Choo-Choo!

Phoebe got this wooden train from Popee and Nanee for her birthday.  She loves to take all the blocks off and try to put them back on... always in a different way.

Happy Birthday Phoebe!

They say it's your birthday...

On Phoebe's birthday day we went out to eat for dinner at a Burger King that has indoor play equipment and is close to our house.  She didn't eat much of her dinner, cheeseburger and fries, but really enjoyed the blue Powerade.  Then the girl's and Eric crawled, climbed and went sliding all around on the play equipment.  Phoebe wasn't too sure about it, but with Eric and Sarah's help she made it to the top and down the slide twice.

At home we sang "Happy Birthday", had ice cream treats and then opened presents before bedtime.  Phoebe got some new baby dolls from Sarah (both girls were equally excited to play with the baby dolls),  some books, a bow, socks, clothes, quilted sleeping bag, and stuffed Elmo from Mommy and Daddy, and some clothes and a talking Elmo from Lindsee and Eric Paul.

We also had some 2 year old birthday portraits taken of Phoebe.  We have such a hard time getting her to smile for pictures.  I try all the tricks... singing, dancing, clapping, obscene noises... Our photographer managed to capture a couple tiny smiles, and the rest are action shots and serious Phoebe.

Happy 2nd Birthday my Dear Sweet, not-so-Smiley, Ornery, Cute, full of Love, Little Phoebe, Happy Birthday to YOU!

We'll Be Cute and Warm

The girls got NEW matching coats, gloves and hats from Nanee and Popee for this winter.  They were both excited to try them on.  Sarah keeps asking us when it is going to snow...

Cute and warm... what a great combination!

Meemo!

We had Phoebe's birthday party last weekend.  It had a Sesame Street and Elmo theme.  Phoebe's favorite Sesame Street characters right now are Elmo, "Meemo", Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby.

We served dinner to our guests... Eric and I made chili and hot dogs = yummy chili dogs!  My dad and mom made and decorated Phoebe's Elmo cake!  I made cupcakes.  Phoebe especially enjoyed the icing.

We played a spin off of Pin the Tail on the Donkey... Put the Nose on Elmo.  Everyone who was recruited to play did good, and no one got hurt.

Phoebe liked opening her presents this year.  She liked everything she opened, even the clothes.  When she was really excited about something that she was opening she would smile, make a little squeal noise, and do a little dance.

Happy Birthday Dear Little Phoebe, Happy Birthday to You!

Let the Bidding Begin!

I organized a silent auction for our church this Fall.  All the money raised went to our church's children's ministries program.  The silent auction was held on Oct. 30th in conjunction with our church's Fall Festival.  There was also a chili feed and pumpkin carving contest.

It was a lot of work, but I had a great little team of people who helped me.  Thank you to my husband and friends from church who helped pull this great event off.  And, thank you to all who made donations to the auction, and then to those who came out that night for an evening of fun.  An evening of fun is exactly what we all had!

Here are some pictures of some of the silent auction items and baskets before the auction started.  We had an abundance of fabulous items up for bids.... Baking baskets, a donut basket, Christmas baskets, coffee basket, Kansas road trip basket, movie baskets, handmade aprons, blankets and quilts, books, jewelry, fishing tackle, tools, rugs, handmade wooden items, dolls and handmade doll clothes...and the list goes on...

There were many pots of chili to sample.  I heard great things about "Jerry's Spicy Chili".  Phoebe and I enjoyed Mary King's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies... but I always enjoy them!

There were some very creative pumpkins and traditional Jack-O-Lanterns carved by children and adults.  Eric and Phoebe teamed up to carve an Elmo.  My dad and Sarah teamed up to carve a Jack-O-Lantern that they were trying to make look like our good friend, Ras Reyes!  Sarah and Dad's Ras look-a-like won the award for "Highest Rated Pumpkin" from the pumpkin carving judges!  Sarah was so excited, jumping up and down and smiling.

 

What a success!  We raised a total of $2,238 for our children's ministries.  Thanks to everyone again, who helped in some way to make our first silent auction and Fall Festival so amazing.  I can't wait to do it again next year.