2013 Fabulous Recap... Family, Friends, Food & Fun!

Technology has allowed me some freedom, but has also restrictions as I attempt to type from my phone.  I apologize that I cannot type with grace, tact or correct grammar from my phone.  I regularly take advantage of the saying that a 'picture can say 1000 words' and am making use of the access to Instagram.  I still have not mastered the whole hashtag thing, but I guess I can put that on my 2014 Resolution List (which seems to be getting longer by the minute).

Thanks to Lindsay for using & posting Flipagram videos that were so cute that I had to download the app for myself & create some videos too!  Yes, I copy all the cool kids!!  :D  Below are my end of the year Flipagram videos.  They are only 15 seconds, as that is the current time limit on posting videos to Instagram.  And, yes I do have the same primary photo/screenshot for both videos of the kiddos, because I couldn't figure it out & didn't want to redo them...

Little Miss Emily:
2013 has been an amazing year with our Lil' Miss Emily.  She finished out 1st grade, turned 7 years old, she has taken her love of water & started swimming and is now a 2nd grader.  She loves to sing, dance & be dramatic!  This girl is on fire...  One day, we will see her on stage or the big screen.

Wild William:
2013 has been an adventure with our Wild William.  He turned 5 years old, advanced from the Pre-2 class to the Kindergarten class at Daycare.  He loves Legos, Ben 10, almost all Super Heroes & the Villains, Star Wars & even Star Trek.  He is learning how to swim, although I think he is there to flirt more than learn to swim.  He has a killer smile (& dimple) and uses it.

I cannot believe this year is coming to an end.  We've had our ups & our downs, but I have so much that leaves me more grateful than anything else.  I adore my hubby, even though I'm not the mushy, lovey-dovey type of person I have to say 'He completes me!'.  I am so grateful to be the Mother of two of the coolest kids I know.  Yes, they drive me crazy, and I love them for it!  Thank you to my extended family - near & far - for being related to me, and even admitting it in public.  Thank you to my friends - old & new - you are all nuts and it makes me feel better about myself to be around you.  No, just kidding, only some of you are nuts!  :D  Okay so here is my last Flipagram...

2013 Fabulous Recap...  
Family, Friends, Food & Fun...
ENJOY!!

Belated & Outdated...

I officially SUCK at keeping this blog updated.  I would like to place blame on Will, who at the age of 5, has mastered my Droid RAZR.  He deletes the Blogger app from my phone every time he plays Angry Birds Star Wars.  He doesn't just move the icon, he actually uninstalls the app.  Not sure how, but he does it EVERY time!  He does win me trophies on Angry Birds & has a darling smile so really, I don't hold it against him.  Many things have happened since the last post!  Please friend me on Facebook or Follow Me on Instagram since I have full access to those apps, as Will has yet to delete or move them!

Here is a quick update on the kiddos...

Emi turned 7.  Yes, SEVEN!  She started 2nd Grade this year & she loves her teacher. She continues to work with an amazing resource instructor on her IEP that  has helped her develop the skills necessary to keep moving forward, even with the difficulties that come with ADD.  She loves to break out into song and dance, and I hope that never changes.  She listens to the radio at night, and has learned the lyrics to several songs, which probably should be worry me.  She has mastered playing Tic-Tac-Toe with her Dad, and usually beats him.  She loves to do Word Searches, and is really getting quite good at it

Will turned 5.  He is a RIOT!  He loves Duck Dynasty & Ben 10.  I am trying to figure out if is a good thing or a bad thing that he knows he is CUTE.  He has a dimple, long eye-lashes and a smile that melts your heart.  He is a flirt, much like his father, and hits on the 'girls' he likes.  He has a 'girl-friend' at Daycare, sort of, she is 6 now so he doesn't see her since she is in Kindergarten and he has to wait another year because of the cut off hitting just before his birthday.  He is also IN LOVE with his current Swim teacher,  I think she is in High School, but he doesn't care.  He is really good at building things, preferably with Legos, but he has also created some structures out of Jenga blocks.  

Fall is in full swing.  We had a festive Halloween.  We got to Trick or Treat TWICE!  The kiddos got to design & cut their own Jack O Lanterns this year.  Gave me a near heart attack watching them with those little saws but they loved every moment.  

I love Fall.  The colors, the falling leaves, the colder weather that makes you want to snuggle under a blanket with a cup of tea & a good book or a good movie, the time that I get to spend with family & friends.  I love Thanksgiving..Food, Family & Fun...my favorite things!!  I don't have to bake a turkey this year, so I am THANKFUL for that, and so many other things!  

Well, this post it long enough so I'll have to get around to posting another one, which might happen sometime before NEXT Thanksgiving!  :)

Backyard Bunco - Party In A Jar...

I am part of a really fun group of ladies that hang out once a month and play BUNCO!  Heard of it?  It's a riot.  This month was my turn to host.  Thanks to Pinterest, I was able to turn a 'slight' obsession with Mason Jars, Bell Jars, Kerr Jars, Jars, Jars, Jars.... into a theme for the night.  Luckily, Mother Nature got herself in control & the weather cooperated!

 This is the patio all set up...

There is a picnic table on the other side of the buffet with a canopy over it but the only pic of it I took of it was the pic of the table decorations which were simply a jar of M&Ms, a jar of Skittles & a Tealight inside an upside down Jelly Jar (sorry no hanging jar lights)...

The buffet was set up with the Bunco Gifts on one side, the meal in the middle & the drinks on the other side...

My favorite part of the decorations were the LARGE Jars with Water Beads (I bought mine at Walmart for $1 in a clearance bin) and some bright tinted REAL flowers from Walmart thrown in for a splash of color...

While most of the participants do not drink alcohol, there are two of us who do...and we got to drink it in 'Redneck Wine Glasses!

Everyone else had Mason Jar Cups with Orange Lemonade Twist.  As for the Cups, there are several pins on my 'In A Jar...' board that have instructions.  I simply went to Lowe's & snagged a Stanley Bostitch 24-Pack 3/8 Inch Metal Grommet Kit (Item # 308798) for less than $7 and literally pounded out a set of 12 in less than 30 minutes start to finish.  I put cute cupcake liners over the lids before screwing on the bands.  And, of course, I had to use Paper Straws, which are from Target!  I kept the box the jars came in, sprayed it white & tied ribbon on it!

For dinner we had BLT Salad in a Jar...I wanted more bacon!!

For our entree, we had 'Chicken Cordon Bleu' I wanted more of a stuffing than a topping, so that is the only thing I changed from the original posted recipe...

We ate, we played Bunco and at the midpoint we had Strawberry Cheesecake in a Jar!  I completely forgot to take a picture of them!!  We all know what jars look like & cheesecake so use your imagination or just go snag a box Jell-O No-Bake Real Cheesecake and follow the directions for the cupcakes but instead of using a cupcake pan, use 12 4 oz Jelly Jars.

Finally it was time for gifts...

Most Buncos received a set of Mason Jar Cups, Paper Straws, Countrytime Strawberry Lemonade & a Jar Drink Dispenser.  High Score received a Mason Jar full of Gumballs & $$$.  Low Score received 2 Mason Jar Insulated Mugs full of Skittles.  Most Frowns received a Mason Jar full of Gumballs & $$$.  Travel received a Large Mason Jar with Blueberry Pancake Mix & Blueberry Syrup.  The Door Prize was a Mason Jar full of Skittles & $$$.

Last but not least the Player Prize...  Caramel Apple Dip, Apple & a Paring Knife...

Now that you have read this, go check out Pinterest (be careful, it's addictive), grab a few jars & host a party of your own...