party planning

Holy Moly!  Saturday is coming up on me fast!  Henry’s first birthday was June 1, and we did hold off on the cake – we are saving it for Saturday!

I’m in the thick of getting things ready – as well as trying to stay focused on my job at work (hardy har har).  Okay, I’m handling things a little better than I give myself credit for.  Nothing is drastically delinquent, and everyone seems happy.  But I am a frazzled mess inside.

At the moment I am going back and forth on whether or not to make sheet cakes for Saturday or buy a couple of Costco cakes.  Sheet cakes are definitely more economical.  I may have to go that route and employ the help of some of my baking master friends…

Hmmm…

Well, we’ll see if that works out.  Everyone is busy and springing on people that I need help with cakes might be a stretch at this point. And I do still have a long laundry list of TO DO’s. For instance:

Party favors. 

I have no idea.  We will have 27 + children there and I need party favors.  I want to offer at least one game as well.  Maybe just a simple guessing game.  To which I need to come up with a prize.  I was thinking of having the guessing part be how many jelly beans are in this jar, to which the closest guess would win the entire jar of jelly beans.  Or something along those lines.

I was also thinking of giving bottled Cokes out for a party favor for the adults, but that can be a bit pricey. 

So I am essentially at a loss on easy affordable party favors.  Nevermind the fact that I still have not made Henry’s party hat!! I have to do that tonight…along with sewing the girls uniforms.  I am converting their winter uniforms to summer uniforms.  (IE long sleeves made short, pants made to capris).

Lots going on.  Saturday is around the corner. 

SOS!

summer sandwich

• 2 slices whole wheat bread
• garlic hummus (or whatever flavor you prefer)
• 1 slice cheddar cheese
• tomato slices
• cucumber slices
• salt & pepper

spread hummus on both slices of bread, top with other ingredients and enjoy.

We’ve been eating more vegetables lately, and have even started serving more vegetarian meals for our summer time fare.  I have to admit…I am really liking it a lot.

windchimes

It is so hard to believe that one year ago today I met you for the very first time.  So much has happened in a year.  Already, you have your own distinct likes and dislikes.  Your own  memories, and your own routines.  Routine is important to you, it has helped us navigate through some difficult growing pains so far. 

I remember the first time I introduced you to wind chimes.  It was a wintery Saturday morning shortly after you started going to daycare.  I let you touch the metal cylinders and they made their chiming sound.  You were afraid at first, and as I held you up to touch them I could feel your little heart beating faster through your pajama sleeper.  It was exciting for you, and I felt that maybe I had touched upon something a little magical.

We have been doing that every Saturday morning since.  It was to help bring in the day that I would get to spend ALL day with you.  It meant something special.  Now that you are mobile, you crawl right up to the windchimes and grab them regardless of what may be sitting or laying in your way.  I have had your foot in my face several times because you are determined to get to the chimes.

It seemed only fitting that for your first birthday I would buy you your own windchime to hang in your room.  It is a nice one, with jade pieces that hit against the metal cylinders.  When I showed it to you you became very excited, grabbing the stone, making it yours.  It is  yours.

I know it isn’t really the most typical thing to give a baby for his first birthday, but it is something that I hope you have for a long time.  Something that will remind you that even if I am not always there, all day, every day…I will always love you.

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert meet Mr. and Mrs. Mallard

One fine sunny day Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert decided to have an outing.  They decided that they would take a walk around a quaint little town with curious and interesting shoppes.  The shoppes were fun to browse, but they didn’t really want to purchase anything.

Along the way they saw many fun things.  They saw puppets and party hats.  They saw flowers in the market and they saw a dog being pushed in a stroller, which was amusing for several passerbys.

It was really quite interesting.  But Mr. Gilbert was getting hungry so they decided to continue on their way.  They decided to go to the store to buy a bottle of water and maybe a snack. They decided on salted peanuts in the shell and a large bottle of water.  Salted peanuts in the shell are Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert’s favorite snack.

They left the store and walked across the street.  Mrs. Gilbert suggested that they share a sandwich from the sandwich shoppe.  They decided on a veggie sandwich made with hummus, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers.  They put the sandwich in their bag along with the peanuts and water.

Then Mrs. Gilbert spied a little bookshop and cafe, they went inside.  At the counter they were selling large granny smith apples.  Mrs. Gilbert asked Mr. Gilbert if he would like an apple.  He said “yes”.  So she bought two apples for $1.60.

She put the green apples in the bag with the peanuts, the water, and the sandwich.  They were ready to eat!

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert decided to eat their little lunch next to the river at Ford Park in Northville.  Mr. Gilbert found a nice shady park bench near the water.  They shared the sandwich, drank their bottled water, and ate the apples. Next they began munching on the peanuts, shelling them and then eating the nut inside.

That is when they noticed Mr. and Mrs. Mallard coming towards them from the little river.  Mr. and Mrs. Mallard waddled up the hill, approaching cautiously and making soft cooing noises to get the attention of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert.

It soon became apparent that Mr. and Mrs. Mallard had decided that Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert should share their peanuts.  And so it came to pass that Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert sat in the shade on a park bench on a fine sunny day shelling peanuts and giving them to Mr. and Mrs. Mallard…because ducks don’t have hands.

It was a fine way to spend a sunny afternoon.  And when it was time to go they all said good-bye, even though it was apparent that Mr. and Mrs. Mallard thought that they should have been given more peanuts.  Maybe next time!

blessed

My baby is sick. Very very sick. He was diagnosed with herpangina on Monday, as well as an ear infection in his left ear. The red rimmed eyes, green eye discharge is a result of the heinous infection coursing through his tiny little body.

He gets sick because of day care, I just know it. Either that or the visit to the hospital on Sunday to see my grandma was more hazardous than good. Regardless of where it originated, I rushed him to the doctor on Monday afternoon where it was found that he had a 103 temperature and an angry red and blistered throat.

The car ride there was the most scary part because he was in the back seat, and I could not see him. He stopped moving around due to the high fever (and being exhausted) and I drove like a mad woman worried that I would get there too late. Yes…I am one of THOSE mothers.

We stayed home yesterday. I held him a lot. Let him sleep a lot. Gave him liquids a lot.

And even though he is very very sick, I am thankful. I am thankful that I have healthcare, and he has an established pediatrician, and that we have amoxicillan, and tylenol, and eye ointment, clean water, and immunizations. Because quite frankly, if we didn’t have these things my baby would probably not survive this illness. It would likely develop into something worse, and then…

Every time he gets sick, and every time he recovers is a reminder of how very blessed we are. And even here in America children don’t have healthcare and they die of minor diseases that could have been completely preventable, or completely treatable.

This isn’t a post to support the healthcare reform. It isn’t even a post to support immunizations. Because I’m not a political person, and I don’t think that the government has all the answers. I do know this though…if it came down to reducing my child’s fever so that he could get the rest he needed to recover, or watching him wane away…there would be a news report about a woman who busted into a CVS pharmacy and did what she had to do.

Unfortunately, around the world, and even in our own back yard people don’t even have the option of committed B&E to get the medicine that their children need. It makes me cry. Mostly because I can imagine it. I really can. And it is heartbreaking and awful.

But there are things that we can do. Collectively and as individuals. And again, not political here…but I think that there are things that we can do, and that we need to seek those things out more often. Because if you can imagine it happening to your own flesh and blood, then it COULD become reality. So make a difference now for someone else because you never know when you will need someone to be making a difference for you.

Good Weekend

This past weekend was ridiculous busy.

First things first…I  picked up some non-toxic treatment for our little pest problem at Chez Gilbert on the way home from work on Friday night.  I’m not talking about it, so don’t ask.  Just know that we are hopefully (finally) going to be done with it VERY VERY soon.  I’m especially happy it didn’t cost us an arm and a leg, and while we are not suppose to treat the place ourselves, the landlord’s treatments have NOT worked, and so hence: matters in our own hands.

Two birds with one stone, I met up with Caleb on my way home as he dropped off my green car to the mechanic. We were finally thankfully referred to a guy who is honest and inexpensive.  I was expecting the repair bill to be over $200.  Imagine my relief when he called later in the evening to inform that it would only be $60.  That is a definite answer to prayer, in so many ways. 

After I picked up Caleb from the mechanic, we went home, had dinner, got Henry ready for bed…and the we were off to the DIA.  I have not been in YEARS…and I don’t know why!  I loved it.  I could literally wander around that place all day just staring at artwork.  It was amazing.  But even better they had Jake Shimabokuru there playing the ukelele.  We picked up a CD because he was just that good. 

Saturday morning was up bright and early getting ready for a get together in the evening.  People began arriving at around 2:30.  It was a good evening spent with friends, food, and three bottles of wine.  Nice!

Sunday morning we made it to church, late…but we didn’t skip out entirely.  Afterwards we headed out to see my grandma.  She is in the hospital after having caught a cold that triggered her COPD.  She will be there for a little while, and then on to Canterbury for recovery.  I’m glad that she will be able to recover, but I am disappointed that she will not be well enough to attend Henry’s first birthday party. 

Regardless, we went up to visit for a little bit – we wore her out – but it was a good visit and I am glad that we made the trip out.

Afterward we stopped over at Olde World Canterbury Village.  The place was empty, and there weren’t any events taking place.  And it was SO hot out.  But, Caleb wanted to go, and since it was his birthday, I was happy to oblige. 

Sunday evening Caleb’s family came by for dinner and cake.  It was a nice time, even though the sink is still filled with dirty dishes. 

Then of course we settled in to lose ourselves in LOST for the last time.  Caleb stepped away from it not understanding any of it in the least, and then when I tried to explain he just got mad and thought it was stupid.  I on the otherhand appreciated the intricacies of the story and allowed myself to “let go” of the things that I didn’t really quite understand or that didn’t seem to add up. 

We had a good weekend.  We could use a few more of those.

nervous

I’m a little bit nervous.  We have a ton of activity going on in the next few weeks.  This weekend we are celebrating Caleb’s birthday, then Memorial Day weekend we will be busy with picnics and hopefully a concert and a parade.  Then the weekend after that we have Henry’s birthday party…which is what is making me most nervous (hopefully it will alter my ability to consume food and I will lose some weight). 

We have 60 people (including children) confirmed for the party (21+ unconfirmed)…and it is outdoors.  I am ALWAYS nervous for outdoor events because we live in Michigan.  MICHIGAN the bi-polar state.  It could be beautiful, or we could have a tornado.  But even if it just rains a little bit, we don’t have any place to go for cover because the pavillion was already booked for that day.  So…60+  people and it could rain.

Thankfully all of the guests are FROM Michigan, so they know the risk involved.  I’m just praying that all goes well and that everyone has a nice time.  And that Henry dives into his first ever chocolate cake.

papa and boyman

in the works…

I am currently mapping out Henry’s first birthday party.  What it will take, and how it will need to be done.  I want it to be memorable, even if Henry WON’T remember it at all.  I feel like I have invited just about everyone we know (in state).  Well, just about anyway.  Hopefully we will have good weather and we will be able to secure picnic tables.  Otherwise we will be sitting on the ground in the rain, which would be a memorable event indeed.

Toledo Zoo take II

We visited the Toledo Zoo on Sunday, it was Henry’s second visit.  The first time he was there he was only 2 weeks old.  Now, in comparison to the ostrich egg, he’s huge.

Henry 2009

Henry 2010

 

The zoo did not hold much happiness for our littlest member of the family.  He was spooked by most things, especially the bronze statues of the various animals around the park…

Giant Scary Lion

The most unfortunate part about this is that I just thought he was being grumpy and kept insisting he sit next to the giant lion so that I could take his photo (the first attempt to get him to sit was in the crook of its paws - by himself!  Poor thing, no wonder he was flipping out!

However, he did enjoy the penguins, which he tried to taste.  He enjoyed the aviary, and he did like looking at the fish.  I truly hope that I have not scarred him from an enjoyment of visiting zoos and museums because as you can see the rest of the crew enjoys it very much…

Abigaille Fishytail

Rain Puppy Kim