Our Life

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Braves Game....oh...um...I mean...The Rays Game!

Outside of Tropicana Field

A few weeks ago the Atlanta Braves were in town playing against the Tampa Bay Rays. Jeremy loves the Braves so we decided we were crazy enough to take the kids to a game. Once I got over the sticker shock of taking 5 people to a baseball game :( get use to it Michele:( and the fear of a child having a tantrum in the middle of the stadium, we actually had a great time.

Jeremy walking his son into the stadium to see the field for the first time. This was a big moment for him. Jeremy I mean ;)

We got there early and watched the teams warm up. We tried to catch some balls out in right field during batting practice, but never got one :(

Watching batting practice.

Let me say...the Rays stadium is VERY kid friendly. I would most certainly go back again with the kids. They have a whole family friendly section. We didn't get to explore much of it, but we did get to let the kids sit down and color for a while. They also have a carnival game area (where the games are free to play...isn't that nice?) If we want to touch the sting rays, we'll have to go even earlier next time.

We had seats with a great view. We were in the upper deck....just to the right of home plate. It was great. The girls borrowed some binoculars from some neighbors and that kept them busy most of the game.

Hahaha...so silly!

Nate watched for quite a while and was busy eating snacks and lollipops, until I ran out of treats. Then, he got to play on the phone :)

I took this picture, anticipating the steal.

Isn't our camera cool?!?! From the upper deck, this is the detail I got. Clearly he was out!

It was a wonderful family afternoon.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Golfing

Nate went golfing with Jeremy and Greg while we had our Fancy Nancy Party. He was very well behaved, and apparently had a lot of fun. At the end of each hole, when asked his score, he always said....."TWO".

Way to go Buddy!

Fancy Nancy Birthday Extravaganza (that's fancy for party)

Yesterday we had a very fancy party... A Fancy Nancy birthday soiree to be exact (soiree is french for party....and everything is fancier in french ;)

Fancy Nancy is an adorable character in a series of children's picture books. She loves to dress up, use fancy words and even speak a little french (see the reason above for why).

This was just the first table set up. I meant to take a picture every time I re-set the table...but I forgot :(

Nicole and Hannah love Fancy Nancy books (and to be honest...I love reading them...I can be silly and animated and not look or sound silly....because I'm trying to be fancy!

Take me Away!

We decided to host a double birthday party this year since last year they got separate parties and because we have a whole new set of friends up here. Fancy Nancy was our theme.

We bought a helium tank from Wal-Mart. Great idea! We had so much fun with all those balloons!

When our guests arrived, they could Bedazzle themselves with boas and jewels.

Bought a cheap frame from the dollar store and spray painted it pink.

Our Bedazzling table

We started off by making our own crowns with plenty of crayons, markers and sticker foam.

After our crown making, the girls were off to the Beauty Boutique.

Our Beauty Boutique

Another dollar store frame. I made the little sign.

I think this was every one's favorite party. The little girls and big girls alike loved putting on nail polish and picking out their very own mini (Avon sampler) lipstick. For one little girl...this was her first time ever putting on nail polish. And another did a beautiful job of painting a faux nail over her band aid covered big toe ;) Fancy Indeed!

The little cuties getting their nails done!

We then moved on to our tea party (with pink party juice of course) that included rolled deli meat, cheese and crackers. The little girls loved drinking their "tea" with real tea cups.

Hannah and Hannah ;) Had their own private table and mini tea cups.

We had a meat and cheese tray and fruit skewers (that's fancy for kabob)

I don't have a picture of the next part :( But...it was very important to Nicole that we also celebrate Jesus at her birthday party. So...she picked out a craft that helped her share the gospel. She sat down with all of her little friends and taught them how to make a beaded necklace with a cross on it. Each bead represented a different part of Jesus life, death on the cross and Resurrection. When I asked her later what her favorite part was...she said it was this part. I love it!

After the cross necklace project, we moved back to the tables and had tiny cupcakes and make-your-own parfaits (that's fancy for ice cream sundae!) I think this was a big hit. I found cute parfait glasses at the dollar store a few weeks ago...so...if anyone wants to have an ice cream sundae party, you know who to call :)

Cup Cake Time! I had a cupcake display that I spray painted pink. I just keep spray painting it for each new occasion

The two little Hannah's enjoying their parfait!

Nicole was having a fabulous time!

We ended our time with fun pictures at our "photo booth" (created by a curtain from the girl's room tacked up in the middle of the stair way) and some fancy gifts and fancy homemade cards. (scroll to the end to see our photo booth pictures)

Their VERY first Barbie dolls!!!

Beautiful hand made cards

It was a delightfully wonderful morning. The girls had a wonderful time at the party, and I think their friends did too.

On a little side note...I think this party was really good for me too. It gave me a reminder glimpse of God's goodness to us over the past 5 months. To see that the girls had already made such sweet friends and the Lord has placed so many wonderful people in our lives already really warmed by hearts. We had children (and their mothers) from our neighborhood, from church and from CC. A nice mix of ages and walks of life. I am so grateful for the friends he has given.

********PHOTO BOOTH PICTURES********