All Things Gingerbread....

Last year when we were doing our "After Christmas Bargain Shopping", Kinlee decided that she wanted to have a Gingerbread Man party when she turned 8 - almost a WHOLE year later. After the speech of "you can't change your mind if we buy stuff now", she agreed, and we were able to rack up on some great bargains. She dabbled here and there throughout the year on other ideas, but with much reminding and prompting, she stuck with her plan. Her party was this past Saturday, and she told me she thought is was the best one yet!! (I love hearing that!!). She invited 15 girls, and I think all but 2 were able to make it. They had a blast!!! We have found in the past with that many girls, it is easier to divide them into groups and rotate them around to different activities - girls like that sort of thing. The boys just want a football and a yard, but the girls want "crafts"! So, we decorated G.bread man purses, painted G.bread man ornaments, decorated cookies, and played a "build your own g.bread man" game:
I was able to scrounge around and find more Gingerbread man stuff around here than I thought I had. A day or so before her party, Kinlee said, "I sure wish I had a Gingerbread man shirt to wear to my party." Well, that's all it took. Not having enough time to run to Wal-Mart and there is NOTHING around here in the craft-y store department, again, I scrounged. So, with an already purchased black shirt, a tan pillowcase, some buttons, scrap material, and zebra print ribbon, the following shirt was created. I surprised her with it when she came home from school. Much to my relief....She LOVED it!!! Mission accomplished. It even gave me an idea of how to decorate the gingerbread man on her cake:
I have probably mentioned this in past birthday posts, but we have a tradition that also helps to get rid of all those balloons....at the end of the party, each child grabs a balloon, and outside we go. On the count of three, we all shout "Happy Birthday, ______________" and release the balloons. The kids have begun to look forward to it and love to watch the balloons fly away and see how many will get stuck in the trees - I think we only had 1 casualty this year!!!

It was a great day, and much fun was had by all. My job is finished....

Happy Birthday, Parker!!!

Well, this is it - we actually have a child in double-digits!!! Parker is 10 today! Definitely a bitter-sweet day. Sad that time is going by so quickly. Happy that he is healthy and growing. Sad that after this year, I can no longer show his age with just my fingers. Happy that he is happy. As I look back on his last 10 years (UGH!), here are some things I am thankful for:

1. Parker Blake Finton
2. His sweet nature
3. His gentle spirit.
4. How much he likes babies.
5. His willingness to "root" for the underdog.
6. His competitive nature.
7. His big brown eyes.
8. His intelligence and the ability to use it.
9. The fact that he still comes up to me out of the blue and says, "I need a hug!"
10. HIM!!!
    

Happy Birthday, Parker - we love you so much!!!

Parker's 10th Birthday Party - Go Hogs!!!

I simply cannot believe that Parker will be 10 tomorrow!! That's double-digits, people! Where has the time gone?!
Parker chose an Arkansas Razorback party theme this year. It was a fun one to plan. I made a football field cake, football cupcakes, decorated with Razorback "stuff", and the guys spray painted a football field in the backyard, complete with the Razorback "A" and everything!!!
When I was beginning to plan the party, I asked Parker what he wanted to do. He replied, "We just want to play football, mom!" I was a little concerned on how we would fill 2 hours with "just football" on a really hot day, but it happened just like he wanted it to. They played the first half of their game (Razors vs. Backs), broke for cake and ice cream, watched presents, played the second half, broke for popsicles, pinata, and party favors. Mission accomplished - 2 hours came and went very quickly! I don't know who had more fun, though, Mark or the boys!!!
Parker got lots of great presents - money and football cards, mostly - JUST what he wanted!!!

As is our tradition at the end of parties, all the kids got a balloon and released it at the count of 3 as they yelled, "Happy Birthday, Parker!!!" I love the pictures from this tradition as all of the kids watch as the balloons drift further and further away. This year, I think only 1 got stuck in a tree - usually many more than that! I guess the wind was blowing in our favor this year!

Definitely a successful and fun party. Check back tomorrow for my "Ode to Parker" post on his actual special day!!!

Kinlee's Birthday Party!!!

Kinlee's 7th birthday party was this weekend. We had a great time! Altogether, there were 13 kids, and they all did so well! They seemed to have a really fun time. She was excited, especially, that Laura Beth (her "Henderson" friend) got to travel to be with us that day, as well as her cousins, grandparents, Aunt Amy, and lots of friends from school and church. The kids had fun playing games and doing activities. In the pictures above, they can be seen making Webkinz sleeping bags, collars and crowns for their pets, playing Wacky Bingo & the Wheel of Wow game, and spending their "Kinzcash" in the W-shop.

Here, they are having a "fashion show" with their Webkinz pets. They got to dress them up, have their picture taken, and will receive a copy of their picture in the mail. You know girls - they really seemed to like this one! They worked hard trying on clothes and finding JUST the right outfit. (Parker and Benjamin, on the other hand, were done in 30 seconds.) Thanks to Becky for "manning" this one. I strategically placed her at this one because it was in the living room where the TV was, that just HAPPENED to be showing the Alabama/Florida game!!!

After games and presents, the girls enjoyed cake and ice-cream. Thanks to all who came and helped and made this one of the best ones yet!! I asked Kinlee if the party had gone as she had "planned", and at first she said, "N0". I was a little worried, but she quickly followed it up with, "It was even funner!!!"

Happy Birthday, Kinlee!!!!

Kinlee is 7 today!!!! I can't believe it's been that long since we brought her home for the first time. She was so excited this morning to wake up to snow - we decided it was her birthday present from God!! :) With her birthday being on a Monday, she has to wait until Saturday for her party - bummer! Until then, she opened one of her presents this morning, I'm headed to school to eat lunch with her today, and she got to choose the supper menu for tonight - "white spaghetti" (fettucini alfredo) and garlic bread! As I think back on the past 7 years with Kinlee, here are a few things I am thankful for:

1. Kinlee Rae Finton
2. Her love and compassion for animals
3. Her tender-heartedness
4. Her "gullability" - we've had some fun with that
5. Her ability and love of playing by herself
6. Her impromtu dances that keep us all laughing
7. Her funny faces and expressions
8. Her "grace" (or lack thereof - which she inherited from me)
9. Her eyes that can tell stories
10. HER

I will be posting plenty of birthday party pictures this weekend, but until then.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KINLEE!!!! We love you!

Happy Birthday Mark!!!

Today is Mark's birthday! We actually gave him his presents and cake last night because we knew how rushed things can be in the morning. The kids helped me pick out some of his favorite things, and we all made cards for him. (If you can't read the cards very well, Kinlee's says "Happy Birthday, Big Turkey!" and the front of Parker's card represents their two favorite teams - Arkansas Razorbacks, of course, and Tennessee Titans!!) Isn't it funny how a child's artwork portrays their personalities to a "T"?! Anyway, here is what they picked out for him:
1. Sour Patch Kids - his all-time favorite candy!
2. Coke Zeros - his all-time favorite drink!
3. An Arkansas Razorback wallet - he's always losing his "stuff"
4. A picture frame full of the pictures from the Old Mill for his office - the pictures are actually on their way from Snapfish, so we just wrapped the frame. You know how frames come with pre-printed pictures in them - he opened it and said, "I love it, but I have no idea who these people are!!!" The kids had a good laugh about that one.
5. An Arkansas Razorback snowglobe - because Kinlee saw it, fell in love with it, and said that he just HAD to have it for his desk at work.
6. We also got him a new winter coat - 'cause it's cold!!!!

We are taking him out to eat to his restaurant of choice tonight - still to be decided!!!

I also made him one of his favorite cakes - peanut butter cup cheesecake!! YUM!!!! It was my first attempt at his recipe, and it actually turned out very well. It was yummy!! We had a great time last night celebrating his birthday, and plan to have a fun time tonight, as well. I am thankful that God has blessed our family, and continues to give us life, love, and happiness!!! Happy Birthday, Mark - I love you!