Happy Birthday to Me...

Recently I celebrated my 38th birthday. Yes, that's right...38...unfortunately that wasn't a typo. My birthdays are usually pretty mellow, but this year I wanted to spice things up a little.

We started the night with having some friends and family over to our house for some drinks and appetizers. During this time we of course had a break out a few games...because what would a night at the Rieder house be if there weren't a few games to be played???

Before we were about to head out my husband pulls me up in front of everyone, says a little speech, and then plays this video he made for me. Every time I watch it, it makes me laugh and brings tears to my eyes.

I have to admit...I've watched my video at least 100 times! It's such a great depiction of our life together so far. I absolutely love it! Thank you Jeff!...the best husband around:)

After the video was over we headed out to a karaoke bar where some of us sang (some pretty interesting songs) and danced. I had such a great night cutting lose and having fun!..which was the exact goal of the night.

When all was said and done...I couldn't have wished for a better birthday. Although the point of the night wasn't so that I could get gifts some of my friends were very thoughtful and surprised me with presents. Of course when a present is received and thank you note must be given. So, here are the notes that I will be sending out to thank my amazing friends and family.

Well, that's all for now...

Happy Valentine's Day...

Well, I did it!...or I should say we did it! (Jeff helped me with lining up the typed parts on the card.) I managed to make a Valentine's Day card for Logan (to pass out to his classmates) that he thought was better than a store bought card. Here it is...

Logan then wrote on the back who it was for and signed his name.

Nothing too too fancy or complicated to put together...but mission accomplished! I had big plans to attach a Star Wars pencil in some way...but it wasn't in the cards. So, Logan just passed out the pencils along with the Valentine.

Another year that I dodged the store bought Valentines...can I do it next year???...we shall see!

Well, that's all for now...

Valentines...

In years past I have made my kids Valentines to be passed out at school...however this year Logan has requested store bought Valentines...BOOOO! Jeff said I need to come up with a cool Star Wars, Transformers, or Bakugan type Valentine that he would like. Can I whip something up before his class party on Monday? We shall see...

But thankfully Frank and Claire have not yet out grown my Valentines. Here are some pictures of the ones they picked...

I used the same design that I used for the thank you notes that I donated to my sister in law's goodie basket...but instead of "thank you" I stamped the saying that came with each stamp in the set. Also, I embossed the front of the card with hearts...because you can't have too many hearts on Valentine's Day!

Frank and Claire loved how they turned out and are super excited to hand them out at their class parties today!

Well, that's all for now...

Poof...a new family room!

Last year we bought a new kitchen table due to our ever growing family. Well...that one purchase snowballed. After the table came the new paint in the kitchen and the family room, new light fixtures, a new counter top, and a new back splash. When all was said and done our kitchen had a new look that I wasn't even sure how it all happened...but I'm not complaining! I love the way it all turned out...and after looking back at some old pictures of the kitchen...I realized that it was desperately in need of a make over!

Well, the same thing just happened again recently. We decided to do away with our big sectional couch in our family room to open up the area between our kitchen and our family room and we bought a new couch and chair. When the furniture arrived we discussed where the TV should now go, the toy box, etc. From those few conversations a project was hatched. I can't really explain it as well as a picture can show it. So, here is a before picture of our family room...

And here is the after...

My husband and my brother in law Ken (who owns his own construction business) began talking about what we could do in our family room and the next thing I know we are under construction and our family room is getting a make over. I absolutely love the end result! Again, it was one of those things that snow balled...and then POOF...we have a new family room! My brother in law does some pretty amazing work! Thanks Ken!

I also have to thank my friend Sarah and her sister Stephanie who bought the decorations for the entire room. I had no idea where to begin...especially what to put on the shelves...but I knew that Sarah and Stephanie have the knack for projects like this. Sarah keeps telling me that I have to play it off like I did it myself...but really...I never would have come up with what they did in a million years. So, thank you Sarah and Stephanie!

Well, that's all for now...

Invitations and thank you notes...

Although I've been MIA for awhile...I still have plenty to share. My goal is to share each day this week a little bit that has been going on in my life.

Since the weather here has kept us inside a lot lately...I've had a little time to be creative. My sister in law Jackie is the room mother for her son's kindergarten class. Each class was responsible for putting together a basket of goodies to be raffled off at a school wide event. The theme for their basket was "Birthday Party". Jackie asked if I would make some invitations and thank you notes to donate to their basket. Here is what I came up with...

I wanted to keep the cards simplistic so that they might be able to work for a party for a girl or boy. Jackie liked the finished product...so I hope the lucky winner of their baskets likes them too:)

Well, that's all for today...I'll be back tomorrow with a little bit more to share.