Author: pazmeyer

bath

We started a new round of swim lessons this week. I never plan things for the weekends because we travel a bit and the girls have to miss and I feel like I’m wasting my money and the instructors time. I am committed to being home Sunday evenings so I booked them for swim lessons and here we go.
 
They had their first class today. After we got dressed and dragged ourselves to the rec center I quickly realized that Sunday evenings are our only quiet, family day during the week. And then I even more quickly realized that this may be one of my worst ideas yet.
 
I’m determined to hang in there. We WILL finish this round of swim lessons. We WILL! Check back in two weeks when I am tired and on the verge on insanity and you should probably remind me of this determination…
 
We got home just in time to get in pj’s. Francesca came over to play and logically the best place to play is in the empty bathtub. Right? I don’t know. I’m tired.

mr tweets

The Tyler’s had a new concrete patio laid in their backyard and they invited us over for a BBQ to christen it. There was a bit of rain, but that can’t deter a good party. A little rain can’t slow us down. Lance and Sheila grilled up a grand feast and B made a homemade ceasar salad and I baked up some lemon blueberry cupcakes.
 
The boys have Mr Tweets at home with them for the summer. The girls loved the bird and loved Clyde, the dog. I tell ya, I don’t know about my little ladies. They are warming up to animals…small ones like birds, cats, and little dogs. I’m not complaining. This is a huge step for my gals! Thank you to the Tyler’s also for always being so patient and kind and compassionate about their fears. 
 
Wyatt and Mr Tweets
ready for rain:
chef b:

lemon blueberry cupcakes:
yep, that’s Annabelle with a dog. I’m always amazed and always impressed:
these kids look so old. did Annabelle turn in to a tween over night?

blueberry

I’m a little obsessed with baking. I have NEVER enjoyed cooking…NEVER, EVER! I never really tried baking, but recently I started and now I can’t seem to stop. I am hooked on baking and I’m having fun coming up with lots of new creations. My favorite part is making everyone try my latest goodies. It’s never really difficult finding a taste tester.
 
These are my homemade blueberry cupcakes with vanilla and a hint (just a hint) of blueberry frosting:

Amy, Tom, and Bella joined us for dinner and of course a few of these cupcakes and a great evening. The girls played so sweetly together and gave us a fun little preview of the dance routines they are planning for Amy and Tom’s wedding. The kids had a sleepover and we had a great night catching up and had so many laughs. Amy and Tom are a great couple and wonderful friends. Lots and lots of fun times ahead with shower, stag parties (do people still say that???) and of course the wedding!

science of ice cream

Annabelle and Emma went to the Wow Museum for a science class called The Science of Ice Cream. They got all the ingredients and learned how to make ice cream from scratch. They had a blast shakin’, shakin’, shakin’ it! It turned out pretty good too, but they both agreed that they need Chef B to help them make some chocolate and strawberry ice cream at home!
 
Start with the basic ingredients: 
 
shake it, shake it, shake it:
eat up:

The girls returned to our house to have a playdate just the two of them. They usually have the little sisters chasing after them but today it was just them. They did a stain glass sticker craft and it looks great in our window.

park play

We got invited to a park playdate each Thursday. It’s a great group of women and kiddos and we get to explore a new park each week. This week it was just Annabelle and I because Gwyneth wanted to stay at “kinder camp” and hang with her school friends. This is a fabulous idea because the girls get a little break from each other and Gwyneth also still takes a nap when she’s there. She comes home a much happier girl.
 
We packed our lunch and had a little picnic today.

camp: hip hop

Annabelle had hip hop camp this week. She had such a blast, made new friends, danced with some old friends, and learned lots of new moves. Both her and Gwyneth are enrolled in hip hop class in the fall and I can’t wait to see them rocking it in their recital!
 

despicable

The movie theater by us got a makeover and it now has a bar and recliners. Um, yes thank you! We went to see Despicable Me 2 in style. This movie was right up Gwyneth’s alley. She has a wicked little sense of humor and she belly laughed her way through the show.

My only concern about these chairs is that the potential for B to fall asleep on our movie dates has increased exponentially. In the past he has referred to going to the movies as his $9 nap….I know ladies, back off. He’s a romantic and all mine. Bring on the naps, I still love going to the movies!

princess

Grandma and Grandpa Meyer gave the girls gift cards to the Disney Store for their birthdays. We spent the day shopping and then were treated to a princess dress up show. They knew exactly what they wanted with those gift cards and were thrilled with their purchases. 

bowling bash

As you may recall, the girls were not suppose to have birthday parties this year. With B being a full time student and me running my own business, this is the year to be frugal. I respect that. I understand that. But I MUST celebrate their birthdays. It’s an obsession really. So, the only way to pull that off was to go cheap….or shall we say FREE! Of course nothing is free, but this party was darn near. 
We met up with family and a few close friends and went bowling. All the kids were signed up for free bowling for the summer and I couldn’t believe it, but the bowling alley honored them all and even threw in free shoes for everyone. I made homemade cupcakes and splurged on a few pitchers of soda and a platter of appetizers. 
So, for the cost of a Sprites and french fries, the girls got a morning of bowling and a great time with their friends and family. This may sound like I’m bragging about being cheap….well, if it doesn’t then I need to rewrite this because I’ve never been so proud of my frugality! As I told my sister, Becky, this party will be legendary and as I tell the stories in years to come it will have gone from a $20 party, to free, to me making money off it. Yep, that’s how I roll. Be prepared. 
I’m glad the girls could celebrate their birthdays together and with so many wonderful people. I am so proud of the little people they are becoming and I’m very lucky to be their mom. I can’t wait to see what this next year holds for them – kindergarten and first grade here we come!
Orangecicle and vanilla cupcakes for the 5 and six year old:
Bowling time with their cousins. Having a blast!
Trouble! Trouble! Trouble!
Annabelle adores little Sophie
Even Lily bowled!
Happy birthday to my amazing little girls. I’m a lucky, lucky mama. 

Me and me gals. B couldn’t join us today because the one day of the year that he has school on a Saturday fell on their party day. We would have rescheduled, but plane tickets had already been purchased and bowling lanes reserved. We hate that he misses out and we hate that we don’t get enough time with him, but he’s a man with a plan and he’s working so hard for all of us.

perhaps I’m rubbing off on them a bit:

love this picture of my gals:

They gave each kiddo a lollipop and a membership for two free games of bowling every day over the summer. This is a bit of selfish takeaway because we get to meet up with our friends again this summer to bowl. Fine by us!

With Rhys and Wyatt.  My oh my how these kids have grown!
With Reagan. Ryan wasn’t able to attend because he was on vacation in Wisconsin with Auntie Chriss and Uncle Paul 

With Emma, Sophie and Rosie and Darron….who is quite use to be surrounded by all these little girls. He’s outnumbered at home too!

With Molly, Lexi and Robbie who seem to travel even more than we do this summer!

With Hanna, who is such a girlie girl and even bowled holding her purse and Andrew, excuse me, Andy!

Ms. Sheila, Madison and Lily…poor Lily had a fever and was not feeling well.
A visit from Gwyneth’s Godmother, Sarah

mortons birthday

Poppy and Melissa spent the week up in Breckenridge but headed down the hill Friday afternoon to see the granddaughters. They had a hotel room downtown so the took the two oldest girls, Annabelle and Madison, downtown for a pre-dinner drink. No martini’s (at least not for the girls) but they did have Shirley Temples at Elways Steakhouse in the Ritz. Quite a treat. 
While the big girls were away, we took the little girls to play. We walked around downtown and showed them Coors Field. Of course, final destination was Morton’s. We got a private room and girls received lots of birthday gifts from Poppy and Melissa. They have many new outfits and accessories for their American Girl dolls. We ate quite well, the girls were so sweet, and Miss Lily even fell asleep on my shoulder before dessert arrived. Not a bad evening, not bad at all. 

This is what we like to see….although my birthday is only a few days before Annabelle’s and I see I have not made the menu. What the what?!?!