BASKETBALL SEASON

This past week Brian had a meeting with the parents of the boys that are interested in playing basketball next year to discuss summer plans and what not (ha).  Bball is a huge part of our lives since Brian is a coach, his side business (one of many) revolves around it, and because you will rarely see LM without a basketball in his hand (much like my brother was as a child).  After posting pics of Isaiah's party, I realized that I haven't shared pictures of this last season for either the coach or player in my life.

{Coach in Action}

{Brian trying to be young again~which eventually help lead to a hurt back!  Thank ya very much!}

{Little Man's Turn to Shine}

{Junior Dribblers}

{He won the free throw competition at the Shoot OUT with...he made 5 out of 6.  As a mom, I personally think he would have made all 6...if he hadn't moved from his spot because he thought he was finished!  :)  I am just sayin'! }

This year, a little cheerleader made an appearance.  What a crack up!  I am on a mission to either sew or buy a cheerleading outfit for her to wear to the games.  She even held her arms in the same position as the cheerleaders during the National Anthem.  Check her out!  One of these days, I will figure out how to put a video on here, so you can see her chant C-A-T-S!  Love her!

STREET BALL BIRTHDAY PARTY

Little Man is 6!  Yikes!  My baby is getting so old.  Last year, LM wanted to have a basketball party.  I went with it and did something very simple.  This year, LM wanted to do a basketball party.  What?  Again?  It's not like basketball isn't a part of our everyday life!  Ha!  What can I say?  The kid loves basketball.  I had to think of a way that we could both be happy.  I didn't want a repeat of last year, but wanted my baby to get what he wanted too.  I tossed around all kinds of themes just hoping he would change his mind.  NO LUCK!  So, that is when my wheels had to start turning...BIG TIME.  On a trip to the Nike Outlet, I found a shirt that had "basketball" written in a graffiti, spray painted font.  This is all it took for the "STREET BALL" theme to click.    I tried to mix the idea of basketball and hip hop.  Check out his party...

{INVITES}

So fun to do...sorry the print is so hard to read!  Originally the plan was to have the party out in our driveway, but it rained on that parade!  :)  Good thing, Brian is the basketball coach!  That freed up the high school gym for the festivities!  So much room for the kids to run!  Brian played a couple of games, but the kids mostly just wanted to be free to shoot!
{On the invite}
Little Man is SIX
Come over for a while and hoop it up street ball style
Court: Little Man's Driveway
Tip-Off: 6-8 PM
Concessions Included

{REGISTRATION}

"Ballers" had to "register" by signing a keepsake basketball for Little Man.  He wanted to make the sign...I could not resist...PRECIOUS!  See the ball with the fire shooting out of it?  

{LET THE PARTY BEGIN}

{BRICK WALL}

We created the brick wall using black butcher board paper, gray paint, and square sponges.  After that dried, I "tried" to graffiti his "Happy Birthday."  It works for a 6 year old!

{GHETTO BLASTERS}

We filled "ghetto blasters" with goodies to provide an extra boost for the "street ballers." I used the larger boxes for the kids that were Little Man's age and the smaller ones for their siblings.  I wish now that I would have had all the small ones...I loved the bold colors!  

We included Gatorade, trail mix, gum, tattoos, and a CD to get them fired up!  The CD had 6 of Little Man's favorite songs.  The CD label had a thank you on it too!    

{FOOD}

We went super simple and focused on food and drink that would be at a street ball event. 

 

{TIME TO OPEN PRESENTS}

{PHOTO OP}

All of the kids got their picture taken with the headphones and basketball in front of the graffiti wall.

{CREATE YOUR OWN GRAFFITI}

Everyone got the chance to create their own graffiti artwork by using Crayola's GEL Markers.  

Little Man loved his party and we had a blast working together to dream up the party.  Of course, we had help from our friends and family too!  

From "TUTU" Three!!!

What were we thinking having two babies with birthdays within two weeks of each other AND so close to Easter?  Not only that, we have like 6 family members to buy presents for too!  CRAZY, I say, CRAZY!  This year, we decided to have a low key party for Little Miss Peanut.  We invited our family and friends we are really close with.  I have to say that it was so nice...I didn't feel too crazy.  :)  My clothes are still not put away from our trip to Oklahoma...that's not bad...it was only a week ago.  Right?  Back to the party details...

A few months back, my mom suggested a tutu party because Little Miss wears her tutus EVERYWHERE!  I got to thinking and came up with the FROM "TUTU" Three theme.    

Little Miss sat at a desk welcoming her guests and then asked them to sign her book, The Yellow Tutu!  Let me tell you this book is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!  It is about a girl that opens a tutu for her birthday and decides to be an original by wearing the tutu on her head.  A must read!

This area was set up for the kids to do crafts and eat their food.  The little vase at the back with tissue flowers had glittered foam stickers.  The kiddles didn't even touch any of this!  They were happy just to play house together!

Goodie Boxes...I love putting goodies together for our guests.  I always try to include items that parents don't feel like have to be thrown away the next day.  The glitter boxes (for girls) and buckets (for boys) were in the $1 section at Target.  We included Mr. Sketch thin markers...they smell good enough to eat.  I use them to grade my papers (I will use anything to make it more pleasant!)  Scratch 'N' Sniff stickers...the smell reminds me of being in elementary school!  A couple of pieces of candy! Last, but certainly not least, CRAYON RINGS!  So cute...we used them as bracelets for the girls, but they are super easy for smaller ones to grasp and color!  My cousin made them for me...you can find the business she shares with her mother here and here.  Check them out!            

Usually, I fix some sort of meal, but this time I only served salsa and chips and cheese puffs.  The only real things that I made were the cupcakes and the punch.  The frosting was to die for and from the Pioneer Woman's recipe site...you should try it.  I used a huge tip and piping bag for the frosting.  Way fun to do and not too bad for my first time!  The punch was a jello punch recipe!   Super refreshing.  If you want, holler!      

Do you see the gorgeous poms in all of the food photos!?!  Aren't they great?  So incredibly delicate and vibrant!  I won them from PomLove during a giveaway on Polka-Dots and Pirates.  They were cute for me and then I just poofed them up!  So simple!  Both girls are great to work with and super talented.    

Oh, the OUTFIT!  I l-o-v-e Etsy.  I was cruising through and find this adorable shirt from Paisley and Posies.  The tutu was included!  This saved me a lot of time because I usually make all of Little Miss P's tutus!  As you can see, we curled her hair with sponge rollers too...for the first time...so fun!

Okay, so I have to admit...

there are a few things that drove me crazy that I didn't get to and have to get it off my chest...

• BIRTHDAY SIGN...had all the supplies, but just ran out of time
• TABLE CLOTH...I hate the plastic!  That is just my preference.  I am having a hard time finding material that will fit the surface of my table.  I am going to end up making one!  
• WRAP PLASTICWARE...I wanted to wrap up and tie it with tulle.
• TUTUS for all the girls to wear at the party!   

   SILLY THINGS, but it drove me crazy and still does!  :)  What is most important is that Little Miss P got to be the princess for the day and had a blast.  I am so proud of her...ahhhhh...she is 3!!!

   

TUTU PARTY

I have tons of photos to post of Little Miss's party, but need to edit them.  The theme was "FROM TUTU THREE."  It was cute, but I didn't get to everything that I wanted to do!  Do I ever?  Thought I would leave you with a couple that are my favs as of right now.  

KIDS SAY THE FUNNIEST THINGS

A while back,  I interviewed Little Man.  I was going through some stuff on Facebook and found this!  Couldn't resist posting it because he makes my heart melt and let's face it...my creative writing is blah right now!  His answers were a little funny and he may not have understood all the questions.    

   

**QUESTIONS and MY SIDE COMMENTS IN RED AND HIS ANSWERS ARE IN BLACK**

1. What is something mom always says to you? 

"Your cuddle BUG!"

2. What makes mom happy? 

"My smile"

3. What makes mom sad? 

"When Nonny and Poppy leave"

4. How does your mom make you laugh? 

5. What was your mom like as a child? 

"When you got bigger you went into college"

6. How old is your mom? 

"14" (Brian...you dirty dog)

7. How tall is your mom? 

"very tall" (HA!)

8. What is her favorite thing to do? 

"love to go play with me at the playground and have popsicles when it is a hot day"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

 "cleans the house...sometimes"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? 

"A puppy...I don't know all about this"

11. What is your mom really good at? 

"cuddling"

12. What is your mom not very good at? 

"sometimes you say dang it" (ooops...my bad...I have been trying to say dabnab it instead)

13. What does your mom do for her job? 

"give the kids homework!"

14. What is your mom's favorite food? 

"salads"...(ha not often enough!)

15. What makes you proud of your mom? 

(no response...he didn't understand)

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? "Spartacus...no you are like that girl that has pink hair...you know her" (from LazyTown...not really a cartoon)

17. What do you and your mom do together? 

"go shopping and get an iccee"

18. How are you and your mom the same? 

"I don't know"

19. How are you and your mom different? 

"I don't look like you...wait I do look like you...do I look like you?" (Uh, no, you look just like your DAD!)

****Isaiah says when are we going to be done with this...is this a chapter book?

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

"You hug on me so much"

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? 

"You kiss him"  (actually it is his butt ;) )

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? 

"Wal-Mart...no erase that...sometimes you go to Target"

I LIKE TO SHOP

Yes, we all know that I like to shop, particularly, for my children.  A while ago, I started following this blog called My Mom Shops.  I am really enjoying some of the tips and great finds she shares.  Check it out and see if it is something you will be interested in.  Wondering why I didn't think of this...sometimes I feel like a detective trying to find out where I can get the cutest kids' clothes for the cheapest!  I should try to share my finds with you more often...if anyone still reads this thing!  :)