Kindergarten Graduation!!

Poor Daisy has been sick for days now- and of all days to miss school, she missed her very last one! I did take her for her graduation though so she could say goodbye. She's back in bed now and I feel so bad for her. She hasn't eaten in days, her stomach is upset, she's throwing up off and on, she's lathargic, and just not herself.
It was a nice program, just crazy to have Summer break beginning in 29 minutes when Tristin arrives home!
(The good news now that it's Summer is: I can make my 6:00 AM Albertson's runs again! The bad news, I'll have all 4 kids with me when I do! Am I crazy to be up at 5:30 AM, dragging sleeping kids to the store just to get good deals when doublers come out??? I don't think so!)

Pinewood Derby...

Pinewood Derby!!!

We had a fun night at the church! Tristin's car didn't win any races, but he was a really good sport, and we talked about how that's really the most important thing. He wanted to win, let me tell you- but he kept his composure and enjoyed the evening!He received a few awards/badges for the year too! Good job Tristin!

A Party on a budget...

I had to laugh yesterday when our neighbor boy- Liam said- "Wow, you sure spend a lot on parties, don't you?" (He was helping set up)
I just shook my head and said, "Nope. I got a lot of this at yard sales!"

It was funny because this was the least expensive party ever! Not that it was anything special (it was for Tristin- but I'm used to fancy, frilly, girly partys where I go all out and spend months preparing for!)
Here's the break down:

Decorations & paper Goods:
.25 for a HUGE bag of balloons, streamers, napkins & tissue paper!
.50 for a HUGE roll of red table cloth covering (Still have a ton)
.50 for a HUGE roll of bright yellow butcher paper (Still have a ton)
Homemade Pokemon banner= used butcher paper
$ 1.04- blue plates (clearenced from Target)
$ 1.50- Pokemon napkins
.50 blue beverage holder (yard sale)
Homemade Invites

Food:
FREE hot dogs with coupons
buns from costco= $ 2.00 something
drinks, chips, cookies = used coupons- cheap
Fruit- normal price $ 2.98

Treat bags: FREE or cheap stuff from coupons

Entertainment: FREE

Gifts: used $ 20.00 in Kohls gift cards that came FREE in the mail!! Awesome!
$ 2.49 for a model car from Michaels (on clearance a few months ago!)

Anyway- my advice for throwing a party is: buy clearanced items, buy new stuff at yard sales, buy food with coupons, make as much handmade as possible and get creative! It doesn't have to cost a lot of $ to throw a fun party!

The Party was a success!

I think I am going on vacation for a month just to recover from the party! I'm definatly not used to a bunch of 9 year old boys and have SOOOO much more respect for those who work with that age! Bless their sweet, hearts! Holy Cow! they are SOOOO different than girls though!
We had a great Pokemon party & BBQ. Everyone made it, the kids played silly games (water ballon toss, egg races, running races & jumping races. Tristin opened presents, ate food and made $ 56.00 !!!
We love our little man- it was a fun evening!(There were 25 of us total!)

Happy 9th Birthday sweet boy...

It's crazy to think that 9 years ago I became a Mama for the first time. Tristin changed our worlds, he brought us real joy for the first time and made us realize how fragile life really was. He brought us more smiles than we knew were possible and endless laughs as he cycled through every phase of being a boy.
We adore all 9 years of him, and although I don't get all the talk about explosions, guns, knives and bleeding body parts, I couldn't love him more.
Happy Birthday sweet boy...