Crafting

Owen loves to do crafts and when I see the Martha Stewart crafts on clearance at Walmart, I buy a bunch for rainy days. This one was fun. We made animals out of balloons and had them all sitting up at the bar in our kitchen for a few days, just watching us. Then we decided to take them off of their little shrine and play with them...and they popped. :( But they did provide for us several hours of entertainment and hands-on fun, and well worth the $3.97 I spent.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Hulk hands. The Puzeys gave us their awesome Hulk Hands and we had a lot of fun with them...until my kids started taking bites out of them (sigh). My favorite is when Olivia has them on, because it is almost just a torso with Hulk Hands. I had to snap a few quick pics between giggling at my silly kids.

Happy Birthday to Mom

This year I had a great birthday. That morning Nate took me to the running shoe store and I got a pair of running shoes! It was one of those stores where they evaluate how you run by putting you on a treadmill. Before we started on the treadmill, the guy asked if I had ever used a treadmill before and did I need any help getting started. I waved my hand and told him of course I knew how. Then I just about ate it as I started up the treadmill. It was so awesomely bad that I had to reassure him I could handle it. So...great start! :) But I got a new pair of shoes.
Next we promptly headed over to Alon’s for my slice of birthday cake. I just bought one slice, since Cheryl was going to make me an awesome cake (pictured above).
The afternoon was spent hanging out with my family and that night after dinner I opened up a few presents. It was perfect.
On Sunday we headed up to the Puzey’s for Sunday dinner and a family party for me. When I arrived there was a tiara waiting for me and a big sign out front that read: “Happy Birthday Princess Allison”
We ate a yummy dinner (Burgers...one of my favorites) and then Cheryl pulled out this amazing cake! The recipe is here and you will only make it once...it is so rich my head is still spinning every time I think of it. But it was so, so good! And for heaven sakes, look how cute it is.
It was a great birthday.

4th of July

Happy (belated) Independence Day! This year we had the chance to wake up early and head down to the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade. Olivia stayed in the Baby Bjorn, and just stared in shock at everything. Owen had a GREAT time: firetrucks, police cars, floats, marching bands, school teams, clowns...and they all throw candy at you! This is a 3 year old definition of a good time. :) I love parades too. Make fun if you will, but I have a secret dream to go to NYC to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in person one day. I still watch it every year.
After the parade we gave everyone a nap and then headed to the Hinckley’s house for a BBQ and fireworks show. The kids got to do the sparklers, which Owen always approaches with anticipation and GREAT concern simultaneously. Then Mark put on a show for the kids when it was dark enough. They loved it! Owen always asks when we can do that again!