Kelly Post Fun Day

On Saturday, Kelly Post Girls' Lacrosse held their Family Fun Day for the clinic and tyker teams. It was well organized and so much fun for the girls. They had stations set up and three teams traveled to a station at one time to compete against each other.

The first station was the Water Balloon Toss. Ammy and her partner did quite well and decided to pop their balloon on their own.

The next station was a Dress the Dad Relay. Each team has a box of dress up clothes that they had to place on their designated dad. Each child ran up one at a time with a piece of clothing until the dad was dressed in everything in the box...including lipstick! There will be incriminating photos on Facebook, I'm sure!

Then it was on to the Over/Under Water Relay. Each team had to pass a cup of water over then under until they got to the end of their line. The last person in line had to run to a bucket (trying not to spill the water along the way) and pour it into a bucket. The team to have the most water in their bucket at the end of the relay won.

Anyone remember this game from college? This relay involved running to a lacrosse stick and putting your forehead on the butt of the stick. Then you had to spin around 5 times and run back.

Can you say DIZZY? I was crying laughing watching the girls spin around.

There was a break with Rita's Italian Ice and the girls also got to decorate pillowcases. The girls drew on the back of their pillowcases and then each girl from the team signed their names. Super cute and much better than a cheap trophy (which would be broken in a matter of hours in my house)

They climbed fences...

and got piggy-back rides.

Another station was Crab Soccer. I think Ammy was a little tired at this point!

The last station was the Drop in the Bucket Relay. The girls had to put a lacrosse ball between their thighs and hop down to a bucket. Then they had to squat and drop the ball in the bucket.

It was HILARIOUS! They looked like they were laying eggs!

The morning ended with a picnic lunch.

At 8, life doesn't get much better than a day of games, Italian Ice and junk food!

I Heart Martha

Several years ago, I came across this article for photo centerpieces in Martha Stewart Living. At the time I was working on a donor dinner for my kids' school and made 60 of them--I used photos of the school from the late 1800's to current day. They were a total hit.

When my sister-in-law asked for help with her party, I immediately thought of this project. I used old photos of her in-laws for the centerpieces. They were pretty easy to make.

First, buy a bunch of black frames. I prefer those that are flat on the front and back. It makes them easier to attach to each other. Michaels has a bunch of sizes that are very reasonable. 4 x 6 frames and 5 x 7 frames are the easiest to make. 8 x 10's are more difficult.

Print your photos onto vellum. Martha suggests using ecru vellum--Michaels only has white and it is called Translucent Specialty Paper. Terrifically Tacky Tape is the perfect thing to use to attach the photos to the inside of the frames. It comes in several sizes, but I buy the thinnest size.

Take out everything in the frame (find another use for all of the glass and cardboard backs. If you come up with one, let me know since I have tons of supplies from the last time I did this!) Place the tape on all four sides of the inside of the frame. Remove the backing of the tape. Then place your vellum photo down onto the tape. This can be tricky with the 8 x 10 photos--work slowly and only attach one side at a time.

Once you have the photos taped down into each of the frames, tape three of them together using electrical tape. Fold the frames into a triangle shape and put a votive candle inside of the frame. I will post pictures of the frames when they are lit up on Saturday at the party.

I also made stickers for the fronts of the buckets that are being used for the prizes for a trivia game about the couple. Again, the buckets are filled with some of their favorite things.

I am also creating a memory book at the party--there will be some super fun mannequins that will be used. Check back on Sunday to see what we have planned!

I posted this idea on:

For Dayna

My sister-in-law is hosting a 50th wedding anniversary party for her in-laws this weekend. This video is one that I put together to be shown at the event. I need her to see it (and youtube won't allow you to upload a video with music) so all of you followers get to see it too.

Check back tomorrow for more cool things you can make for a 50th anniversary party.

Confirmed

After two years of classes, Allie was confirmed this past Sunday. There were only 3 girls in her class... Allie, Kaylan, and Emelia.

Allie with Pastor Jim after the service.

Allie with her super supportive brothers!

Allie giving her confirmation speech to the congregation about the Bible verse that means the most to her.



Three down, two to go!

Joy

This is it...the last of the Bahamas beach pictures, I promise!

After the wedding, we took some couples shots on the beach. We are so rarely in pictures together--it is really nice to have pictures to remind us of the great time we had away from the craziness of our everyday lives!

I love the way these turned out.

This is my favorite one! (He still makes me laugh after 21 years!)

Joy is not in things; it is in us.

Richard Wagner

I Am All About The Destination Wedding

After spending four days in the Bahamas, I would have no problem with one of my children getting married in some place tropical. The beach and ocean provided a spectacular backdrop for the wedding. The resort set up chairs right on the sand.

This was one of the flower arrangements that lined the aisle.

Here we are waiting for the bride and groom.

These are the groom's parents, Jack and Rose. I loved them. They were so happy for their son and so excited to welcome their new daughter-in-law.

The flower girls walking down the aisle. The one in front alternated between smiling and looking absolutely terrified.

The bride was walked down the aisle by her older brother.

Exchanging the vows. The bride is Catholic and the groom is Jewish. The ceremony included traditions from both faiths.

The lighting of the unity candle was a riot...the mothers spent a great deal of time lighting the individual candles only for the wind to blow them out immediately! They finally gave up.

Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Ty Laurie.

Congratulations Ty and Alana. Thanks for including us in your special day!

Junkanoo

Junkanoo music is the local music of the Bahamas. Junkanoo music is a rich, expressive style of percussive music with heavy African influences. Traditional Bahamian weddings often include a Junkanoo rush-out, which is a parade of musicians dressed in masks and armed with cowbells, whistles, and drums.

This group of musicians was our "surprise" entertainment at the rehearsal dinner.

After they marched around the pool most of the guests joined in the dance. The headresses were passed from guest to guest.

These are our friends, Connie and Dan, from Chicago.

Tony in his headdress!

The bride and groom led the festivities...

Abaco

An island of

pastel houses and palm trees

beautiful blue water unlike any water I have ever seen

white sand beaches

rustic island bars

gorgeous sunsets

bonfires on the beach

fresh grouper wraps

and total relaxation

You Know You're On A Small Plane When...

You look out the window and you can see the reflection of the entire front of the plane in front of the propeller.

All it takes to hold the engine together is a thin piece of wire.

There is no door to the cockpit and the flight attendant is also the pilot!

This is the airport where you land.

This was the plane that we were on...I am not a big fan of flying as it is, but this plane about put me over the edge!

My discomfort was so worth it!