This week just seems to keep dragging on…I went through the whole day Wednesday thinking it was Thursday!  Uggggh!  Come on Friday.

Question-Have you ever received a tacky or rude birthday invitation?

I know, how can a birthday invitation be tacky?  I will show you…

Yesterday, my nine-year old son comes home and excitedly hands his dad this party invitation.  My son and this boy have been going to school together for a couple of years.

The front of this invitation is not done tacky in the least…..

Now, he did get this yesterday, and the party is THIS Saturday! Three days notice is just not sufficient amount of time to be invited…at least I don’t think so.  I think a week would have been better maybe even a week and a half or two weeks.

Now onto the tacky part…..

Here is the BACK of the invite!

My first thought was….okay, now we don’t have to guess at what to get him. My thoughts immediately changed to ….HOW TACKY!  How RUDE!

First of all asking for Money is RUDE! Secondly, it could detour some parents ds from letting their child go to the party.  If their parents are short and don’t have money to send.  And what if one parent could only send $5, while other kids did $15 or even $20!

You ask people to come to a party because you want them there to celebrate it with you….not for a gift.  Miss Manners would be mortified.

If he receives birthday money as a gift….then great….but don’t ask for it.  I feel like I would be funding him….his parents should give him allowance so he can save up for it…not be a beggar for it at his birthday party.

Suffice to say our son will not be attending this party…based on three  things. One, three days notice is not enough notice for us.  Two, the tackiness and rudeness of asking for money.  And finally, we are on a budget.  We spend around $5 to $10 on birthdays that my kids are invited to.  I have 4 kids and being invited to parties adds up pretty darn quick.

So, do you think this is tacky?  I am just being ‘old fashioned’ in my thinking?

I hope you all have a marvelous day.

It took me around 5 to 6 hours within 3 days to complete it.

Materials needed:

Styrofoam heart (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby for $3.97)

One and half yards of red felt fabric (More of less depending on how loose/close together you place each circle ‘cone’ and depending on how big your heart is….they make several different sizes.)

between 250/300 straight pins

18″ long of ribbon total folded in half (or less if you prefer, maybe even more if that is your taste)

Scissors

Directions:

First you need to create a template for the circle.  I used a cookie cutter. It is about 3″ in diameter.  I didn’t cut out all my circles at once.  I cut out 15-20 a time, and then placed them on the heart form.

After you are done making the circles.  Take the circle and fold it in half, then fold it in half again.  This makes a triangle/cone shape.

Attach the ‘cone’ to the heart using a straight pin into the folded point.  Continue this all the way around.

Then take the ribbon, fold it in half and attach it to the back.  And your done!  Hang and admire!

**TIPS**

You can make this as full as you want.  Some only use 3/4th of a yard of felt, while I used just shy of 1 and a half yards.  And it also depends on how big your heart is as to how much fabric you will use.

The circles do NOT have to be perfectly cut.

To make the circles a little faster~ fold over your fabric and cut out two at a time.

I would not stick this wreath on the door for outside use.  This is a ‘indoor’ wreath.

Make sure you watch your pins that they do not come through on the back and you end up sticking yourself.  This didn’t happen to me.  However, you can never be too careful.

My daughter wants me to make her one for her room in the color of pink.   I might make a step by step picture tutorial if i can find another heart form.

~ENJOY~

Before coupons My total was $37.38 with Tax.  After coupons $12.38!

I purchased 5 pictureka games and a pink locker organizer for Aimee’s locker.

We are keeping one card game for ourselves and using the others for kids birthday gifts and such.  You know when you get a birthday invite and the birthday is only a few days away and you don’t really have anything to give or any money to go out and purchase something.  This is what they will get.

Or we might donate them to our church or give them as a gift to my kids teacher’s for Christmas.

Onto another deal, (Beware of purchasing this on eBay or Amazon!  I found only one on Amazon and they wanted $39.99 for it.  We got this one at Wal-Mart for $12.00!  SAME ONE!

This one is Aimee’s.  And for just $12.00.  It pays to shop around.  Granted our Walmart only had 3 of them.  So I am sure once they are noticed they will go FAST!

She is one HAPPY girl!  We last just 2 things to have all her school supplies bought.  Daniel lacks a lot and so does Zachary and we still have to get them all new backpacks!

Sending kids to school is EXPENSIVE!

Since March 16th, I have saved $1,278.48!!!!  I still have some receipts to add to that as well.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Take care!

I think for once my oldest is actually looking forward to getting back to school.  Now, that could be just to see his friends.  Which is probably more the case.

Aimee has been super excited ever since her 5th grade graduation.

Zachary, well, he really doesn’t want to go.  I am sure he will get better as the weeks go by.

It just amazes me that I have 2 middle school kids.  I feel so old!

We should be receiving the new school calendar soon.  They mail that out about the middle of every July.  It has the dates and such on it for the school year.

This year there is a time change on when school starts for the elementary.  I don’t know if it will change for the middles school students or not.  I hope to find the time out soon so I can get my kids morning routines down for the year.

One more thing before I close out.

I don’t know why I feel like I have to say this again for the umpteenth time. I am a mom blogger.  I blog about my life as a parent of 4.  My blog is full of Randomness.

I do not Claim to be a english teach.  Yes, you will probably find some spelling and grammar mistakes.  I do spell check before posting.  However, being a busy mom of 4 sometimes Grammar and spelling do not get checked.

This blog is not perfect, nor do I claim it to be.  I am simply put….a Mom that enjoy blogging to share with her family that happen to live in different states.  And to share with my friends, and online blogging friends that I have met along the way.

My kids, husband, family, house, friends, all come before my blog.  They are my priority.  My blog will always take a backseat to that. So No, my spelling and grammar may or may not be perfect.

If you can’t deal with a few grammatical errors or spelling errors than you shouldn’t be reading my blog.

I love the blog friends I have made, and I will continue to seek out new blogs to read.  All negative comments about my grammar or spelling will not be published.

Negativity is NOT allowed in my house, so it sure will not be allowed on my blog.

With that said,

I hope you all have a excellent, wonderful Day.

Take Care!

Three Names I go by
Momma  (my kids and husband call me this)
Sopapia  (My father in laws nickname for me, Eric calls me this as well)
Suprina (what everyone calls me but if you don’t know me they usually mispronounce it.)

Three Jobs I have had in my life
3M-I made 5″ floppy discs (While going to college)
Opryland (Worked here before I started having complications with my pregnancy with Daniel)
Cashier at Foodlion

Three Places I have lived
Oklahoma (Born and raised moved away when I was 20.)
Germany(I would live in Germany anytime.  David was also born in Germany)
Florida (I lived in Miami, I would live in Florida again but more Northern.  Living in Miami is like living in a different country.)

Three TV Shows that I watch
Golden Girls ( I just love watching the Golden Girls.)
Dancing With The Stars (This is one of my favorites)
Burn Notice (You just got to watch this.  It is on Thursday Nights, forget what channel, have to check on that)

Three places I have been
Colorado
Missouri
Orlando, Florida

People that e-mail me regularly
Eric
Mom
My sister

Three of my favorite foods
Anything BBQ (Anyone that knows me should know that I love ANY type of BBQ!)
Mexican
Italian

Three of my favorite songs

“Sailing” By Christopher Cross
“Love Will Keep Us Together”,Captain & Tennille
“Kokomo”, Beach Boys

Three of my favorite places to shop

Kohls
Old Navy
Target
(I also love shopping at Sears for clothing. I also shop at walmart a lot but if I didn’t HAVE to, I wouldn’t.)

Three of my Favorite Movies

Sweet Home Alabama
Iron Man
Transformers

Three of my Favorite colors

Pink (all different shades)
Brown ( all different shades)
Blues (all different shades)
( I also like all different shades of purple and some green)

Three of my favorite restaurants

Outback
Ryans
Golden Rule smokehouse

Three of my favorite fast food joints

Sonic Drive In (this one is probably my all time favorite)
Arby’s
KFC

Aimee would include “Subway”, and my boys would include “McDonalds”.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Take care!

Please remember those fighting for our freedoms.  And our veterans who have fought for us.

Have a wonderful day of celebrating!

Take care!

Ages are 12, 10 (almost 11),8 and5 years old. So, We have some pretty good conversations in our house.

You all will get to see a whole Range of Conversations.  From the fun and silly to the more serious conversations of middle schoolers.

So, with that.  Today, I give you a conversation with My 5 year old.

David is a funny, sweet, caring little boy.  He seems to know just what to say and when to say it.  I typically get this conversation when he sees that I am not having a good day, upset, or frustrated.  Or if he just wants something. 

And the good thing—————————HE MEANS IT!

David: ” Momma, your Beautiful!”

Me: “Thank you, David.  Your Very handsome.”

David: “Thanks!”

Me: “Your so Welcome!”

David: “Momma?”

Me: “Yes, David?”

David: “I LOVE YOU!” Said, with great expression and feeling.

Me:  “Aww, David, I love you so very very much!”

David: “No, Momma-I love you around the world and back!”

Me: “David, I don’t think you can love me anymore than I love you!”

David:”Oh, YES, I CAN!”

This goes back and forth for a couple of times!

David: “Momma?”

Me: “Yes, sweetheart?”

David: “You are the Best Momma Ever!”

Me: “David you are the BEST five year old I have!”

David: “Momma, I am your ONLY five year old!

Me: “But your still the best to me!”

I feel so blessed to have the kids I have.  They might drive me to the brink of insanity before they are all out of the house.  -I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The following are of pictures of David playing on his ’3-wheeler’.

“Zoomin’ by”

“No Hands Mom!”

“Crusin’ down the stairs”

Have a wonderful day!

Take Care!

I was looking at my facebook home page and this is what I have to the left of it…

Daniel-Jacob, 12 years
Aimee, 10 years
Zachary, 8 years
David, 5 years

Since when did my babies grow up.  How can I be the mom of a 12 year old and a 10 year old (she will be 11 in late August)?  I mean really?  Then I have Zachary and David who aren’t my babies anymore.

How can it be that it feel like just yesterday we were bringing home Daniel from the hospital….and now, he is a pre-teen?

He is rapidly changing into a young teen.  And wanting so much to act like an adult.  He is focusing more on school (at least it seems).  He does have an incentive this year….

He is very concerned with his appearance.  And wanting me to purchase all the right ‘products’ for him.  He wants to look his best.  Although, sometimes, he still needs mom’s help.  I swear sometimes, I think that kid is color blind.

Daniel is an amazing big brother….although, sometimes he get irritated at his little brother’s shenanigans.

And then Aimee…..Every milestone I go through with her is bittersweet.  Because she is my only daughter.  She has such great life plans.  Life plans that I truly pray work out for her.

She is A VERY VERY focused young lady.  She has her priorities straight.  I pray that is stays that way.  To her, everything must be in order.  She is going out for the Drama team next year in school.  She is set on maintaining straight A’s.

She is set on looking great and having a great attitude towards everything.  Her dreams, have become my dreams for her.  She is set on getting into Harvard.  She is set on becoming a trauma doctor.  She is set on having God lead her toward her goal with her parents help and guidance.

She always asks us of what we thing of this and what we expect of her. Aimee can not wait until the first of August when she is back in school.  She is truely one amazing child.

Zachary is what we lovingly call our “Wild Child”.  And that he is.  Sometimes, I wonder if in his sleep he plans his activities for the next day.  He loves routine.  Having a set routine is imperative to his day.  If something gets thrown off by an unexpected event.  Zachary will be done for the day.  Thankfully, that rarely happens anymore.

Zachary is such a caring, sweet little boy.  He is so loving….He is 8 years old and still yells, “I love you mom”, while running to the bus and in front of his friends.  He doesn’t hesitate to give you a big hug and kiss…even in front of his friends.

He doesn’t hesitate to tell his brothers and sister that he loves them.  He always things about his siblings when out and about.

He is a pretty awesome 8 year old kid.

Then David….

He is picking up on BIG words. He can make the funniest expressions.  He is just a silly monkey.  Monkeys and penguins are his favorite animals. He loves to talk to his Nanny on the phone.  He taught himself at 18 months old how to ride a BIG kid scooter.  We have pictures of him.

He loves to take his ’3-wheeler’ outside and ride it as well.  I think this Christmas it is time to get him a tricycle.

Luckily, I get to have him home for one more year before he starts kindergarten.  I have some neat stuff planned for us during this next school year.  I will be posting more about those things as they happen.

Since when did my kids grow up????

Daniel graduates from high school 2015
Aimee graduates from high school 2016

When you think about it that isn’t very long at all!  Gosh, I feel old…and it puts there time with us here at home in greater perspective.

I hope you all have a marvelous Monday.

Take Care.

A lot has changed in my life in the last 2 years.  And I love that I have a place to ‘mark’ it all down.  I not only blog because I enjoy it.  I blog because it lets me look back on my life.  I blog for my kids.  So they when they are older can look back and see what they were doing and how much Eric and I loved them.  And hopefully, they will see we did everything for them and because we love them.

I also blog because I get to ‘meet’ so many wonderful blogging people!

I love reading cooking, baking, crafting, and couponing/savings blogs.  I get so many wonderful ideas from them.

My blog has also become a way for my family that live in different states to get to see what is going on in our day to day lives.  And with 4 little kids, our daily life changes quite often.

So, I thought I would share some of my favorite blogs to go and read.

I do want to mention my sisters blog.  However, I will not post a link to it as I want to keep that as private as I can.  I read my sister’s blog every time she posts.  I love finding out what is going on with my niece.

I also think my mom should start her own blog.  I think she would be really good at it and she would have a lot to blog about since she has 5 grandchildren.

Jennifer @ A Sample of Jennifer’s Thoughts I have ‘known’ her since right before David was born when I joined a message board that she is apart of.  I can’t believe it has been 5 years since we ‘meet’.  She is the mother of 2 boys and 1 girl.  She homeschools and she loves to read and travel.  She also LOVES Sonic Drive In.

Amy @ Amy’s Random Thoughts.  She is such a thoughtful and caring person.  She and her husband just adopted a little girl from China.  And she is adorable!!!  I love reading her blog.  Although, I don’t get to comment as often as I like.

Tanya @ The Sunday Baker.  She posts some awesome recipes, crafts, and things about her everyday life.  She just also recently announced her pregnancy!  Congrats!

The Lazy Organizer–Gives lots of great tips.

With Enough Coffee I could Rule the World–I just recently found this blog.  I love the way she writes.  She blogs about her family and such.  I really cool blog.

Divine-Domesticity–This is another blog that I just recently found.  She posts recipes and such. I can’t wait to have time just to sit and go through the recipes she has posted.

Recipes—-just what it says….She (Gale) posts recipes.  I again, just found this blog last week.  I love recipes.  So this blog is right down my alley….

Real Mom Kitchen-Again more recipes!  Go check out her blog. I can’t wait to try out some of her recipes.

These recent blogs will be added to my sidebar very soon.

About my own recipe blog.  I have decided.  That through the summer, I will probably only post once a month…if that on it.  Because my kids are out of school for summer vacation.  And I want to spend as much time with them during there time off as possible.  However, once they go back to school, I hope to post at least 2 recipes a week.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

Take Care!