It's Dangerous To Go Alone - A Legend of Zelda Birthday Party

I thought about coming on here and just writing my post and pushing "publish" like no big deal...like I haven't been here in 7 months.  But I have to be completely honest and tell you that I almost forgot how to even get here.  I was going to feel really stupid if I had to email one of you and ask you how.  Fortunately, I got to hang on to a little bit of my pride, and I figured it out myself.

That being said, how the heck are you guys?

One of my New Year's resolutions was to make a point to stop by here at least a couple of times a month and dust off the cobwebs.  So, here I am.

*blows dust*

*coughs uncontrollably*

I have so many things that I've wanted to blog about.  I actually am having a hard time figuring out where to start!  I know crazy problem for someone who hasn't blogged in 7 months.  Trust me, it's not that I haven't had any "material", I just haven't had the time!

Did you all know that I went to LA to the Breaking Dawn 2 Premiere, camped out for 3 days, and met Robert FREAKING Pattinson?  I'm sure if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram, you picked up on that little tidbit.  I still pinch myself every once in a while.

So, that's totally bloggable, right?!

I've also thrown a few parties and such that I would like to blog about.  I love putting stuff like that on here, because it's a way for me to keep track of my own ideas and I know I always love finding blog posts like that when I'm trying to plan a party.

Last Saturday, Isaiah turned 9!  Can you believe that?  When I started this blog, he was 4.  I seriously have NO idea where the last 9 years have gone.  He reminds me constantly that he'll be a teenager in 4 years.  WHA?!  No.  I'm planning on doing everything within my power to change the age of becoming a teenager...maybe adding in a few new numbers between 9 and 13.  Something.  I can't just stand by and let this happen.

So, Saturday, we had a Legend of Zelda party.  If you know Isaiah, you know that he always wants something crazy and off the wall.  It was fun going old school.  I should have paid more attention back in my Nintendo days, because I had to keep using the 8 year old (now 9...only 4 years away from a teenager).

Let me tell you, there are just not that many Zelda party resources out there!  I looked high and low...blogs, Pinterest, websites, etc.  I finally found a few good ideas over on the Zelda Party Channel.  Surprisingly (or not), there are more adult party ideas out there than their are kid friendly ideas.

Here's how we did it:

Isaiah's top request was a Triforce Treasure Hunt.  So, I found a free template for a Treasure Hunt online at Parents.com and customized it to fit our party.  I made some signs for different parts of the yard using places from the Legend of Zelda games.  I led the kids around the yard as they searched for pieces of the Triforce.  Sometimes, they would have to solve a math problem or a riddle to know where to find the next clue.  Then, when they had all of the pieces of the Triforce, they put it together and flipped it over for their final clue, which led them to Isaiah's Room where there was a treasure box full of gold (aka chocolate coins).  The kids loved it and it took up a lot of the party time!

The other activity that we did was making shields.  Even the girls loved this!  They totally got into designing their shield.  They put a lot of thought and hard work into them.  Then, they took them with them on their Treasure hunt!  

Along with some swords, of course, because it's dangerous to go alone! 

For food, we had pizza and Red Potion Punch.  The punch was a recipe I got off of the Zelda Party Channel website and it was DELICIOUS.  I'll definitely be putting it in my file for future use...would be tasty for an "adult beverage"...I'm thinking tequila or rum, probably.  I used frozen strawberries, so it gave it a slushie consistency.  I made individual servings by pouring it into 8oz Mason jars.  Since it started out semi-frozen, they stayed cold for hours (with the lids on)!  This was a big hit with the kids and the adults!

I basically just used lots of green and gold for the decorations and found some Zelda party supplies on CelebrateExpress.com...and failed to take any decent pictures of the decorations...so, just use your imagination. 

The piece de resistance of any party, if you ask me, is the cake!  My cousin's wife's sister  (did you get that?) started making cakes a couple of years ago and she has been a wonderful resource for me when I'm planning an event!  She never fails to come through with an AMAZING cake and she's always up for a challenge.  I love her...and this cake!  Isaiah loved it, too.

He was one very happy 9 year old...who will be a teenager in 4 years.  

Bloggy Break

Bloggy Breaks...isn't everybody doing them?

I'm not trying to fit in or anything.

I just seriously need a few days to catch my breath from all of the holiday hoopla, birthday bonanza, and end of the year INSANITY.  Isaiah's 7th birthday was yesterday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my inquisative, empathetic, rowdy, sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, always inventive SEVEN year old.  I can't believe I've been his mommy for 7 years.  I'm blessed.

His party is this Saturday and I'm in full-blown party mode.  Putting the last minute touches on a fab Phineas and Ferb party.  I'll be sure to share some pics and details next week.

Plus, we're ALMOST to the painting phase on the house!  Hopefully I'll have some house updates for you next week.

It's going to be a busy weekend.

I've got a couple of blog posts saved up, so it'll seem like I'm here, but I'm really not.  Well, I'm sure I'll log on from time to time and I'll still lay in bed reading all of your blogs while I fall asleep, but you might not hear back from me until next week. 

Hope you're all having a super first week of 2011!

Loves♥

Happy Winter, Lunar Eclipse, and Signs of Christmas

Happy First official Day of Winter!

Did you see the Lunar Eclipse last night?  I'm a star junkie, so of course I was up watching it...standing in the front yard with my very attractive night gown on, which I've had for 12 years, and Michael's 2 sizes too big coat, and his sandles.  I am the Queen of Fashion Statements.

Of course, I had my camera strapped on as well.

I was tired.  It was late.  Michael woke me up just in time to see it, so the photos are blurry and out-of-focus, but cool, none the less.

This was the only lunar eclipse of the year and the first one to fall on a Winter Solstice in 372 years!

Besides the fact that we are officially in winter, we've been seeing some other signs of Christmas...

 Dancing to songs from the Nutcracker.

 Snapping requires mega concentration.

 Class Christmas party gets a thumbs up!

 Waiting patiently on the Christmas program at church to start.

Hope you're all having a wonderful week!

Going On a Butterfly Hunt

Over Labor Day Weekend, 
this is what Isaiah and his Papaw did.

The hunted, they caught, and they released. Success.

Hope everyone is having a great week so far!♥

Limeades for Learning

Isaiah's teacher, Mrs. L, has put together this really cool project called "Let's Go To Town".  She wants to be able to set up a "town" in the classroom where the kids could learn about money and math facts.  She plans on having a market and a post office.  The kids will get to have jobs and manage money.  

SONIC^® and DonorsChoose.org are working together again to support public school classrooms. Last year, SONIC donated more than $600,000. By October, SONIC customers, friends and fans will have directed more than $1 million dollars to support teachers in local communities across the country.


I think it's such a great project and Mrs. L is a super awesome teacher!  So, if you have time, would you please follow the link down below and vote?!  You can vote once a day for the next 30 days.  Be sure to check with your local schools and see if any of the teachers have projects you can vote on!


Please and THANK YOU! ♥


Limeades for Learning

First Day of First Grade

With everything going on the past couple of weeks, 

I didn't have the chance to fully commemorate 

Isaiah's first day of First Grade!  

It's a momentous occasion.

  So far, he loves school.

He loves that he has his VERY OWN desk...

with his name on it.  

He loves his teacher, his friends...

and he LOVES the class pet, Daisy.  

He's convinced that he now NEEDS a bunny.  

Oh, yay.  

I'm pretty sure our lazy black lab would see her as a new toy...

or possibly a snack.  

One thing that can get that lazy dog worked up

are the bunnies that come to eat the clover in our backyard.

I think that's the only time she actually runs is when she spots a bunny.

Thankfully the bunnies are much quicker than she is.

I can't imagine having one in a cage, 

IN OUR HOUSE.  

Lord help me.  

I reminded Isaiah that we already have bunnies...

the ones that love to eat the clover in the backyard, 

but he informed me that those bunnies belong to nature and 

he needs one that belongs to him.  

Oh, boy.  

Any advice on bunnies?

Anyone have a dog and bunnies that reside in the same house together?  

How was everyone else's first days of school?

Kindergarten Is Over :(

Today was the last day of kindergarten.  I can't believe he'll be in 1st grade next year!  Where has the time gone?!

My little sugar bear is going to be in 1st grade!  


I have to keep telling myself that in hopes that it'll sink in and I'll adjust to the idea.

We have a really fun adventure planned for this weekend!  I can't wait to take pictures and share them with you guys!  

Are your kiddos out of school yet?  

What are your plans for summer?

Hope everyone is having a great week!♥

You Can Call Me...

"Isaiah's Mom".

That's right.  I'm no longer "Jennifer", "Jenny", "Jenny Kate", "Jen"...nope, I'm "Isaiah's Mom".  

I remember when I was younger and my mom would jokingly say that she should just change her name to "Jenny's Mom" and I didn't quite fully get the gist of that.  Now I do.  After spending a couple of hours with Isaiah's kindergarten class, I now know what she was talking about.  

"Hey, Isaiah's Mom...take my picture!"

"Hey, Isaiah's Mom...see how fast I can run!"
"Hey, Isaiah's Mom...can you tie my shoe?"

"Hey, Isaiah's Mom...what's your name?"  
I say, "Jenny".


10 second later.  Same kid.  "Hey, Isaiah's Mom...watch me do THIS!"

I kinda dig it.

I think it's a pretty good fit.  


Hosted by Cecily and ???

Playing in the Park

It has been GORGEOUS weather here in Oklahoma!!  We definitely got out and enjoyed it this weekend.  I've put together a collage of some of the pictures I took at the park. 

How was your weekend?  How did you spend it?

Don't forget to go enter my giveaway!!  It ends tomorrow at noon!  Click HERE

I'm joining in Tuesdays Around the World over at Communal Global today.  Go over and check out the beautiful photography.  This weeks topic is "the park" or "a walk".

Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Six years ago today, Isaiah was born. He is one of the funniest, wittiest, most imaginative kids I know. He can also be bossy, stubborn, and ornery. He has more energy than he knows what to do with sometimes. He loves with his whole heart. He says the sweetest things, like the other day he asked me "Mom, do you know where my love lands?" I said, "no, where?" He said, "right here"...and pointed to my heart. Where does he get this stuff? We can go on for hours saying "I love you from here to..._____...and back." He's also ALL BOY. He loves to wrestle. One of his favorite toys from Christmas is the Nerf double-barrel shot gun he got from his Uncle Josh. He said that it is his favorite thing EVER and he's going to keep it forever...and never going to lose it! Did I mention that it has a scope with a laser? Him and his daddy sit on our stairs and use our back door for target practice. Boys! I can't believe it's been 6 years since I held that little 8 pound 5 ounce bundle of joy for the first time. Back then, it seemed like it would be forever until he was old enough to walk or talk or ride a bike. Now, I realize that he'll be driving a car and dating girls much sooner than I would like. I wish I had a pause button for life. I don't want him to grow another inch, but I know it's inevitable. He's growing everyday. He's learning new things everyday. He changes right before my eyes. I can't stop time and I can't keep him from growing up. My job is just to help shape him into the person he's meant to be.

Happy Birthday, Buddy! I love you from here to Pluto (even though it's not technically a planet anymore) and back.

Isaiah's Vlog...Stardate -313070.31963470333

Isaiah thinks that he looks different in the video than in real life. I told him that the camera adds 10 pounds. So, just keep that in mind for one of these days when I do a vlog...the camera adds 10 pounds.

Words to song in video (in case you need a translation):

You better not pout. You better not cry. You better not pout...(this must be important, it's in here twice) I'm telling you why...Santa Clause is coming to Madagascar! He's making a list and checking it twice...he's gonna find out who's naughty or nice! Santa Clause is coming to Madagascar! He knows if you are sleeping. It's kinda creepy. He knows if you're awake. He's in your bedroom. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be BAD for goodness sake! Oh, you better watch out! You better not cry! You better not pout, I'm telling you why...Santa Clause is coming to Madagascar!

Silly, King Julian! Hope you're familiar with Merry Madagascar. If not, CLICK HERE...it's quickly becoming one of Isaiah's favorite Christmas movies.

Merry Christmas EVERYONE!!

♥Isaiah and his mommy♥

Isaiah Funnies

I've had a few humorous conversations with my 5 year old lately. I wanted to share a few for your enjoyment.



A week ago...

Me: "So, what are you asking Santa for this year?"

Isaiah: "Well, what I really want is a whole box of Transformers."

Me: "but you already have a whole box of Transformers (translation: we don't need anymore Transformers)."

Isaiah: "Wellllll...this will be special because I'm asking Santa for a whole box collection of all the Transformers that I don't already have so that I'll have a whole set of Transformers...they've gotta be in ONE box (I have no idea what the importance of being in ONE box is, but he emphasized it a few times. great.)."

Me: "I'm not sure if there is such a thing. Maybe Santa could just bring you a few of the Transformers that you don't already have and then you can ask for the rest of them on your birthday?"

Isaiah: "Mom, Santa can make anything. He's a toy genius."

Me: (great) "Sometimes Santa can't make ANYTHING...he's a busy guy you know."

Isaiah: "Mom, it's just some little 'ol Transformers...I think Santa and his elves (oh, now he's bringing out the elves. great.) can handle making a collection of all the Transformers that I don't have in ONE box."

Me: "I'll give Santa a call and see what he says."

Isaiah: "YOU know Santa's number?"

Me: "Sure, it's on speed dial."



A few days ago...

Me: "Hey, Buddy...we should get to writing that letter for Santa. We want him to have enough time to make all of the things (a whole collection of Transformers all in ONE box) you want in his workshop!"

Isaiah: (nonchalantly) "sure, mom."

Me: "We wouldn't want Santa to run out of time!"

Isaiah: "Mom, you're the one that said that Santa knows stuff, like when I'm good and bad and stuff like that...so, that must mean that he knows other stuff, like what I want for Christmas. *he thinks for a moment* You know, Mom...Santa's like Jesus."



Great. Now he thinks Santa is like Jesus...I'm not sure that's the direction I was hoping for.



Yesterday...

Me: "How was school today, Buddy?"

Isaiah: "Great, but I got in one time out."

*I give him "the" look*

Isaiah: "it was just a *little* time out...see, I was shaking a tree on the playground and I didn't know it was against the rules to shake a tree...DID you know it was against the rules to shake a tree??...because I didn't know it was against the rules to shake a tree!"

Me: *trying to keep my composure and reflect the seriousness of this tree shaking incident* "No, I didn't know it was against the rules to shake a tree...BUT we know now and we should follow all the rules...including no shaking trees."

I love this boy!♥

Hope you all have a great Wednesday!! *loves*

Saturday Post

Soonerpups soccer...I love Saturdays.

Hope everyone has a SUPERB Saturday!

Monday Morning - Weekend Recap

So, it's Monday...Monday alllllllll day loooooong. Sorry. Didn't mean to bum you out or anything. Sometimes, for me, it seems to help to let it sink in a little...get used to it. I don't know about you, but my weekend went by TOO fast. Our weekend was good. We had a Dad's Day Cookout at the farm (not the virtual one, silly...my mom and dad recently finished renovating and adding on to an old farm house). I'm pretty sure that sometimes when I say "I'm going to the farm" or "I've been to the farm", people think I'm talking Farm Town. They're also probably thinking that I need a psychiatric evaluation.



Here's a few pics from the real farm...

The house...well, the front of it...it's such a nice place to sit, especially in the evenings.

Isaiah intently signing his Father's Day cards...I love that he can sign his own name now. It's so cute.

Isaiah giving his daddy the stuff he made for him at church. A blue rock (because it's blue like the Cubbies), a card with LOTS of dinosaur stickers, and a keychain with red and blue beads (because that's the colors of the Cubbies)...do you see a trend here?

The kids played on the slip-n-slide. Great fun! ☺

Michael "played" on the slip-n-slide...☺ Wish I would have had my camera ready for that one!!...or better yet, the video camera. I could be $10,000 richer! He was getting on to Isaiah for spraying people with the water hose (*gasp* not MY kid) and as he bent down to take the water hose from Isaiah, he slipped on the slip-n-slide (Note to Michael: It's not called a slip-n-slide for nothing, babe.) It gets better...while Michael is down, Isaiah picks the water hose back up and starts drenching him with it. LOL. Oh, sorry. That's not funny. right. sorry. I forgot.
We took a drive out in the pasture on the golf cart. Most people use golf carts on golf courses, we use them to "putt" around the pasture. The cows know what's up. They were knee deep in the pond...wish I could have joined them. It's been a pleasant mid to high 90's here in Oklahoma with high humidity...outdoors pretty much feels like an oven.

Here's Isaiah's knew horse...her name is Baby Belle. She's about 6 weeks old. Isn't she ADORABLE?! I love her.

I think all the dad's involved had a great time.

Hope all of your hubbys/SOs/dads had wonderful Father's Days too!

Public Service Announcement:

DON'T DO CRACK!

Does that make me a bad mom? LOL ☺

Hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!

I ♥ Faces: Friends

This weeks theme at I ♥ Faces is My Friend & I. Here is a picture of Isaiah and his friend from t-ball last year. I'm saving this one for their senior year. Don't you think this would make a cute one for a senior slide show? ☺ Go check out more friends at I ♥ Faces.

www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com