Surprise Party!

So, yesterday we celebrated Rowan's 5th Birthday...

She doesn't turn 5 until Tuesday, but because it is on Tuesday, we threw the party yesterday...

Did I mention that it was a Surprise Party??

Yeah, it was... and boy was she clueless and shocked!

 

We had been cleaning and planning all week long... and come yesterday, my friend Amy- her honorary Auntie- and I took her to the mall for a Girls Day.

We went to Build-A-Bear because we always do that for her birthday and then went to Journey's Kids... a shoe store... to get her a new pair of Vans.  They are so cute.  White with Hearts and everything.

After we left the very packed mall... (no wonder I don't shop on the weekends!!)... We hit up Applebee's because we had time to spare.

See, everyone was meeting at my house at 3pm... and we left the mall at 2pm.  I didn't want to get home until about 315 or so, that way if I had people show up a bit late to the house, we wouldn't be driving up at the same time.

Well, Applebee's took longer than expected.  We didn't get out of there until 310pm!!  Let me tell you, both Amy and I were checking on the time and when the food did finally show up... we scarfed it down so fast...

So... we headed home and I called the house when we were about 2 blocks or so away....

Rowan only noticed that my Grandma's car was there... but I told her that my mom and dad and grandma were there visiting her new hamster (more on that in a minute).

Rowan walked through the door first... and as you can see from this picture... she was totally surprised.

She was so surprised, she didn't know what to think...

What the heck mom?

She didn't know what to think... Once it all settled in to her, she was one happy camper.

We did a Hula theme... with lei's and all.  Because she was the special Birthday Girl, she got the prettiest one... aka... one that wasn't plastic... but plastic and flowers :)

God she is growing up.

After we all settled in and ate some food, we had Present time.  She got some really great stuff... but because the pictures contain family memebers, I'm not going to post those pictures. 

She did get a Fisher Price Kid-Tough Camera from Derek and I... she has been using it all sticking weekend :) 

She also got new shoes, a couple of outfits... 3 pairs of sunglasses... and some Littlest Pet Shoppe toys... she came away from her birthday a winner, let me tell you!

 

Next up was CAKE!!  We love cake...

Her hula cake was marble with chocolate pudding in the middle... it has become such a hit with us and our family, that is the only cake that we get now :)

Her she is... all excited about people singing her Happy Birthday.

I swear, she can be so sweet sometimes...

Happy Birthday Rowan...

 

Okay... so about this Hamster I was telling you about :)

I went to the Pet Store on Friday with Zachary with all the intentions in the world to just get Dog Food for Lola and Tango.

Well, something came over me and I made my way down to the area where they keep the hamsters and rabbits.

All of the sudden, I found myself picking out a "home" and looking at the different foods and treats.  I stopped there and then made my way to get the dog food and then asked a clerk for help with the hamsters.

I picked out a Black Bear Hamster... I'm not sure if it is a boy or a girl, but it is awfully cute. 

I came home and put together the house for it... and put "her" in the home.  I didn't mention it to Rowan when I picked her up from school... I let her find it herself.  Yes, she was surprised.

Well, she named "her" Daisy and she lives in a Pink home that the company made to give partial funds to the cause of Breast Cancer.  I love it... it is stinkin' cute!

Here is Daisy... enjoying a Peanut...

And this is her cute little home...

She is still kinda getting used to us... I held her for a millisecond this afternoon.  Rowan is obsessed in making sure she is okay all the time... lol. 

We'll have to get her a different cage sometime down the road when she gets bigger... and some other toys and what not...

But for now, I think its okay.

 

Okay, I hope you enjoyed the pictures...

Have a great week!

 

Nothing Better to Do...

... so I stole this quiz from Laura at "Adventures in Juggling"...

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Truthfully, I didn't look into the mirror.  I just got up, turned on the shower and hopped right in.  I know the "Morning Me" isn't all that gorgeous ;)

2. How much cash do you have on you?
None.  I'm not big on carrying cash... most places accept ATM or Check Card.

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?
Store.

4. Do you label yourself?
Only would label myself a Mommy and Wife... Friend and Daughter... so, that is about it.

5. Bright or Dark Room?
How about a semi-lightened room?  I love natural sunshine... but not too big on the false stuff.

6. What is your favorite ringtone?
Right now its "Fergilicious"

7. What does your watch look like?
I have a few.  But the two that I wear most often are silver and one has a purple face with Tinker Bell on it that came straight from Disneyland... and the second has a blue face with diamondettes on it... lol.  Little itty bitty slivers of diamonds.

8. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Sleeping.

9. Where is your nearest 7-11?
I am not even sure if we have one...

10. What’s a word that you say a lot?
Um, let me think about this one.... oh yeah, "NO"

11. Who told you he/she loved you last?
Derek :)

12. Last furry thing you touched?
The cat while turning on the water faucet in the bathroom so he could get a drink.

13. How many rolls of film do you need developed?
None, I'm all about the digital baby.

14. Favorite age you have been so far?
19 and 22... can't decide... both my babies were born at those ages.

15. Your worst enemy?
Laziness.

16. What is your current desktop picture?
Um, Rowan on the fountain at my brother's wedding.

17. What was the last thing you said to someone?
"You're so silly, Zach"... while he was dancing on the table :)

18. The last song you listened to?
"Push It" by Cobin Blue on the Disneychannel.

19. What time of day were you born?
Early morning I believe.

20. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Get ticked off... then call the company who maintains it- if I am at work, that is.

21. Do you consider yourself kind?
I try to be... especially to those who deserve it.

22. What’s your life motto?
Live today as if there is no tomorrow.

23. Name three things you have with you at all times.
Wedding and Mother's ring... Cell Phone.

24. Can you change the oil in a car?
If I had to... but most of the time I take it to the shop.

25. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
I wrote a letter the other day, but I didn't mail it.  I hand delivered it.

Quiet Weekend.

Well, it sure has been a pretty quiet weekend here in the Pickle Jar.

 

I had to work on Friday, so that made my weekend a bit shorter than I am used to.  But it was okay... It was a quiet day at work with our phones/internet being down.

 

Saturday the kids and I slept in until about 830am.  That is pretty good, especially since my kids aren't ones to really sleep in that much.

That afternoon we went to a birthday party for a fellow journalers son, Daniel.  Laura from "Adventures in Juggling"  invited my monsters to go and join her and her family and friends for Daniel's 5th birthday.

The kids had a great time at the gymnastics place... I just wish I had remembered to bring the camera!!  I got half way there and remembered it... bummer.

 

Today I spent most of my time cleaning up...

I cleaned out some cabinets, drawers and helped Rowan clean her room.  We still aren't done with that, but we'll finish later this week.

Rowan's birthday is coming up.  It is the 23rd but we are throwing her a Surprise Party on the 20th.

Yes, I said Surprise Party... she has no idea that we are throwing her a party or when we are doing it.  See, I am going to take her to the mall to do a Build-a-Bear (which we do every year on her bday) and then to lunch.

After lunch we'll head home and find a party when we get there...

I think it will be fun... and I can't wait to see her face :)

 

Anyways... so not much is going on today...

I am going to go and start dinner in a bit.  A simple dinner of stir-fryed chicken and vegetables.  Maybe some rice if I can talk Derek into it... lol.  He is really wanting to focus on No-Carbs.  So, we'll see.

But right now, I'm off to open up a bottle of wine and have a glass... then maybe do some blog hopping before starting dinner :)

 

I hope you all had a great weekend.

See you on the flip side :)

PICTURES FROM THE WEDDING...

MY BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW'S WEDDING WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND FUN EVENT.

I'M GLAD MY KIDS COULD PARTICIPATE IN THEIR UNCLE BOO'S WEDDING... ROWAN WAS SO PROUD TO BE THE FLOWER GIRL... AND ZMAN, WELL, ZMAN DIDN'T QUITE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT... BUT HE SURE SEEMED TO LIKE THE CLOTHES AND THE ATTENTION THAT CAME WITH THE TITLE OF RING BEARER.

WE DROVE DOWN TO THE BAY AREA ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.  AFTER A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE TIME OF THE REHEARSAL, WE GOT TO THE CHURCH AND THE KIDS DID THEIR THING... NO PROBLEMS.

ZACHARY DID GET A LITTLE GRUMPY AFTER THE PRACTICING... AS YOU CAN SEE...

BUT HE GOT OVER IT... ONCE DADDY LET HIM SIT WITH MOMMY :)

HE COULDN'T DECIDE IF HE WAS HAPPY... OR GRUMPY... BUT THESE PICTURES CAME OUT TOO DAMN CUTE!

PERSONALLY, I THINK DEREK DID A GREAT JOB WITH THOSE TWO PHOTOS.  YOU CAN TOTALLY SEE BOTH ATTITUDES THAT YOU CAN GET FROM ZACH... AND BOY IS HE A HAM WHEN IT COMES TO THE CAMERA.

AFTER THE REHEARSAL AT THE CHURCH, WE HEADED TO THE RESTAURANT.

ROWAN AND I FELT UP TO SOME CAMERA TIME... SO THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER PICTURES DEREK WAS ABLE TO GET.  ROWAN HAS THIS THING ABOUT PUTTING HER CHEEK RIGHT NEXT TO MINE.  LET ME TELL YOU, SOME OF THE OTHER PHOTOS WEREN'T VERY FLATTERING.

NOTICE HER CROWN??  SHE JUST HAD TO WEAR IT FOR THE REHEARSAL.  SHE KEPT SAYING SHE WAS THE PRINCESS... WELL, CHECK OUT THIS PRINCESS BELOW...

MR. ZACHARY HAD TO GET IN ON THE CROWN ACTION.  I THOUGHT HE LOOKED TOO HAPPY AND TOO CUTE TO PASS UP ON TAKING HIS PICTURE.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO SHARE THE FAMILY PHOTO.  I'M REALLY GLAD IT CAME OUT SO WELL.  I'M HOPING THE ONES WE TOOK WITH THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER WILL COME OUT JUST AS GOOD.

AND HERE IS ONE OF MY BOYS... AREN'T THEY JUST ADORABLE?

EXCUSE DEREK'S GUM... I WISH I HAD SOME KIND OF PHOTOSHOP TO EDIT THAT OUT ;)

AFTER A LONG DAY, WE RETURNED TO OUR HOTEL ROOM...

 

THE NEXT DAY WAS THE WEDDING.

THANKS TO ROWAN, WE WERE UP AT THE BUTT-CRACK OF DAWN.  I THINK SHE GOT US UP AT 8AM WHEN WE WERE PLANNING ON GETTING UP AROUND 9AM.  OH WELL.  THE KIDS STILL DID A FANTASTIC JOB THAT DAY.

THE KIDDOS FINALLY DRESSED AND READY TO GO...

PRINCESS ROWAN... SHE LOOKS A BIT WASHED OUT IN THIS PICTURE.... BUT SHE HAD A TID-BIT OF MAKE-UP ON AND LOOKED SO GROWN UP AND STUNNING.

THE BOY... WITH HIS GOOFY, YET EXTREMLY CUTE, SMILE.  HE LOOKED SO GROWN UP IN HIS TUX.  I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW HANDSOME HE WAS :)  BUT I GUESS I AM BIASED.

AFTER THE CEREMONY, WE CAME OUTSIDE AND THERE WAS THIS REALLY PRETTY FOUNTAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COURTYARD.

WELL, ROWAN WENT TO SIT BY IT AND I TOOK THESE PHOTOS OF HER...

I WENT TO COSTCO.COM AND ORDERED A FEW (OR A LOT... LOL) OF THESE PICTURES OF HER BY THE FOUNTAIN.  SHE SIMPLY LOOKED TO BEAUTIFUL TO PASS THOSE UP... EVEN THE PHOTOGRAPHER TOOK PICS OF HER BY THE FOUNTAIN.  NOW I REALLY CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THOSE!

I SNAPPED THIS PICTURE OF MY MOM, BROTHER AND ZACHARY OUTSIDE TOO.  IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT MY LITTLE BROTHER GOT MARRIED ON SATURDAY!!

FROM THE RECEPTION... BOO AND HIS WIFE, AMY, CUTTING THEIR CAKE.  IT WAS SURE TASTY :)

THEY THOUGHT SO TOO...

 

AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST...

THE GROOM AND HIS FLOWER GIRL...

UNCLE BOO AND PRINCESS ROWAN...

THERE YOU GO.  THERE WERE OTHERS, OF COURSE... BUT NOT AS GOOD OR NOT THAT INTERESTING...

LIKE OF THE DINNER AND THE BEER BOTTLES THAT MY HUBBY DRANK AT THE REHEARSAL DINNER... LOL.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THESE!!

Good Entry to Come

HEY GUYS.

WE GOT HOME SAFE AND SOUND YESTERDAY AFTERNOON FROM THE WEDDING.

I WILL BE TRYING REALLY HARD TO GET AN ENTRY IN TONIGHT... PICTURES AND EVERYTHING...

AND LET ME TELL YOU, SOME OF THE PICTURES ARE GREAT :)

HERE IS A LITTLE TEASER... LOL

SEE YOU GUYS LATER :)

Soon...

... WE WILL BE LEAVING FOR THE BAY AREA.

MY BROTHER IS GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW AND TONIGHT IS THE REHEARSAL AND THE DINNER.

SHOULD BE LOTS OF FUN.

I JUST HOPE BOTH OF MY MONSTERS, ER... I MEAN, KIDS... WILL DO JUST FINE WITH THE WHOLE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE INFRONT OF EVERYONE... LOL.

SO, IF YOU DON'T SEE ME AROUND, YOU KNOW WHY...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Yes, Another One

OOOKAY.

THIRD ONE OF THE NIGHT...

BUT I HAVE SOME STUFF TO WRITE ABOUT.

 

SEE, THIS WEEK IS A VERY SPECIAL, BUSY WEEK...

 

WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT COMING UP THIS WEEKEND AND WE HAVE MANY, MANY THINGS TO DO IN THE NEXT 3 DAYS TO GET READY FOR IT.

 

WHAT EVENT YOU ASK?

 

MY BABY BROTHER... OKAY, HE'S NOT SO BABY-ISH... HE'S 22... IS GETTING MARRIED ON SATURDAY!!

I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

 

SO, IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I HAVE ALL THIS TO DO:

*GET THE KIDDOS HAIR CUTS... TOMORROW @ 430PM

*PICK UP AN OUTFIT FOR ZMAN TO WEAR TO THE REHEARSAL

*GO TO THE MALL AND GET HOSE AND SOME SLACKS AND NEW SHIRT FOR DEREK... HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THAT WEDNESDAY

*PICK UP MY DRESS FROM THE GAL DOING THE ALTERATIONS

*GET A PEDICURE AND MY NAILS FILLED

*GO FRIDAY MORNING TO HAVE MY HAIR WASHED AND BLOWN OUT... I'M SO NOT TRYING TO DO THAT MYSELF... IT MUST LOOK GOOD, YOU KNOW ;)

 

SEE!!

I TOLD YOU I HAD A LOT TO DO.

SO, NEEDLESS TO SAY, IF I GET BEHIND ON COMMENTING AND READING, I'M SORRY...

 

WE LEAVE FRIDAY EARLY AFTERNOON TO HEAD TO THE BAY AREA FOR THE REHEARSAL AND DINNER.

THE WEDDING IS SATURDAY AT NOON... AND BOTH KIDDOS ARE IN THE WEDDING.  SO YOU KNOW I'LL HAVE TO GET MYSELF AND MY KIDDOS READY... THANKFULLY DEREK WILL BE THERE TOO.

AND THANKFULLY WE ARE STAYING THE NIGHT THERE AGAIN... THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT COMING HOME AFTER HAVING ALL THAT FUN AT THE RECEPTION :)

 

OKAY.

ENOUGH RAMBLING.

I'VE GOT A MONSTER HEADACHE...

GOING TO GO GRAB A BOTTLED WATER AND SOME ADVIL.

 

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

SEE YOU LATER....

Happy Birthday Mom

TODAY WE HELPED CELEBRATE MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY...

THE KIDS AND I MADE HER BIRTHDAY CARDS THIS MORNING AND THEN WE WENT OVER THERE TO HELP MAKE A SPECIAL DINNER.

 

WE MADE EGG ROLLS AND WON TONS... OH SO YUMMY.

 

SOOO...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM.  WE LOVE YOU!

"C" Revisited... Better Late then Never...

Well...

I suppose that I should put in an entry on our "C" (just for you Lisa... lol).

I'm really behind because of a few different reasons.

One, "C" is a very very busy time of the year... Must do the visits and do all the new toys and what not.

And two, the Wednesday after "C", I came down with the stomach bug... AGAIN!!  See, my poor mom came down with it on "C" eve and was sick all the next day...

So, I don't know if I ever got all the way over it the first time... or if I was one of the lucky ones to come down with it again... And my poor dad came down with it on Wednesday too.

 

Anyways...

Our "C" was wonderful.

"C" eve we go to my brother/sister-in-laws... where all of Derek's side of the family is... We had a blast and had some really yummy food.

The kids got spoiled... as you'll see in the pictures...

Thankfully, Derek was able to get someone to cover part of his shift that night... so he didn't have to go to work until 10pm. 

What sucked was that he was supposed to get off at 4am and then on the way home- not 5 mins from our house- he came upon an accident and didn't get home until almost 530am!!

And the kids woke up at 730am!!  Luckily, I was able to hold them off for a while and he was up at 815 to open gift and then have breakfast.

 

The kids got a good loot from Santa... as you can see in the big picture.  Rowan got her umbrella and her bag that she asked for... and Mr. Z got a Firetruck... which he loves.

 

After we had breakfast, Derek went back to bed until around 115pm and then got up toget ready to go to my parents house.

He was there only to open gift and then had to go to work.  He was so bummed... as well as we were... it was weird not having him and my mom at dinner :(

Hopefully next Christmas no one will be sick... or have to work...