Bald is beautiful...

This past weekend Jeff shaved his head bald for a wonderful cause! Recently he learned about a foundation called St. Baldericks. This foundation raises money for pediatric cancer research. It is the largest money raising organization for kid's cancer research. Jeff's goal was to raise $2,000 but ended up raising $3,385! The support from friends and family was amazing! Thank you to everyone who donated!

Friday we headed to Indianapolis for the event. A reception was held at a K of C where there was food, music, and drinks for all the people participating. As soon as we entered the room we encountered one bald head after another...men, teenagers, little kids, and even women! The shaving of the heads was took place on a stage where there were several barbers lined up ready to expose your scalp. At 7:00 p.m. when Jeff's name was called he went up without hesitation...in fact I think he was looking forward to seeing himself bald.

Well...here was the end result...


Not too bad! No weird lumps or bumps were exposed...thank goodness:) In fact...the next day Jeff took a razor to his head to make it all nice and shiny. As of now he plans to keep it shaved for awhile and I must say I don't mind.

I am often amazed at what Jeff commits himself to. With his already busy life or running a company, traveling, raising 5 kids, training for marathons, involvement in several organizations...things like donating time, money, and even shaving his head are still on his mind. I absolutely love this about him!...and he inspires me to do more and be better. Now, does that mean I'll shave my head next year...probably not...but I am so proud of Jeff and to be his wife!

Well, that's all for now...

The complete party...

Awhile back I had made these invitations for my friend Julie who was hosting a baby shower for her friend Lani.

Well, Julie took the onesie theme and (with the help of our friend Kate) ran with it! I had to share all that they created for this shower...too cute!

The two (red and brown) chocolate suckers were made from a onesie sucker mold she found on ebay. The onesie on top of the cupcake was self made. Julie used the onesie stamp I used on the invitation and stamped it onto a piece of paper. She then placed the stamped image on a cookie sheet beneath some wax paper. Next she carefully drizzled melted chocolate on the wax paper using the onesie under the paper as a stencil. And the end result were these adorable onesies that topped her cupcakes.

Center pieces made from a brown lunch bag

Party favors for the guests...but I'm drawing a blank on what was put inside???

Another center piece...it's hard to see, but what looks like sand in the bucket is actually brown sugar. What a sweet touch!...hahaha

When I make an invitation I always try to create a thank you note to match. Here is what I came up with. It's a style that I've used before but changed it up a little with the papers, buttons, and wording.

The type might be hard to read but it says, "From the crib of the littlest Amann..."

Here is how I packaged them up.

It's really fun to see how one idea can generate another! Well, that's all for now...

A Birthday and a Baptism...

Last weekend was a busy couple of days at the Rieder house...

We kicked off Friday with Mary Kate's 2nd Birthday! Although Jeff didn't make it home because of a cancelled flight and Logan had Cub Scouts...the remaining Rieders managed to make MK feel special. While she was napping Frank and I made her cupcakes and wrapped her presents. After dinner we sang Happy Birthday, ate our cupcakes, and opened presents. Mary Kate seemed to be thrilled with it all! I know she is only 2 and most likely won't remember her 2nd birthday, but I still felt the need to make her actual birthday as special for her as I could.

Frank helping me make Mary Kate's cupcakes...he was truly a huge help!

The birthday girl thrilled with her cupcake tower!

This is her special birthday outfit that she wore the day of the baptism. Since everyone was coming over I piggy backed her birthday to the baptism...we had a cake and sang Happy Birthday! (The never ending "Mommy Guilt" of trying to make everything special:)

On Saturday morning I had to run 10 miles as a part of my marathon training. It's not the most I've had to run so far...but nonetheless it had to get done during this busy weekend.

Then on Sunday at the 10 o'clock mass Emily was baptized. Most of my family and all of Jeff's family were able to make it. Emily did great! She slept for most of the mass and when it came time for the water to be poured over her head she didn't even flinch. The entire event at the church was emotional...the baptism itself (my daughter being welcomed into this wonderful community) and the fact that this will most likely be my last child to be baptized. I held it together pretty well, but there was a moment or two where I was trying hard not to cry:)

Our big family...I love it!

Chris (Ken's wife and God mother), me and Emily, Fr. Bill, Jeff, and Ken (Jeff's brother and God father)

After church everyone came back to our house for lunch. It was a great weekend!

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...