!!

Cutie :)  (I mean you, Nat!)

Kids got a goldfish and crayon for their "goodie bag." Natalie is so creative :)

LOVE LOVE LOVE little Eli with his super cute mom, Jenny

Natalie's sister, Alex, and her cute little girl, Bella

Such a cute picture!  (Next time I'll have to watch out for that harsh light!)

Leslie and her little monkey

Drake:  What a cutie! (And Amberly too :)

Jonny and his bundle of Sloane, I mean, Joy!

Rachy looks so cute in this picture!!

Sloane wouldn't cooperate but she's so gorgeous even when she is not wanting to be smiley in front of the camera!  Focus on her eyes would have been awesome, but I'm not that good :)  Oh well!!

ELMO visited.  Can you believe Natalie's mom wore that costume in JULY????  She's crazy!!  And awesome!

Autie Katie painted faces.  She's so good!

Just such a cute pic of Daxton.

Check out the tat on Claire! Cookie Monster rocks.

And check out the cute face painting (and all of Claire's necklaces and panties...sigh...)

More cute pics of Sloaney-Pants

Connor and Abbey.  Connor was in HEAVEN.  Abbey--can you tell she took out her clippie?? Naughty naughty!  Must have learned that from Anya, jk :)

Cooper and Sydney.  What a cute expression, Cooper!

Can you believe Natalie painted a frame with an S just for this occasion? That's dedication!

And of course, at the party of the year, there HAD to be a pinata!  This one, you take turns (in a single file line, as shown above...OK well supposedly shown above :) pulling on strings until one of the strings actually breaks it open.  Yeah, Claire got to her turn and grabbed a clump of 5 or 10 strings.  It was classic Claire. (It's like in Sacrament Meeting with the bread.  We keep having to tell her "just one!")

Like bees to honey...

Unsure at first...

...but she got into it soon enough.  They always do.

Happy Birthday Nenners!!!  Can you believe we were going to take a picture of her cute onesie Natalie made with Elmo on it...AFTER this?  What were we thinking....