I Love You Because...

My Thoughts at Thirty

This birthday came with the perfect surprise!  Friday night I got home from dinner with a friend only to see one of my favorite families piling out of thier suburban. My big brother Chad had brought his cute family up from Florida to spend the weekend with me. We hung out here at the house, we teased eachother, we relaxed, we played games, we watched the cousins play and giggle and wrestle. It was the perfect weekend! 

Surprisingly, being married to an almost fourty year old didn't prepare me for turning thirty the way I thought it would. Numbers and Age never really meant anything to me.... until this last week. Not that I care how old I am but it make me realize how much I've changed in my twenties. How different I am and how much more comfortable I am, being me. Don't get me wrong, I still have a lot of personal progress to make but, as I look back on the last 10 years I'm kinda proud of who I've become and how I've grown. I like who I am, I love my family and my relationships within it and I love my friendships and how even those have grown over the years, I love my marriage and how that has evolved and grown over the last ten years, I love my life! So, my thoughts on being thirty? I am so blessed. I am so happy and I can't wait to see what the next thirty bring me! 

Hopefully it will include lots of fun family time just like this!
THANKS CHAD, TERI and DOUG for making my birthday PERFECT!

Love you!
JJ 

 

 

Construction Zone

good-bye white carpet, Hello pretty! Such a fun birthday present! My Husbandface spoils me! 

Cameron Ray Wallace

We celebrate the life of the best man I ever knew: a soldier, a father, a husband, a man of faith, a great friend, a warm heart, and the biggest smile ever - my nephew Ray Wallace. His cousin, Cameron Ray Wallace joined our family at 1:32am this morning. May he be as happy in life as his namesake!

-Husbandface

Ray and Ethan.... March 2003

Ethan's 9th Birthday

 

Dear Ethan

This past year has been one of huge growth for you. You've turned into such a strong, confident and loving boy. You are growing so much and you have learned a lot over the last 12 months. You've learned how to be a friend and how to have a best friend. You've learned how to make new friends and even how to say good-bye to so many people you love. You have worked hard in scouts and accomplished so much, it has been wonderful to teach you so many new things and see the wonder in your eyes as you discover them. I hope you NEVER outgrow that. You've learned how to adjust in new and different scenerios and you've handled all the changes we've thrown at you since the move better then anyone expected. You have become happier this past year and you have really become a wonderful big brother. You are always checking up on the little kids and always reminding them of the rules. You are so excited for the new baby and I can't wait to see how much you will love and protect him. Your brothers and sister are going to be in your life forever and they will always be there for you. I hope you are able to remember that and apprieciate them and devolope strong friendships with them that will be unmatched. Ethan, I am lucky to be your Mom. I'm lucky to have you stay younger longer, I'm honored to see so much progress and hardwork from you. You are constantly accomplishing things that others say you can't do yet. This year you have also become more aware of people and thier emotions around you. You come up to me when I'm having a bad day and love on me, you try to cheer up your brother when he's hurt and you are always trying to get your Dad to play with you and goof off with you. This year we decided to buy you a puppy for your birthday. You have been begging for one for months and months and I can honestly say you have proved to me in just one week how responsible you actually are. You remember the rules and you clean up after her. You love her constantly and you feed, bath, walk and take her out all the time. It's been a happy surprise how good you are with her and I hope you are able to make her into your best friend.

Please remember this year, Sunshine how much I love you. You mean the world to me and your giggle is one of the happiest sounds in the world. Happy Birthday, Big Boy! 

Love Always,
Mommy 

eight, seven, six, five, four, three

Homemade Gifts 2011

Speaking of traditions, this one is another one of my all time favorite traditions... HOMEMADE GIFTS! Every year My siblings and I homemake our gifts to eachother. Every year it's different and fun and always heartfelt. It just brings such a personal touch to the gifts and puts their personalities in our lives and in our homes. We went to Florida a few weeks ago for my nieces baptism and it was so fun to see the same decorations and family themes decorating their house too. As I was getting ready for this post I realized that in EVERY room in my house you can see evidence of homemade gifts over the years.... 

A tableloth pieced by Teri in Owen's room.

In our living room, Sean's Photography... (I wish I had more!) 

In my kitchen, Emily's recipe boxes (she took all my Grandmother's and Mother's recipes, typed them up, printed them and laminated them for us one year... This is probably the MOST USED GIFT EVER!!) 

In our entryway, from April and Gentry the ledges (he made those!) and from Spring and Sean the Santa cross-stitch (yeah, crazy, I know but, I love it!) and that picture of Christ? It's cross-stitched as well, My Mom made it for me 15+ years ago. (now are your starting to see where we get the craziness from?) 

and in every bedroom, This year Teri and Chad gave us Christmas Pillowcases... (the kids are so mad at me because I took them off today to wash them.)

This year my Mom also made me a Santa Quilt, it's in Lorali's room and it's so beautiful. Santa's from around the world, all appliqued on, I LOVE IT! ...

This year Sean and Spring gave us a super thoughtful gift, it's a little candy cane countdown to Christmas, exactly like the one I grew up with (makes me smile every time I see it.)...

Then Emily really out-did herself this year, I have no idea how the heck she found the time to make this with her busy schedule but, I'm not complaining it's perfect and I have the perfect spot for it this fall in my entryway...

and what did I make this year? All November my dining room was turned into a leather workshop, Yep, more leather projects just like last year. I now realize how my Grandpa had it as his lifelong hobby. It's addictive! I already have ideas for projects to keep me busy all year. This time it was just for adults... Blank Leather Books. Fishing Logs, Hiking Logs or Journals, whatever they're used for they're all personalized. 

I've already made some for most of the grandkids but decided not to give them at Christmas but to give them to the kids one at a time for thier birthday's this year...

and for Dad's birthday I made him a few more Fly Fishing Reel Pouches... 

Now, I'm off to start planning for next year! 

 

 

 

 

 

She turns SIX!

Lorali 

This week you have amazed me yet again. You are such a strong, hard working confident little girl. I love your stubborn spirit and I love your loving heart. As I watched you this week with your Grandma I realized how grown up you've become this past year and how much I rely on you. You're like the big sister of the entire family in so many ways and you have been my rock more then you know. You are always willing to help and you seem to always seek out ways to fill a need. You are such an amazing example to both your brothers and you are still able to be a fun-spunky kid even though you are so grown up in so many ways. You are one of the hardest working people I know, constantly helping, constantly getting better and always learning. You learning to read this year at lighting speed is just one way you shine. You're always trying to practice your artwork and you're always challenging yourself in dance and you're one of the only people I know that can do the splits! You saw someone do it- and decided that if you tried hard enough you could do it, two weeks later you could! It was amazing. YOU are amazing and I love you. Happy Birthday Princess!! 

Love, 
Mommy

FIVE  

FOUR

THREE

TWO

ONE

Third Child Syndrome aka Owen's Party

Yeah I'm one of those Mom's I swore I'd never be. I posted about Ethan's birthday (complete with video!) just a few days after his party. He's the oldest and I was excited for him. Owen on the other hand not only has to be third in the pecking order but his birthday happens to be just 3 weeks after his big brothers and that usually means Mommy hasn't recovered from the first celebration of the year (let alone be ready to put on another one!).  I did throw him a party and I did write the traditional letter to him so props there, right? I just haven't gotten around to posting his party though-- to much to do and too little time. That doesn't mean it wasn't a standard Joanna-thrown party though. It was a perfect party for my three year old which, it my mind that deems it a success! 

Owen is my Mickey Mouse boy so it was a no brainer thinking of a 'theme' or color scheme. I wanted it simple and not over the top cartoon-y (not easy with Disney in my opinion!). So I chose yellow, red and black as the colors. Since we only invited 3 of his closest friends (and their families) it wasn't a big group and it was really intimate and low key. I'm a big believer that the age they are is the number of kids that the birthday child will be happy with and that you as a parent can manage. Trust me when I say that I LEARNED THIS THE HARD WAY! (just sayin'). As soon as the kids came Owen gave them all their own Mouse ears that we had made and while some weren't used to the weight on the top of their heads, these were still a big hit. I printed off a pattern online, bought black headbands and stiff felt from the craft store and in less than 15 minutes had all 4 of them drying. (Owen's had a birthday hat added to his ears and the girls had little red polka dot bows). Super simple craft project that cost about $1 a piece.

We had Mickey Mouse Clubhouse pictures for the kids to watercolor as they were arriving and then they still had a chance to dry before we sent them home later. Once everyone was there I gave everyone little candy bracelets to make, they had little mickey charms (found them at Walmart) and while Owen was okay making this it was probably too hard of a project for the two year old guests- this is something for kids over 4 but, the siblings LOVED them (oh well, live and learn!)

After that is was time for the food... this was 100% based on Owen's favorite foods. Know your audience, right? Besides it was SIMPLE and that was my goal! Taco Salad bar for the grown-ups (with homemade chipotle dressing. YUM!)

and for the kids we had Hot Diggity Dogs (mini corn dogs), Mickey mouse shaped chicken nuggets, chips, and juice boxes.  I made up and printed a bunch of these blank labels and used them throughout the party to label food, drop a thank you note in the gift bags, etc.) Super handy! 

oh and the kids favorites were 'toodles' and Mickey and Minnie's that I made up. Owen wanted his own Lego cake pops like I did for Ethan's party but that didn't exactly go with my 'theme'. I searched and searched the internet for Mickey ideas but didn't find anything I was excited about so I kinda made up my own combining every technique in Bakerella's cook book but, the end result was something that everyone loved. I used devil's food cake/icing this time, mickey shaped candy confetti (found only at Walmart- ugh) and red/yellow sprinkles, red, and white candy coating and black candy coloring. Not sticks this time, just served bon-bon style. 

Since this was a total crap shoot and I had NO IDEA if they'd turn out I made a bunch of different designs.. the ears were piped out of the candy coating on wax paper, left to dry then pushed into the balls before the coating had time to dry. If I were to do it again I'd dip only in red and make the mickey with his cute buttons and the minnie with the polka dots but the mickey head confetti tastes like Sweet Tarts so the kids fought over those ones. 

Since I was making the cake balls I knew we wouldn't need much of a cake... more for ceremony then anything else. So it was tiny and practically personal sized but Owen LOOOVED it. (The candles were pretty cute too- found them al Walmart too- ugh)

After cake it was time for presents and gift bags and everyone was on their way. The gift bags we made ourselves and were just simple red bags found for .25 a piece at the craft store. I bought another .50 worth of white buttons and had yellow felt at home. We stuck the ears in the tops and filled them with a giant mickey lollipop, mickey fruit snacks, stickers, m&m's and a bouncy ball. They might have been my favorite craft project of the party.

It was adorable, the kids were happy, my house wasn't turned upside down in planning, preparing and executing it and best of all Owen knew it was just for him. SUCCESS! Needless to say though, I'm glad that we decided not to throw our kids a birthday party every year because I'm ready for a break! 

 

Look at Me! I'm Three!

Dear Baby Bear,

I don't think a day goes by where I'm not surprised by your cuteness, you wit or your tenderness. You are by far the most loving, cuddly child I've had, You're my little Mama's Boy and I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm not sure I like this whole growing up thing but I sure do like seeing your independence, your strength and your personality more and more everyday. You are more stubborn now and you stand up for yourself to your siblings now more than ever but you do way more than your fair share of the teasing but it's all about trying to get a laugh for you. You just recently realized that you have your own identity from the rest of us and it's be adorable to watch. You like having your own friends, you are protective of your own things and you like to choose your favorites. You're favorite food is anything sweet, your favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, You've learned your colors and number (0-10) this year, you're completely potty trained and you love to read. You beg to go to school almost everyday and when you don't want to to go school you cry to go to Bampa's house. You're smart, you're tiny & fast and you are cute as can be. I love being your Mom, I love spending all my time with you and can't even imagine our lives without you. 

I love you all the way to Canada and to the bears and back to our house again. 

Love,
Mommy  

Owen at 2 and It sure was fun turning 1! and of course the baby news!

EIGHT

Dear Ethan

This year has taught me one one very important thing about YOU that will be a part of who you are for the rest of your life. You are so smart! You are hard working and stubborn when you put your mind to it and while those are traits that might make it harder on me to be your Mommy, they are traits that will serve you so well your entire life and it is something I am proud of. You have grown so much this year. This past year you've grown taller,  you have learned respect and you're more compassionate. You share your tender heart with everyone in your life more then you ever have. I love it! You are learning to read and are exceptionally good at math. You have a lot of friends at school and I love that you have found your niche. You started scouts this year and I have been very proud of not only all that you have accomplished in it (You got your Bobcat and Tiger badge already) but how you have reacted to situations that have been hard. I know it's been hard on you this year to be different but not only are you conquering your situation but you are teaching those around you very important lessons about love, respect, understanding and acceptance.

I love you, Sunshine. I can't wait to see you grow and learn even more over the years.

Love,
Mommy 

Seven 

Six

Five 

Four

Three

LEGO PARTY!

 We were SNOWED IN all last week.... in 5 inches of snow. Seriously this girl was going a little crazy with cabin fever BUT we did keep busy with this....

  

I am pretty confident in saying that HE LOVED EVERY PART OF IT! 

 

*Just in case you are ever interested in throwing a Lego party of your own...

1- As the boys were arriving we played Lego I Spy by putting up a lot of our sets the boys have gotten over the years and having the boys look for unique items (like a pig, a shower, etc.) This totally worked because Doug has SO FREAKING MANY LEGOS and the boys loved looking at all of it! You can download and adjust it to you with my template, available for instant download by clicking HERE. 

2- Complete instructions for the Lego Head Cake Pops can be found HERE (Lorali likes the Marshmallow Ones the best.) Ethan wanted mini Legos for his cake so I bought a bar pan and put in marshmallows to create the lego effect then I iced them with bright colored liquid icing to get the smooth/shiny plastic looking effect. 

3- I posted instructions for the Gum Blocks in the goodie bags HERE and for the Juice Blocks HERE. What else was in the goodie bags? their minifigures from their nameplates in there, their Lego badges, Some Lego Candy available HERE, a Lego wrist band found HERE and little Lego coloring books by downloading a bunch of images and printing them out to fit. 

4- The decorations for the bags and cups were stickers from THIS BOOK. I had lots left over that we put them in the goodie bags too. Ethan loved it so much while we were preparing that I had to buy a second one for him at home!

5- We gave each of the boys their own Official Lego Builder's Pass on a lanyard when they came in and during each event they had a chance to earn star stickers to put on the back. You can download my free template by clicking below. (They fit in 3x4 vertical lanyard holders that you can find at any office supply store.)

8- For activities we built and raced Lego cars (& the boys got to take home afterward) and we played Creationary. It was a blast and the boys all wish it would have lasted longer. 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ETHAN!! 
(and thanks Sarah for being my photographer!)  

 

DOWNLOAD- 

Download Legobuilderpass