Ben's 9th Just Birthday Party, Party

Nurf........or noth'n!

This is about the volume level of the whole 11am-3 pm party.  They had a super good time!  The birthday boy was happy and we had a fun birthday party!

So, when we started planning his party I asked him what theme he wanted. "No theme Mom, just a birthday party."  What?  Who's child is this and HOW do you plan "just a birthday party?"  In the list of games he wanted to play was a Nurf war- humm, the old cogs started turning.  So here are photos from Ben's Just Birthday, Birthday Party.  It was fun, low cost and HIGH fun!

Birthday Boy made a bulls eye!

  

 

 

 So, not going with a them, but knowing these boys would be outside in the heat of March and would need water bottles and ammo for the nerf war, the water bottle ammo holder was born.  I made them using scraps of fleece (liner) and OLD school uniform pants with holes in the knees that I refuse to patch again, I used this pattern and cut them up into Ammo/Water bottle holders.  I even used the waist band and sewed down the middle of the belt loops which made perfect all-in-one nurf dart ammo holder and carrying strap.  What can I say, I ran out of ribbon.... "necessity is the mother of invention."  It was fun to use the pockets from the pants to hold extras too.

Caleb helped decorate the poster of activities.  He suggested making them into Olympics, Ben looked at Caleb and looked and me and I explained to Caleb that the party does not have a theme.  Looks like he snuck in a little of the Olympic spirit to the poster.  I wonder where he gets it?

 

1st Place Art in Arkansas

Yesterday I had the honor of attending the awards reception for the Regional Arkansas Arts Educators with my son.  Yah, just he and I, together.   It was so fun to see Caleb and his friend Aaron get awards.  There were over 250 entries and only 50 awards, 4 winners from each grade.

Aaron and Caleb and Mrs. Chambers, Mann Magnet School for Arts and Science

"Charred"  Caleb named this piece from the beginning.  They were learning Celtic illumination and the object needed to form a letter.  The dragon forms a "C" for charred.  The tail loops around and around.  Caleb made the frame for the piece with glue and aluminum foil and India ink.  He LOVES his art class and teacher and friend Aaron.

The reception was held in North Little Rock  at the Thea Foundation.  It is an amazing story of a girl who discovered art at the age of 16, died in a tragic car accident one year later and now her parents created this foundation to help incorporate Art into schools K-12 so children can learn art along with the curriculum.  I LOVE this idea.  It is called A+ Schools.  I got to met her father.  Amazing story.

Chocolate and collage-what could be better.

11th grader from Pulaski 

Academy

This nice man below offered to take our picture.  He then preceded to tell Caleb this was his favorite piece of art in the gallery.  He then called his wife over and showed Charred to her and then we chatted for a while.  During the conversation, he found out Caleb likes to draw eagles.  The man pulled out a business card and handed it to him and requested him to draw an eagle for him for his office.  It was a magical day.  Now Caleb's art gets entered into the state contest where it will be displayed all summer at the Arkansas Studies Institute in Little Rock. May 12-June 28, 401 President Clinton Avenue, Mon-Sat 9-6 p.m.

I really love life's tender mercies.  Caleb's numbers were good, he was healthy, it was 87 and sunny outside-Caleb does not like it cloudy and stormy.  Deep breath and sigh.  All is well. (For the moment.) ;-)

Holy Underwear Batman!

Joseph brought me Anthony's underwear and insisted I put them on OVER his pants.  "A" had a friend over and they were dressing up so he wanted something special to wear too.

Never fear ladies....Underwear Boy will save you!

Last night James was tucking A in and said, "I love you Anthony"  He replied, "Dad, I'm Peter Pan."  James said, "I love you Peter Pan."  "That's better."

No, no Jo Jo!  He was ridding off into the sunset.

This is how he felt about being turned around.

The Brothers Squad retrieving the runaway baby.

No dull days around here, no sir.

Popcorn Popping-For sure NOT the one take Osmonds

So it is that time of the year, popcorn popping on the Flowering Pear trees!  Arkansas is bursting with these clusters of white blooms.  Beautiful to the eyes, breathtaking-no really.  Our allergies are crazy!

February went out like a lion, but March came in like a lamb.