Going for a world record.

I haven't blogged in a while because Girl 1 is turning 10 in a couple weeks.  And remember - we do 10 big in this family?  And, after the amazing success of Boy Child's 10th (and by "amazing success" I mean: I didn't burn anything, everything I made fairly resembled what it was supposed to, and all children made it safely back to their own parents), I am kinda feeling pressured.  I started to plan late and my ideas are nonexistent.  So, here's the skinny.  Maybe you guys can help.

Girl 1 wants a ladybug theme.  Again.  For the fourth (or is it fifth?) time.  She absolutely loves ladybugs.  It's weird.  And kind of creepy.  But, she does.  They're cute, but really?  Four times?  And for the 10th birthday?  But, alas - it is her birthday not mine, so we're doing it.  We are combining ladybug theme with sweet shoppe theme.  How do you do that, you ask?  I don't freakin' know.

Here's what I have so far that I love.  What will actually make it to the party - it's anybody's guess.

These are the super cute invitations I bought today that are kind of lady-bugish?  (That's all I really have so far besides grandiose ideas.)
 

I know.  It's a long shot.  Mine will probably look like murder balls, but one can hope, right?



From amandaparkerandfamily.blogspot.com.  I've made these before and they are fairly easy, so I figure I'm good with this one.  I'm going to do red with black sprinkles.

From catchmyparty.com.  This is my sweet shoppe idea.  I want to put some red and black candies in clear jars?  How hard can that be?  Except, of course, black licorice.  Because it tastes like crap?

 

I'm abnormally nervous about more than four children in my house with nothing specific to do, so of course I have researched a craft because Girl 1 also loves crafting.  I found these.  Which are incredibly cute and also incredibly labor intensive.  So, these might not make it to the party.  I am going to do a trial run this weekend.  If I never blog again - it will be because I was eaten by the wicked witch of crafting everywhere.

This is way above my level.  What's my level?  Gluing...paper...to paper.

And, lastly I found these things called, "Fluffy black decorations" at Party City and I kinda love them.  A lot.  I also love their name.  It's like I named them.  The person who named them was all, "I'm really tired from inventing these and so let's just name them 'fluffy decorations.'"  I want to get black and red fluffy decorations and lots of black and red balloons.

And, games.  I have thought of two games.  Don't laugh.  It took me a long time to think of two.  First game:  Guess how many red and black M&M's are in the jar.  Second game:  Scramble up a bunch of candy names and have the girls unscramble them.  If you guys have some great games for 10 year old girls related to ladybugs or candy (because I know that's really common) - please send them my way!

Wish me luck this weekend friends.  And if my creation is not complete crap maybe I'll post it.  Cheers!

"These socks may or may not be clean."

Thank you for the honesty.  Now, you might think that statement came from the nine year old Boy.  But, no.  It came from the two year old baby.  And it made me want to share with you a Top Ten List I have been composing for a while. 

The Top Ten Ways You Know That Kid is a Fourth Child:

10.  She is TWO and had to be rushed to the ER after doing flips on a drainage ditch railing after seeing older siblings do it.  *Her parents may or may not have been watching her diligently.*
9.  She is TWO and can often be heard chanting, "I don't care, I don't care.  I'll pull down your underwear."  *Sometimes to her mother.* and *Sometimes in public.*
8.  She knows where the Give to Goodwill clothes bag is kept and frequently comes downstairs wearing 12 month size clothes when she is going to turn three soon.
7.  She often can be seen digging in her nose.  When questioned about it she says with complete certainty, "Bubba said there are treasures in there."
6.  She insists on practicing piano and doing her homework every night and if a comment is made about her not even playing piano or not even having homework she promptly throws a fit that makes even calm people want to hit their heads with heavy books till they pass out.
5.  She can often be seen and/or heard having long and detailed conversations with other children through the crack under the closed (and barricaded) door.
4.  She is two, yet she is often persuaded to do tasks which other birth order children would not do.  Such as:  asking mom if she and others can watch Sponge Bob, going back upstairs for the millionth time to retrieve a DSI that doesn't belong to her, reaching into the toilet to get our a matchbox car (that, again, does not belong to her), testing milk to see if it has gone bad, etc. ad nauseum.
3.   She does not speak in a normal voice.  She yells everything due to the fact that no one ever lets her talk.  She often and proudly tells her mom, "Daddy says I learned to whisper in a helicopter."
2.  Because no one ever lets her speak she is developing a stutter and is told by her older siblings (as they shake their heads and sigh deeply), "Sounds like you are going to need Speech."

And the number one reason you know that kid is a fourth child:

1.  Her mother has no idea WHERE she puts her dirty socks so when she comes downstairs holding a pair of socks the mother always asks, "Are these clean?' (after a quick sniff test which would indicate probably not) that TWO YEAR OLD child responds cheerfully, confidently, and very loudly, "These socks may or may not be clean."