Party Favor central

Photo Essay of a Party Favor

Photo below courtesy of Angie Gubler at Blonde Designs. Original ice cream photo of Gabby courtesy of Haley Ann Warner photography.

Melting Ice Cream

Some scenes from Gabby's Ice Cream Party

1. Gabby and Friends 2. Gabby wearing the top of the Ice Cream Pinata

3. Enjoying Ice Cream Treats 4. "Pin the Cherry" on Gabby's Ice Cream

For more pics check out my dear friend, Angie. She designed the invites, and party favor tags and was kind enough to think our soiree warranted a post on her all things fabulous blog.

Notes to self:

1)Next time check to see if party location (aka Spring Mountain Ranch) is hosting an annual festival on the day of the party that would prevent you from hosting your own annual festival! In my defense, Spring Mountain Ranch is one of Las Vegas's secret jewels--no one is ever there when I'm up there, so I thought I was safe!

2) File under "Whose Party is this Anyway." I spent a lot of time, 2 weekends, prepping Gabby's adorable party favors (see angie's blog and my next post ) which melted in the unseasonably hot sun of late September. Next time, Simplify!

3) 20 kids is a lot of kids! Gabby is quite the social gal. She simply couldn't cut the guest list down and in fact added to it on a daily basis. After church one day when a girl in her Primary class was quite rude to her, Miss Gabby informed me that she needed to give XX an invitation to her birthday party. "That will make her so happy and she wouldn't act the way she did today if she were happy."

As I finished writing this post, I was reminded that today marks the actual day that we brought Gabby home 5 years ago. She was a mere 12 days old and the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen. I still see in my mind's eye that little baby every night I tuck her in to bed and I'm so proud of the sweet girl she's become.

Gabby's hit the big 5!

Today marked the birthday of my dear Gabriella. She turned the big 5 today and feels very grown up. As she said, now she can say she's five like everyone else in her kindergarten class.

She woke up uncustomarily early for her (7:30am) and told me she wanted pizza for her birthday breakfast. I told her I couldn't really whip that up before school so she decided a blueberry banana smoothie and some cinnamon toast sounded like a good Plan B.

Her celebration today included delivering custom cupcakes (shown in picture above) made by Mimi (my mom) and her Ellie Lou (Ellie Lou is what my mother calls Gabby), a post-school dip in the pool, and a night out on the town at CheeBurger where the balloon lady whipped up a Princess Ariel and the whole restaurant clapped for Gabby's big day. Gabby said it was "the best day ever!"

Saturday is the official birthday bash. Angie, my dear friend, who is a better Martha than Martha, designed the invites, thank you cards, and favor tags. Photos to come of the party next week.

Back to School

So today marks a lot of things in our household. While the weather hasn't changed much, my summer is officially over, it's Gabby's first day of big girl school, aka Kindergarten, and our 13th wedding anniversary. I know you readers are thinking we look far to young to be married 13 years.

Today began with me rising earlier than my daughter--shocking--to make her requested breakfast. She wanted a smoothie and pancakes for breakfast. The whole family then escorted miss gabby to school and did the photo thing. She picked her ensemble out, complete with knee highs. My fancy nancy loves those accessories.

I held up bravely until I got home and then I cried like a baby. I have been sitting on the couch working and secretly trying to plan out how I could make it back to the school playground in sunglasses and a wig to see how she's doing, but I think I'll refrain--we don't want the cops to pick me up on the first day of school.

I am looking forward to after school where I can chat with Gabby about her day over cookies and milk.

I am also planning on a retro dinner for Justin tonight. Retro, as in 13 years ago--which means I will light the stove on fire, burn the dessert, and we'll head for take-out.

One Quick Thing

So I am technically on Summer Hiatus from blogging--I know I didn't really clue you readers in on my hiatus, but you are smart readers and have figured it out for yourself by now.

I had to quickly put this one down for posterity though:

Today, July 30 at approximately 8:00am this morning Gabby walks into my bedroom after waking up for the day. (Yes my daughter takes after my love of early mornings and doesn't rise until she absolutely has to!)

Mommy: Good morning miss Gabby!


Gabby: Mommy I just have to say that you are the best mommy ever and I am the best Gabby ever and Daddy is the best daddy ever because he cleans up after us!



Love that Gabby girl.


Happy Summer--only a few weeks left and then I'll be back at blogging school.

Oh the Places You'll Go!

Gabby reached her first educational milestone--she graduated from Pre-School. My 4 year old is a true smarty pants. I'll brag for grandma and grandpa's sake--she's mastered 52 sight words and read 46 books on her own. As a mom, moments generally fall into two categories: 1) moments you want to freeze time because it was picture perfect or 2)those you want to fast forward because in the words of Miss Kara, you've gone to "crazy town." I can honestly say that seeing my girl ready to take on the world of big time kindergarten, I was so thrilled for her possibilities, I just wanted to fast forward just for a moment to see a glimpse of what she will become.

Congratulations my sweet Gabby--in the words of Dr. Seuss "OH the places you'll go!"

Gabby's New Do