LEGO CONSTRUCTION PARTY

A friend of mine invited me to the party she gave for her two boys who had birthdays just a few days apart from each other.

She asked them if they wanted their own party but both boys said no that they like having a combined birthday party with their brother. How cute is that!

The theme was LEGO Construction. It was a cute party with lots of bright colors. She had received yes RSVPs for 36 kids. YIKES!

Luckily she found a great place to have the party. It was at one of those bounce house party places. That way, the kids could play, run around and be entertained. Plus there was lots of room in the party area to seat not only all those kids but the parents too.

I helped her find some cute items to use for the party. Each place setting had a LEGO place mat made from scrap booking paper, a colorful plate, bright colored napkins wrapped around the flatware and a construction LEGO sticker as the napkin ring.

On top of each plate there was a hard hat for the kids to wear and the cup looked like a street cone.

I really liked that she used different types of "place mats" and the plates and napkins were all different colors.

Each place setting looked a little different. Yet they all still were cute enough that no one fought over where to sit.

Here is a better look at the cups. Aren't they just darling! She was very smart and wrote each kids name on their cup so they never got mixed up. Plus it worked great so the kids all knew where to sit.

Look at the bright colorful napkins and flatware. Those colors just make you in a happy mood and let you know this is going to be a fun party.

She got both boys the same cake but they each had their name and age on them. No fighting over who got the best cake this way. Very smart!

I loved the LEGO candles. How cute and perfect for the theme.

The cake tables were set up with the cake, some street cones and caution tape.

This is a shot showing how the tables looked. Look at the walls. Even those were brightly colored and fun.

I really liked the Caution tape. It gave the place a real construction feel to it.

The two birthday boys!

Having so many kids did make it hard to get everyone sitting down to eat at the same time. Some how she got it all to work out.

Smart lady that she was, she contacted a local Mexican restaurant and had them bring the food in. It was super good and came in throw away containers for easy clean up. Plus all the kids loved it. So did the adults!

Even though it was a boys themed party, the girls all had fun and really enjoyed being there too.

The kids spent most of their time running around and going in all the jump houses. A lot of the adults spent time pretending they were kids again and went in them too. Sliding down the slides, jumping up and down and going through the optical course.

The gift table was over flowing with gifts. I cracked up at the one bag a kid brought. Can you see the picture of the kid on that bag? It says "I picked this just for you" or something like that.

The jump house place had a Frog mascot that came out and danced with the kids. Mostly the younger kids had the most fun with the Frog but the older ones also joined in and danced and gave high fives with the Frog. It was really cute to see the kids faces with their big smiles.

Everyone was running around having such a good time. One by one they would finally stop, sit down and take a break. With red faces and sweaty bodies giving clues as to how much fun they were really having.

Then it was time for birthday cake. Again, it was hard to get everyone to gather around long enough to sing Happy Birthday. No one wanted to stop having fun long enough to sit down for long.

Finally everyone was gathered and took their seats. The room was filled with everyone singing. Each boy took a deep breath and made a wish. One big wish that you get only once a year on your birthday.

Don't you wonder what each child wishes for?

Ohhhhhh, I think one of the birthday boys wished to be a frog! Looks like his wish was coming true right before our eyes.


Finally, after hours and hours of playing, singing, dancing and having a blast it was time to go home. Each child got a goodie bag full of Lego's, stickers, candy and other items. I bet everyone slept good that night.

Going to a kids party can be pretty dangerous at times. You never know who will fall, hit their head or get hurt some how.

The little brother of the birthday boys was minding his own business as he was playing in one of the bounce houses when a crash took place. Poor guy got his finger hurt. He was crying and it started to swell up.

His daddy thought it could be pretty bad so he picked him up and took him to the ER. Turns out the little guy broke his finger.

He got a little cast put on and returned to the party and continued to play and have fun with the big boys. It takes more then a broken bone to stop this little one!

SHE HAD HER BABIES!

Remember I showed you that sweet little dove that had built a nest in our back yard. Well, I've been getting several emails asking how she is doing. So I thought I would give you an update.

Oh momma bird, you really need to let me come clean up your house. It is so dirty from all the wind and rain we had before you moved in.


She had her babies! I went out to check on her and found the broken egg shells. Yet, I had not heard a peep or saw them yet.

I talk to her a few times every day. I want her to feel comfortable around me. She seems to be fine. She does make a sound, doesn't move or breath heavy/faster. I think she knows she is safe here.

I just love her little face, don't you? Her eyes are so gentle looking.

Well, I say she but this could be the daddy. It's hard to tell them apart and I never see them switching places on the nest.

The other day, my sister, Patty and I were watching her/him from the window and we saw her/him feeding the babies. A little fuzz ball popped up and opened it's mouth really wide. The momma/daddy stuck the beak down the mouth of the baby and the baby clamps down.

As the momma bird lifted her head the baby stays attached and gets lifted up. It was so cute.

I went outside to catch the babies on my camera but had no luck. She was not going to let me see them up close. She just looked at me like "I don't know what you are looking for. It's just me here, minding my own business."

So I went back inside. A few minutes later I saw her finishing up her feeding.

I'm hope to get a better look at the babies soon. When I do, I'll be sure to share them with you.

I think I should give her a name. What do you think her name should be?

ICE BUCKET TURNED PLANTER & THRIFT FIND

Yesterday I showed the centerpiece I used in my Tablescape. It was an ice bucket that I put flowers in.

Today, I thought I would show you what it looks like as the ice bucket it really is.

I love this piece! I collect milk glass and this is my favorite piece I own. I have never seen one like it and I have no idea what it is worth, if anything.

I found it at a Thrift Store awhile ago and was thrilled when I did. I had it in my garage for a long time and actually forgot about it. Until I went in there to clean up a bit and came across it.

It used to be easy to find milk glass at Thrift Stores but not so much any more and when I do find any it's normally a vase. Plus they raised the prices up a lot!

I also thought I would show you my latest Thrift store find.

I had seen these on Pier One Imports web site and really wanted to get a set. I went to three different Pier Ones and couldn't find them. They had them in black and a yellow gold but not the red.

So when I saw them I got really excited!

I don't think they have ever been use. They still have the original price tag on them from Pier One.

They weren't very expensive to begin with but my excitement came from not being able to find them and now here they were. Plus at more then 1/2 price!

I love birds. I love red. These plates are perfect for me. I can't wait to use them in a Tablescape. I think in the summer when we are having dinner outside would be great.

If you had these, how would you do your Tablescape?

FLOWERS EVERYWHERE TABLESCAPE

It's time for another Tablescape Thursday that is hosted by Beyond Naps on the Porch. I love Thursdays so I can go visit and see every ones great tablescapes and pick up hints and ideas that I can use.

Seeing all the wild flowers on my hike was my inspiration for my tablescape today. Flowers, flowers everywhere!

I even got to use my bee napkin ring holders that I got not to long ago. After all, where there are flowers, there must be bees.

I found these great red Poppy plates awhile ago at Ross. They were super cheep as they were on clearance so I couldn't pass them up.

I started with the tablecloth and napkins I got at Kohl's when they were having their 50% off sale. I loved all the bright colors of the different flowers and knew someday I would use it for a floral tablescape.

For the center piece I used a milk glass ice bucket that I was thrilled when I found it at a thrift store a long time ago. I've never seen one before and still have yet to see another one like it.

I put some red geraniums in there and thought it was perfect for this table scape.

The red charger plates came from K-Mart and I've used them before. The red flatware came from Target. They have great prices on flatware. This set of four was only $9.99. It comes in other colors too.

The glasses are from Macy's. I got them free. Well, free to me. I had gone to Laughlin several months ago and entered a drawing for Macy's gift card. I actually won!

The little lady bug dish was a clearance item from Kohl's.

Oh, I also used a white bird as part of the center piece. I got him as a gift a few years back. Normally, in the Spring/Summer months he is found in my living room.

Of course my little white bird salt and pepper shakers were used. So was a pretty red basket/bowl I found at Ross or TJ Maxx. I can't remember.

I think this is a very cheerful tablescape. Bright colorful flowers screams spring to me! Now if only my garden was this pretty...

LET'S GO ENJOY WHAT MOTHER NATURE HAS TO OFFER TODAY

Today is a beautiful day here in So. California. The weather is perfect! Sunny and warm but not hot.

I couldn't have a picked a better day to go for a hike with my nephew, Jason and his daughter, Trinity.

I thought it would but nice if you came along with us. So come on...it's right this way.


Jason loves to go hiking and he knows some great out of the way places that most people have never heard of. So, I always leave it up to him to take us to some new and exciting place to hike.

Today was no exception. We drove out to Mission Viejo. There is a sports park there. Lots of people everywhere!

But, even though we parked there, that was not where we were headed. We were going to go down into the valley area to the wilderness. Where Mother Nature was waiting for us.


With all the rains we had, there were some great wild flowers in bloom.

We found a trail and followed it. I was happy as it seemed like a nice flat walk. I should have known better though because I knew we were headed down, down, down so there would have to be hills somewhere along our hike.

Parts of the path had trees that provided a pretty arch way to walk under. I have to admit though, I was leery of bugs or spiders dropping down on me as I walked through them.

Some areas were just covered with wild flowers. I wish I brought some cutting shears so I could have gone home with a lovely bouquet of wild flowers. Oh well, I guess it's better I left them for others to enjoy.

Even patches of cactus was blooming.

These bushes had the most lovely bright yellow flowers. This picture doesn't make them that great but in person they were wonderful!

The sky was nice and clear and blue today.

No one was on these trails but us. We never passed or even saw on other person.

These purple flowers were breath taking. I couldn't help but think about what an awesome God we have to give us such beautiful flowers for us to enjoy.

Trinity is such a trooper. She loves to go hiking and was willing to go anywhere her daddy lead her too. Some kids would have been complaining every step of the way. But, not Trinity.

We came across this large area with pretty green leaves and these great bright purple flowers. Mixed in with them were these strange looking pods with spikes. I had no idea what they were.

I thought perhaps they were going to bloom into flowers but all the flowers on this plant were small. So I don't think these large things would be necessary for small flowers.

Do you have any idea what they are?

The trail led us to a stream. My pictures made it look super shallow and small. In person it was deeper and was running at a pretty fast pace.

We talked about crossing over it but then decided against it.

We weren't ready to turn around and head back so we broke away from the mail trail to this smaller path we found.

This is actually a steep hill. I don't know why my picture makes it look like it's nothing. The truth was it was pretty scary to go down. Plus I knew we would have to make it back up on our way back.

We walked around and found another way down to the stream. We walked along the bank until we couldn't go any further.

The sound there was so peaceful. The babbling sound the water made with birds chirping over head made it feel like you were way out in the country and not just a short way from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

We ended going off the trails completely. This was an adventure I wasn't sure about going on. There were spiders everywhere and Jason was telling us about being there once and how he came across different kinds of snakes. One was even a 6 foot rattle snake.

I was kind of scared with each step I took.

Jason started to point out more wild flowers to get my mind off of bugs, snakes and falling down breaking my neck. It didn't work though. I still wasn't thrilled in this area, no matter how pretty it was.

We climbed over fallen branches, around rocks and under hanging trees. We were trying to find our way out and where the trail was again.

We came across a huge spider web and a spider that was giant. I swear I heard him burp after eating the last human that walked by and got captured in his web.

I was so creeped out that I didn't even take a picture.

Then we came across this area of plants that formed something that looked like a camping area. It looked as if some sort of wild life had been sleeping there. I wondered if there were bears in this area. Jason laughed and said "No, but it is the area where two people were last year and a Mountain lion ate one".

Oh great! That made me feel much better. No bears, only killer mountain lions!

Finally, we found the trail again. We headed back. Up, up, up this time. Talk about a good work out!

One last patch of red wild flowers were at the top of the hill to greet us and wish us well on our journey home.

I took this picture from the top. It looks like the area is a flat area but it really isn't. It goes down to the valley where the stream was.

Once up there, I almost wanted to go back down. But, of course I didn't.

I did have a great time. Even though at times I was scared. It was very pretty and I was happy that I got out and got some exercise and stuck to my plan of working out more this week.

I wonder where our next trip will be to explore areas I've never been before.

I hope you had fun on this hike with us.