details in the fabric

I am a "detail" person. 

I am married to a "big picture" person. 

We tend to balance each other out.

Sometimes, I get caught up in insignificant details. For example, when my seven year old wanted a birthday party, his only request was a piñata. I decided it would be a superhero party and I would make masks for all the boys. The games and food quickly became secondary in my mind. Would the games really matter, if the boys had awesome homemade masks? Of course, I planned some fun and easy games and food, but in my mind, they would not be the highlight.

I started the project about a week before the party. It involved printing and cutting patterns, cutting felt, cutting felt embellishments, sewing, unpicking because I forgot to add the elastic one too many times, then re-sewing.* They were not difficult, just a little time-consuming.
My "big picture" husband thought I was crazy.

I didn't finish until the night before the party. But it didn't matter: I was certain the party's success hinged upon these homemade masks and I was so glad I had lovingly crafted them for all the boys who would certainly be oh-so-grateful. 
I was also planning on making a homemade piñata.* I happened to see one at Target a few days before and bought it, "just in case," knowing I would probably return it, because my homemade one would be so much better. As soon as Mark saw it and heard my plan, he convinced me to just use the store-bought one. He was right and I consented. I was running out of time. 

At the party, I held off handing out the masks. We would start with some other activities and build up to that great mask moment. So the games were played. The food was eaten. Lots of energy was burned off in the backyard. 
When I finally pulled out the masks, yes, the boys were excited. But did they want to study the stitching and swoon over how cute they were? No. Of course not. They are boys. They were eager to choose their favorites and were happy to put them on. But mostly they just couldn't wait to break open that cheesy Target piñata.

In the end, Mark was right. The piñata was a big hit and won out over the masks. [Let's be real: The boys would not have cared if it was a grocery bag filled with candy, as long as they got to swing at it.] 
I'm glad I didn't slave over making one, only to have the boys crush my artwork to pieces. 
I'm glad I did make the masks, though. I am all about the details. I think the boys loved them in their own "big-picture" boy way. 

* I blame Pinterest for the masks and would-be-piñata.

3 is a magic number

The "terrible twos" is a misnomer. I've always believed that three is the real age of parental concern. Nothing compares to the "let me do it" - "NO! NO! NO!"- threes (which actually starts at two, but is amplified at three). I am praying this is somehow not true with my twins. You see, they turned three this week and I am ready for some low-key, mellow, no-tantrum, eat something, anything, at dinner, times. They are sweet boys. But do the math: 

1 sweet boy x 2 = several daily situations on your hands. It's true.

We threw a little party for them and invited the grandparents to celebrate with us. I asked Hank and George what they would like to eat for their birthday dinner, and they both gave me blank stares. Is it because they hardly know what dinner is anymore? Is it my fault that they like to graze all day on graham crackers and craisins and cheese, and then are not hungry at dinner time?

Needless to say, I planned a dinner menu that the adults would like, and we let the three-year-olds eat cheetos for dinner. (It was their birthday, afterall.)
I decided on a few soups in honor of the cool 70-degree days we've been having.

Homemade green salsa and chips
Red Bell Corn Chowder (from Liz)
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Artisan Bread (from Alice)
IBC Rootbeer

Hank's only request for the past month has been "donuts and candles!" I was happy I could make all his birthday dreams came true. These two had the hardest time blowing out the candles. It was very funny!  I think we will work on that skill for next year.

Happy Birthday my sweet boys!

80's rockin' eve

The wonderful Becky and Richard hosted a "choose your favorite 80's Rocker" new year's eve party. Mark, though he loves a good party, does not enjoy dressing in costume.  He agreed to put his best pegged-pants leg forward and looked awesome as Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran. (Thanks for the lender costume, Jay.) I was Olivia Newton-John, brunette style.  My hair in these photos looks like I cut it short, just like when I was 11, so it really was an 80's night for me.

Whitney Houston, George Michael, Morrissey, Debbie Gibson, Van Halen and many others made appearances too. 

Cyndi Lauper was our hostess.

 Music and Lyrics guy (are those your mom's pants?) and Gem (sans her holograms)

We left a bit early and missed the lip sync contest.  Have I ever mentioned that I won a lip sync contest in 6th grade?  I "sang" (and danced to) Wham's Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go. The venue was my friend's birthday party, and I rocked the house.  Too bad I missed my second opportunity to rock it.  

The party was a blast!  Thanks Becky!