About Me

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I'm a mid twenties girl. Who has the cutest two boys ever. I'm married to the best hubby ever (aka the Man). I'm also a teacher of sixth grade with a masters degree in Education. I'd rather be busy than bored. I love things bright and beautiful and my family means the world to me.

Blog Archive

Sunday, December 8, 2013

We're ALIVE!

We've been a little crazy lately (who hasn't) but tonight the time just seemed right. Plus all three boys are asleep and I don't want to wake The Man by digging gifts out of our closet to wrap. We've been up to a lot, like I said, and making the right things a priority as been a struggle.

  • I've been training for a half-marathon since the end of September. November 30 was the race and it was amazing!
  • The Man has been applying for jobs in the law enforcement field, luckily they keep popping up, but hate the frustration he feels sometimes. 
  • Tucker turned eight! EIGHT! And with that seems to come all these new little quirks. 
  • Ryker is growing constantly! Into everything and going everywhere. 
  • I'm working on my reading certificate which I can not get enough of!
  • My class this year ROCKS, they always do, but it's so great to have a class I look forward to everyday. 
  • It's Christmas time!!!
Our two trees- 

We didn't put all the decor up this year, I didn't want Ryker to be tempted. I saw this tree and I knew I wanted to make it. It's right next to the other tree but Ryker knows he can do whatever he wants with the pieces and its kept him occupied. We'll see what happens when presents start appearing under the tree. 

So there's a quick catch-up. Hopefully more to come!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Update on 30 Before 30

September marked my 29th birthday, meaning I have a year to finish my list. Um, I had some pretty lofty goals I guess, but then our lives have gone a little different direction than where we were two years ago when I made the list.


Here's how we're looking-

1. Paint the inside of our house. We have one color in every room, it was ideal when we were building- not any more. We've painted our living room and master bedroom, I'd still like to maybe get the bathroom.

2. Take Tucker on a family vacation.
South Dakota was a blast!!

3. Conceive #2.
Hey, hey, Ryker!

4. Finalize our will. We need to get this one done soon!!!

5. Buy a wonderful pair of designer shoes.

6. Go to another NASCAR race. Don't hate!

7. Host a holiday get-together at our house.
I hosted Christmas for my Dad's side in 2012

8. Stop worrying about what everything thinks, maybe shorten the list to what some people think.

9. Teach Tucker to tie his shoes. He's got it! 

10. Continue yoga on a weekly basis.
Switch to run and we're sitting good.

11. Another trip to Kentucky- its been WAY too long!

12. Paint an original water color for our living room wall.

13. Go on a ride-along with a local police officer. I'd like to have a real idea of what the Man will be doing at work.
Done! Unfortunately it was boring but we talked a lot.

14. Completely "do-up" my walk in closet!

15. Go somewhere hot and sandy with the Man only. 

16. Set up Tucker's education fund.

17. Play a round of golf with the Man- it's not that I can't golf, but that's a lot of golf and I have a short attention span.
We did this and it actually went well.

18. Another tattoo?  in celebration of #2 of course. 

19. Pay off my car. 

20. Read, read, and read some more. 

21. Run a 10k. Sunday, Sept. 15 it took 1:04:41 loved it!

22. Win more than $4 from our Power ball tickets (this leaves more to chance, but I can try)

23. Lose the weight from #2. Done! Thanks to running!

24. Finish our basement completely.

25. Spend a night at a B&B up north.

26. Cook a whole meal from scratch. Shockingly it was easier than I thought, bacon wrapped chicken, veggies, with a banana pudding poke cake. 

27.  Die my hair- or highlights. I'm not sure a color, but the Man has kind of hinted and I'd like to try something different even for just a little bit. 

28. Add landscaping to the front and back yard. 

29. For one year, see a movie in the theater each month- I miss going to the movies.
August- Despicable Me 2

30. Do something spontaneous- this is open-ended I know, but I'm a planner. I don't usually just "do things".
My 10k was spontaneous, we called my parents up to watch the kids so we could do a little run, I miscounted and went 8k, so I said what the heck and went for it!

I'm getting closer but it's going to be big year! 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

WIWW

Yeah! I finally remembered to start taking pictures again!
Here are some of my recent outfits:
Top: NY and Co
Capris: Limited
Necklace: Very Jane
Odd Smile: Cali Original

Blazer: Gap (old)
Tank: Target
Pants: Old Navy
Leopard Belt: Forever 21

 Weekend outfit, plus outtakes (although they're all outtakes)

 Top: Very Jane
Jeans: Gap Always Skinny
Shoes: Target leopard print (unfortunately not shown)

This is what happens when your husband takes the pictures and cracks jokes the whole time! Love that guy!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Slow it down!

Wowza! Um, fall is here. We're in the third week of school. I have 57 posts to read according to Bloglovin'. I have two grad assignments due next weekend. I'm slightly behind on grading. I have some interventions to put together and then implement.

But! Tucker is in soccer two nights a week and loves it! I put in my notice to Gap. I know all my students names and most personalities. Our daycare is moving but I've found a new one who's one street away. Ryker has been sleeping in a day bed for the last two nights, plus naps, and doing wonderfully- he's getting so big.

Busy is good. But I can't wait for upcoming days and just taking time to enjoy scenes like these-






Mmmmm, I love the sights and smells of fall!

Friday, September 6, 2013

Five on Friday!

It's my second Five on Friday but what an amazing day it's been!

5. I'm ready for fall! I brought some stuff out last weekend, but this weekend I want to get all my fall decor out and set. I don't go too overboard but I would love to have something similar to this eventually. 

 

4. Last night was a fabulous run! I was dog tired all day but told myself that I had to get this long run done. And let me tell you, I felt so good. I actually added a little bit so that I made it the whole five miles. While this might not sound like a whole lot, it's a great distance for me.

3.  This morning I called in to our local radio show and won!! They host a game called, "Fact or Bull Crap", they give you a statement and you say if its a fact or bull crap. the topic was football. Nothing about players or teams, but average punt returns, number of safeties, way out of my league, but I guessed myself through it and won.

2. I started our cleaning list in the middle of August, but it's no where near done. Cleaning with two boys in the house wasn't worth the struggle somedays. This isn't just a vacuum and dust list, this is my extensive, top-to-bottom touch everything list. Hopefully I'll finish before the next time I hope to start it.

1. Today marks the end of our first week of school! Whoop, Whoop! One week closer to first break. Only kidding, I think I have a good class this year. We'll see how they all shake out throughout the year.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!






Wednesday, August 14, 2013

It's Teacher Week! All about me!

As usual I'm a day behind. But this is one of my favorite weeks because its all about my favorite people- TEACHERS!!!
Let's see, 10 things about me......

  1. I teach sixth grade- whoop, whoop!! Love me some middle schoolers. This is my fifth year in sixth and I'm super excited to get back in the classroom and try some new things this year. 
  2. I'm a math nerd!


     It's seriously my favorite part of the day. I'm trying math interactive notebooks this year- stay tuned for updates.
      3.  This summer I have become obsessed with fonts. I sat down one day and downloaded the files to three computers so I wouldn't have to worry about switching files and something not working.
     4.  I very much recommend the Erin Condren planner if you're someone who keeps track of  A LOT of stuff. If you're not, than it's not worth the money. This year I tried the Lesson Planner instead on the Life Planner and I don't feel the same connection. We'll see how it goes. 
    5. I'm going back to school for my K-12 Reading Certificate. I'm one class in and so far I'm rethinking a lot of what I do in the classroom.
    6. Yesterday, for the second time in my life, I ran for an hour. I'm training for a 10K so it felt really good to accomplish that.
    7. I'm slightly addicted to bright color pants. I picked up a pair of green capris at the end of the school year and it took off from there. I've added purple capris, neon pink shorts, and I love these- they may end up in my closet.
    8.  I've always enjoyed a good binder, a while mine aren't monogramed I did label them by subject.
   9. I've started working on eliminating gluten from my diet. It's not full blown yet but I've stopped eating a lot of foods and my system had improved loads!
   10. While it might not seem so on the blog, I'm crazy about staying organized. I like schedules and deadlines. Blogging on time..... we'll work on that.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Five for Friday!

Whoop Whoop, blogging hiatus hopefully over. We'll catch up on that later.

It's FRIDAY!!

ONE-
 I've been cheating on Starbucks this summer, a LOT! A student gave me a Caribou gift card, with all the heat and at 70 calories I don't feel too bad about it. So yummy!

TWO-
This little guy has grown up SO much and really deserves his own post. Before bath time or in the afternoon I let him "breath" for a few minutes. He think its a hoot and just letting him air out has been great on his skin.

THREE-
I've been working more aggressively on building up my running distance. With the help of this app I'm hoping to be running a 10k by the end of the September.

FOUR-
For my birthday in September, the Man and I are going to see these guys. I can not wait!

FIVE-
Right this minute the Man is taking his Post Board test for Law Enforcement. Once he passes this he can apply for more jobs. I have no doubt that he'll do amazing, but good thoughts are always welcome.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Whadya know, another catch-up!

Hey look at that! I'm catching up again.

Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget (good or bad)

Growing up my dad would find a time after a special event to whisper in my ear,  "I'm so proud of you." He told me that the day I made my first state swim time cut and bawled because my mother missed it. He told me that over the phone when I got my first college acceptance letter. He told me that both days after meeting his grandsons for the first time. He told me that, chocking back tears the moment before we walked down the aisle.

Needless to say he said it a lot. It's a very simple sentence without a lot of detail. But every now and then I just remind myself that while I may be totally down on myself I have one guy, a man of little words, who reminds me he's proud of me.

Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
I have readers?!?! I absolutely love the idea that someone out there besides my husband (occasionally) is reading this. I can not thank you enough for stopping by! Thanks for taking some time to read my blog that is often neglected. I greatly appreciate it! But I'm also fine in knowing that this is more like a private journal that's not really so private. 

Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. 

1. When I saw this topic, this song immediately popped into my head- "Leather and Lace"
This was our first song. The part that gives me goosebumps is that we were really undecided about a song, we just couldn't narrow it down. Then one morning in the car this song came on, I knew it was it and started digging for my phone, which started ringing. The Man was calling me because he was listening to the same song and thought it would work! It was fate!

2. Which leads to this song-"Pachelbel's Canon in D"
A super popular wedding march, but hearing this and seeing the Man on that day made every nerve calm and this sense of everything in that moment being absolutely perfect!

3. This was the first song that I heard from Mumford and Sons. This version is amazing, so much feeling!

4. I know its over played, but my class has rocked out to this song this year. We rock out to it in the car, at home, I listen to it while I run- it's just fun!

5. This one I just love.


Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go

I MUST do it more. Let go of the crap and push it all away and soak in the good! Anything more than that is too much. 

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Another catch-up

So, I'm behind! School is winding down which means meetings are adding up and lots of activities are getting planned. I'm just trying to stay on top of everything and unfortunately the blog is almost always left behind so this nasty cold weather has provided me time to catch up on writing my blog and reading all my favorite blogs too!So here we go- catch up time!

Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Our wedding day was by far one of my favorite days!

Meet Tucker post- he's my guy and cracks us up!
Meet Ryker post- From start to now, its been captured


Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)

What's with people not being accountable for themselves any more? It's so easy to blame others rather than just say I screwed up or I don't know. It's almost like people can't be wrong anymore or make mistakes. Why is that?

You screwed up, okay, learn from it, own up to it- MOVE ON! Don't blame other people. I hate (I try not to use that word) how much people blame other in education. Parents blame teachers, teachers blame parents, we blame administrators. It's a whole cycle. Okay, done!

Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits

  1. Impatient- I hate waiting for things. Good or bad, I just want them to happen. Ordering things in the mail seems to take ages. I don't sit well, I need to talk to someone, fidget, walk around, or play with phone, anything to take my mind of waiting. I'm just as bad as my kids, so you can bet my class is the one doing something random in an audience rather than sitting their being rowdy. 

2. Minor ADHD- I'm great at starting things but getting distracted by other things. I'm guilty of folding laundry then organizing stuff in the basement, which reminds me I have something upstairs to organize, mean while laundry waits. The other day in class in the middle of teaching a guy ran by my window and I totally lost my track of thought. I promise we still finished the lesson. 

3. Over thinker, I tend to over think situations. A lot. I worry about how my decisions effect others to the point where I change my decisions. Luckily, the Man has learned this about me and has really supported me and pushed me just be myself. 



Monday, May 20, 2013

Day 20

Get real. Share something you're struggling its right now.

Failure is a huge fear of mine. I set crazy expectations for myself and assume people have super high expectations for me. I'm a "people pleaser", Hi, I'm Cali and I'm a "pleaser."

I worry a lot that I'm not doing enough. That I'm not giving enough attention to the boys or to the Man. That I'm not meeting all the needs of my students, that my team mates think I don't contribute enough. It's this constant mind game. I've gotten a little better at just realizing I can't make everyone happy but even then I hate  the idea that I caused someone to have a bad day.

I think it's also hard in teaching with having so many expectations and high standards. I want my students to learn but also enjoy school. I want my students to still be kids, to do the little projects I can still remember for when I was younger, but I want to keep my job and show everyone how bright they are.

When I get caught up with school I worry that the boys don't get the love they need. That I'm not using my time with Tucker to help him learn. And Ryker is growing so fast I hate that I could miss something. Then my first man, The Man, who luckily knows my passions but I still want him to know my passion for him.

I try to focus more on my strengths and not on my weaknesses. I try to let go of the doubt. I try, and that matters most.


Sunday, May 19, 2013

Day 18

Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.

I remember so many little events that I'll forever cherish when I was little but nothing that I could go into huge detail about or remember vividly. I remember that we had life explaining conversations in the car all the time, I learned a lot on the way to school, but they're all kind of jumbled together, I couldn't even tell you how old I was. 

I do remember the moment when I first really realized how cruel kids and even adults could be. I was in middle school, which was a time that I would never want to live again. Ironic, since I've spent my teaching career teaching at the same level. Our school was very cliquey. Teachers and parents all fed into it. There were moments when kids were getting picked on or treated poorly that at the time I figured must be fine if the teachers weren't saying anything that I now know were forms of bullying and if similar things happened today teachers would have been in major trouble for ignoring or adding to it. 

Eighth grade was the worst of the two years. At that point groups had been formed and the "have" and "have nots" were separated, I didn't have the most fashionable clothes and I was more of a teacher's pet and do-gooder. I was made fun of and teased by girls who had been my best friends barely a year before. Even a close family friends daughter was in on it and I can still remember my mom talking to her mom telling her to back off. At which point she looked at me and said, "I'm sure it's not that bad, you don't really mind do you?" Thank God I had a mom who stuck up for me and wasn't about to allow it to continue. 

One day after school my mom picked me up and I got in the car and just sobbed. I hated school, on the way to the car one of the kids even yelled something about my haircut and the teacher, Mr. Sutton (he luckily quit teaching before I graduated high school) laughed right along with him. My mom called the school principal and demanded something to change. That enough parents were aware of what was going on and the mistreatment to certain students. That her job as a principal was to help students and make them feel safe and cared for in the building. My mom has always had a voice and strength to stand up for what's right (for the most part). 

I know a couple of kids were talked to and there was less name calling and teasing for a lot of us, but it was more realizing that my mom was always there for me. I had one teacher, an English teacher, that stopped me the Friday of that same week. She gave me a hug and told me I was brave and a wonderful student. I couldn't believe it, the girl who didn't say anything was brave. It still made me feel better and it was another moment that made me want to become a teacher. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Day 14

Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy

In no particular order. I'm not going to include my family as they are a given! 

1. My planner!
I love Erin Condren planners. They're aren't for everyone and they are pricey- I always wait for a Groupon or % off. They work great for school and our family all in one. 

2. School supply shopping. Hello, I'm a teacher! Number two pencils, fresh notebooks, fancy pens.... be still me heart! 

3. Sweet Tea- since moving to the north there's only so many places that have real, tasty sweet tea!
4. New underwear, it's silly but I get so excited about them. 

5. Target! Need I say more...
6. Texts from the Man. Even if its something simple like, remind me to show you something. Its just makes me feel good that's he's thinking of me.

7. That post- workout feeling. I love the endorphin high after a good run or sweat fest.
8. The day after report cards are due. It's one of those deadlines that you know are coming but when you're chasing down kids to collect assignments that they should have had in and you've reminded them repeatedly so they won't get a zero. I love clicking that final "Send" button.

9. Venti Caramel skinny macchiato- YUM! 

10. Fresh laundry- the warmth right out the dryer and the smell just makes you want to cuddle right in.




Monday, May 13, 2013

Day Catch-Up

I thought I had my posts set to post of the right day.... I was wrong! Here are some of the days. I'm not going to post them all. 


Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of

I could be girly and say something like snakes. I really do hate them. But an animal I really, really dislike- deer.
Deer freak me out! Not kidding here, the way they stare, just bothers me so much. I get tense even driving by them, live ones of course. I don't remember being afraid of them when I was little, its something that has built over time especially since I've spent more time out in the country with the Man. He, by the way, thinks its completely ridiculous and gets a good laugh out of it. 


Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo o
 both a photo and words)

My most favorite time of day occurs only on the weekends now or snow days. I'm counting down the days until summer to get more of this in. 
My cuddle time with this guy is the BEST! Tucker is "too old to cuddle", it's more like he doesn't want to sit still during the day long enough, so this little guy and I get to snuggle up for nap time.  I know I wont get this time forever so I'm soaking it all up!


Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)
Not going to lie, some days I miss my Ol' Kentucky Home.
I miss the people. I miss the slow, more relaxed pace that people tend to follow. I miss the friendliness, and southern hospitality. I miss the sweet tea. I miss being around for the Derby and Thunder Over Louisville. I love my life her in the north, and everything I've been blessed with, but every now and then and little piece of the south makes me homesick. 


Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

I'm sorry for all the doubt. I'm saying this to myself. I'm sorry for not feeling like a stronger person. I'm sorry for not standing up for myself, my team mates, or my students at school. I'm sorry for not sitting down with the boys and giving them the one on one attention they deserve. I'm sorry for not giving the Man the time he needs. I'm sorry for going on, and on, and on about my day because it just makes me feel so much better once it's all out. I'm sorry about worrying so much about what others think. I'm sorry for holding things back because I worry about others reactions. 

I'm not sorry for realizing this and knowing that it may or may not ever change. 

Monday, May 6, 2013

Day 6

If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you anawer the question 'what would you say you do'?

I love my boys! I spend every spare moment with them, thinking about them, thinking about things for them, things they've been through, what they'll go through, what they've been through.

I do laundry, dishes, clean the bathrooms, and more.

I read, when I can.

Every year I fill my heart with almost 100 new kids that I would put my life on the line for.

I like to create, either at home, at school, with others, or on my own.

I do a lot, but sometimes I don't do anything and that makes me just as happy!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Blog Everyday in May- days 1 through 4

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph... no one will be counting your words... probably)

     Let's see... My name is Cali, and I'm not yet thirty, but it's coming up. I was born and grew up in the south, primarily Kentucky, I miss it everyday. I now live in Minnesota, the land of snow and lakes. My family is originally from here and through them I met my love, "the Man". We were both in a wedding, I was a bridesmaid and he was an usher. I married him and now having a rhyming name, not  Cali O'Malley, but just as fun. We have two boys, Tucker 7, and Ryker, 1. I teach sixth grade and can't imagine doing something different. I love, love my job. Our life is pretty busy but we love it that way, I'm in a house full of boys and wouldn't have it any other way.

Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)


After four years of teaching I feel pretty good at putting together a fun unit based on any given topic. You pick and I'll design activities, lessons, and assessments. It's one thing that can be very tedious but I LOVE it!

I am an awesome list maker! I make lists for everything- groceries, Christmas gift ideas, to-do's at home, to-do's at school, they're on going and I always have one on me. 

Sarcasm also seems to come pretty natural for me. I try not to get too carried away or overly rude, it's more timing that I seem to be pretty good at. 

Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable

Hands down- confrontation! I hate it and try to always avoid it. I'm doing a lot better and sharing my thoughts with others when something really bothers me. And if someone comes after my children or students I have no problem going "mama bear" on them.

People yelling, not so much the volume, its more that I worry about how the person getting yelled out feels. This is something that's bothered me for years.

And bad bras! 'Nough said on that one.

Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it

"Dance like no one is watching. Love like you've never been hurt. Song like no one is listening. And live likes its your last day on Earth."
I know this quote is every where but it serves as a goal for me. Ignore others and do what makes me happy, never taking a day for granted. 

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Blog Everyday in May

So I'm apparently going crazy! I saw a link and a few posts over on Natasha's blog "Hello! Happiness". So I checked it out and I love the idea. I'm someone realistic in knowing that I'm definitely probably going to miss some.
Here is the list that Jenni from "Story of my Life" created, 

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph... no one will be counting your words... probably)
Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)
Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable
Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it
Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member
Day 6, Monday: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?
Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of
Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.
Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)
Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill. 
Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less
Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)
Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you've learned that school won't teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you'd like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

If you're interested in joining up, follow this link. Let the challenge begin.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

First Birthday Party!

It was a success! We had our closest family and friends join us in celebrating Ryker's first year.
Thanks to Pinterest the ideas were super easy to find and implement. I got the food tags from Etsy I can't find her name for the life of me but they were perfect.

 These mini-cherry pies were so easy and people loved them!
 I was so worried about how I could get ice cream included without the actual thing. Lo and behold Target had these, mini- gummy ice cream cones. 
 I've been wanting to try making a sucker tree for a while, this was my excuse!
 Our local grocery store, Hy-Vee, made this. So cute and one less thing for me to worry about. 
 More of the spread. 
 Lots of present opening helpers!

 Someone LOVED his cake!

 I have to say, he didn't get too messy and was in and out of the bath in under five minutes. 
This is after everyone left. I can't get enough of these two. We opened all the toys and Tucker kept "showing" Ryker how they worked. 

Lastly, the thank you cards I snagged from Shutterfly! I used some Pampers codes and ordered some extras since they're nice to have around. Love that little smile and how the circles tie somewhat into our theme but are generic enough to work for everything.

Stationery Card
View the entire collection of cards.