Super Bowl Mania!

Okay, so we aren't sports fanatics, but when it comes to things like the World Series and the Superbowl, we like to get into the spirit a little. We probably would have watched it. But when Kris won a drawing for a superbowl basket full of lots of goodies, well, we had to use them. It came with chips, dips, nuts, m&m's, soda, plates, napkins, decorations, a shirt, and even Steelers and Cardinals hats!

our "head to head" display- I put the Steelers hat on after I took the picture, Kris wore the shirt, so it's not pictured, and Doug and Becky's son Dylan wanted to wear the Cardinal Hat, so he and Mallory took turns wearing it throughout the game...

We added a Port O' Subs sandwich tray, a veggie tray, and more chocolate and soda, and it was a feast!

Balloons and Cardinals poster- came out dark!

Sweet pictures of Becky and their newest family member, Kylie

Bill, Liam (one of Bill's boys), Doug, and Kris talking and watching the game

and Keilana in the foreground- hi sweetie!

None of these pictures came out great, especially the ones of Dylan. He doesn't pose long for pictures, but he is a cutie too!

Keilana with her balloon- don't know if this is the first one, that popped, or the second one we gave her!

Bill's boys in our room playing Guitar Hero. They are really, really good!!!

You may have noticed some card-looking things in one or two of the pictures. That was a game where on one side, you had to match the helmets with the years they played, and on the other side, you rated the commercials. I thought that was fun! We absolutely loved the game, it was a very close and good one! The last minute when the Steelers got that touchdown was the best!

All in all, it was a great party, and we felt thankful to have our friends come over and have some fun with us.

A Birthday for a Diva: Becca Turns 9!

When we asked Rebecca what she wanted to do this year for her birthday, she said, "I want to have friends over to play video games, eat pizza and red velvet cake, and do make-overs." So, we accomodated the diva's party demands, and had a slightly chaotic but fun time. She invited 8 friends from school and church. Amber and I did the hair and make-up, while girls played Guitar Hero and Wii (Wii Sports, Disney/Pixar Cars, High School Musical Sing It!- thanks to Cammi back when we got the Wii), dolls, and played with Gretchen, our dog. In fact, the girls wanted to take thier pizza to the patio table outside, and next thing we knew, the dog had enjoyed a couple of slices too. Needless to say, she was happy!

Princesses Ryan and Mallory!

Time for cake!

Let's cut into the delicious red velvet!

Ryan, Sami, Becca, Grant and Ashley

Aracely, Grant, Becca, Danica and Ashley

Mallory and Ryan playing Wii

The birthday girl with all her fabulous loot! She still needs to be a gracious host and write thank-yous...

Grant, Aracely and Becca playing the Disney/Pixar Cars game

The preparations- Hair basket, makeup basket, and goody bags. We had three different hair glitters, lots of hairpins, face and body glitters, and plenty of q-tips to apply all of it! I was pleased to find plates and napkins at Target that matched my homemade goody bags very well!

Each goody bag was hand sponged and glittered, hole-punched, and tied with raffia. Inside, they got their own hairbrush and ties, lip smackers, lotion or body wash, stickers, gel pens, jolly ranchers and note pads. The girls and I had fun going to the dollar store and putting them together.

make-up and polish basket

and the very pretty and delicious red velvet cake from Bothof's Bakery. We almost got the cup cakes instead, but I just couldn't do it-I wanted her to have a cake!
A simple party, yet still fit for a diva! We all had fun celebrating with her!

January 17th- Grandpa Stohl Came to Visit!

SO, Grandpa Stohl came for a really quick visit. On Saturday afternoon, he got here and we went to Sizzler. This was Becca's choice, in honor of her birthday! We went to church on Sunday, and forgot to take pictures of the girls with Grandpa, although we had a great time. Sunday night, we went on a walk with Grandpa. He and Kris got tired and cheated on the cul-de-sacs, cutting across after I came around the curves with the dog. The girls kept going back and forth on their scooters talking to all of us. The main event though, seemed to be the Wii Fit which Grandpa bought, and the girls missed it so bad when he left that all three of us begged Kris to give it to me for a "belated anniversary gift" so we all could enjoy it. Here are some pictures of Mallory doing Wii Fit while grandpa was here, and Becca taking a break...

Mallory was a crazy girl, going so fast that she would make her Wii self fall down, then she learned that all she had to do was move her hand and it would go fast. Cheater! I tried to load a video, but couldn't get it to upload. I will try to do it again later! Thanks Grandpa Stohl for a fun weekend!

Up next...

Becca's birthday party and the Superbowl party!