Jasmine's birthday part 2

We had Jasmine's birthday party at Wonder Works on Saturday. We hadn't had a party for her in a few years. Usually she has President's Day off of school and we go somewhere. But this year she had school. In fact she was the only one other than Jessica who had school on Monday. So we decided to have a party. There was pepperoni and cheese pizza and cupcakes.

Tyler lit the candles for her.

We took a picture of her with each child and gift but I'm only going to show Jessica and Tyler. Jessica is creating thank notes with three pictures of each child at the party.

The party included a game of laser tag, 12 game tokens, the ropes/climbing course and all the exhibits.

There are all sorts of exhibits about science and such.

Everything went really well. Eleven of Jasmine's classmates out of 22 came. One girl couldn't come at the last minute due to a death in the family but she gave Jasmine a present on Monday. I think everyone had a good time except one girl who was sick and called her mother. The kids had already spread out around the different exhibits by then so I didn't realize she'd left until she was already gone. But otherwise, everyone seemed to love it.

Jasmine's Birthday part 1

We celebrated a day earlier due to the party on her birthday. Linguine and Alfredo sauce is her favorite meal.

Jasmine loves her DS. Tyler didn't get his first game boy until he was 14 but with the constant trips for her neck expansion last year and all the hours in the car and waiting room, she got hers last year. These games are from Uncle Ken.

Aunt Lou got her two books from the How to Train Your Dragon series and Tooth Fairy DVD.

Grandma and Grandpa sent her a nice outfit.

Grandma Sims got her a mint green (?blue) outfit and shoes.

We got her a dress for the cruise.

Shorts with two shirts

Two DS games

An outfit and earrings from Justice. Wow is that place expensive!!!

Tyler and Jessica gave her their gifts at the party.

I also got her some stuff from the Christian bookstore--a dog tag, cloth arm band, straw cup and also a necklace that is a cross in a musical note and two background vocal CDs because I believe in her and what she is going to do for God through her music.

Jasmine is an amazing girl, and she is my joy and song. She has some genetic junk in her background that I hoped we wouldn't be dealing with for a while, but it looks like we're there earlier than we wanted to be. I think it's going to be an uphill battle the next few years, but she is very attached to both Rick and myself, and we have so many shared experiences and memories that it's sure to help. I know God has a wonderful plan for her and I can't wait to see it unfold. She could use some prayer warriors who would keep her in prayer daily.

I hope this year holds amazing and wonderful things for her!

So Much Going On

Tyler came home late last night for Jasmine's birthday which is tomorrow. He definitely has my hair (and nose)!

Before I made him go get a haircut : ) (It's wet here or it would be sticking straight out all bushy)

After the haircut.

Life today revolved around getting Tyler to the dentist, me shopping for the cruise (March 5-9, more on that later) and getting ready for Jasmine's big party tomorrow. We also made time to take Tyler to see Jessica's new puppy. She, the puppy, is still with the mom right now.

Jessica's is the lighter colored one. She will be three weeks on Monday and now has her eyes open and is learning to crawl. She's a Dachshund/Pomeranian mix.

Momma doesn't want to nurse anymore and has to be coaxed to nurse.
I wonder if he'll like being a big brother. He's doing so well in beginning doggy class. He should graduate on Tuesday.
Jessica got me a late Valentine's present--chocolate covered strawberries! I'll take another picture after I unwrap it. Rick got me roses and the four Murder She Wrote Movies on DVD.

We decided to go ahead and celebrate Jasmine's birthday today for a couple of reasons. First, she'll get presents at her party tomorrow and coming home and getting more won't be that much of a novelty. And secondly, Adam and Jessica work so they'd miss it.

We are doing a really cool party at Wonder Works because it's been a while since Jasmine has had a party. Usually we go somewhere because it's a long weekend, but she attends the only school in town that has school Monday. So she's my only one who has to get up and go to school Monday.

There are three birthdays in a row this week--our niece Courtney (Rick's sister's daughter) on the 16th, Rick's mom on the 17th (Happy birthday!) and Jasmine's on the 18th.

I'll post pictures over the weekend, but I'll leave you with this one of the cream filled cupcakes Jessica made for Jasmine.

Cupcakes

Jasmine's birthday is Saturday. She took cupcakes to school today because her teacher is going to be at training tomorrow. Instead of buying them (actually I usually buy Walmart frosted sugar cookies), we made them and then sent a ton of candy for the kids to top them with.

We made red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and yellow with chocolate frosting.

The kids are going to love, maybe not the teacher so much....

No More Kindness!

Our two weeks are over! Just kidding--mostly. Our two weeks of kindness are over, but hopefully our kindness isn't. We've been up to our elbows in crafts, cookies, taco soup and so on. We didn't get all our projects done, and of course we can to them at other times of the year. Here is one last project we did--crosses made from nails. The cross Jasmine is wearing used 1" and 2" nails. That makes a pretty big cross. The one she made for Mrs. Ginger (pictured) and her school teacher used 1 1/4" and 3/4" nails.

Jasmine shared her stomach virus with me and the last 24 hours haven't been pretty, but I think I'll be back to normal tomorrow.

Today is Jessica's half birthday. And Valentine's Day. Instead of buying chocolate and candy, I bought everyone subs from Subway because all their foot longs are $5 this month. I don't have any pictures though. And Rick got Jessica a red velvet roll for her half birthday, but she had to leave for puppy school and her pre calculus night class before she got any. But it's waiting for her. Or rather, what's left is waiting for her.

Hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day.

Yesterday's Race

Yesterday was the Mardi Gras 5k and one mile run. Last year Jeff won the 5K, but he's in the army now. No one from our family ran the 5K, but Kaleb and Jasmine ran the one mile. They are in the front 3 and 4 over from the orange cone.

And they're off!

Jasmine is in the white shirt. The girl looking back beat her for first place.

Jasmine came in at 9.28 and was second in her age group. That's a bit faster than the church one mile run a few weeks ago.

Kaleb came in at 11.09 for second place. If he hadn't stop to dance and swing his coat around when he was almost to the finish line he would have been first. But still good.

They just got Mardi Gras beads for the prizes for the one-mile.

My winners.

The camera shut off on the video of Kaleb crossing the line! And my cannon isn't working now either. Do you suppose the cameras know we are leaving on a cruise in three weeks!

More Acts of Kindness and Other Stuff

We are continuing to do something nice for someone every day until Valentine's Day Third day of taco soup. We made it for Rick's office, Jasmine's teachers and the twins' teachers.

Jessica took these cookies to Explorer's last night, and the twins and Jasmine took them to school today for the office ladies and whichever special area teacher they had today.

Last night the Secret Keeper Girls team were in town. This is Jasmine with her school teacher. She is blessed with a Christian teacher this year.

Trying on a Secret Keeper's shirt.

Jasmine and Mrs. Ginger, our children's minister.

We took over the men's restroom too : ) Pink, white and purple balloons? You just can't disguise a urinal.

Okay, I just can't end on that photo. So I'll add one more.

My little Jazzy is becoming quite the tomboy. I got her these boy's Shaq's for $15. She's not a pink person and she now chooses black pants for church over dresses. She adorable in dresses but if she'd prefer the pants, that's fine too. I hated dresses growing up and I had to wear them to school and every church service. It was freezing cold waiting for the school doors to open in the winter and we were all out there in dresses and panty hose. And I really hated wearing a dress to go to our neighbor's church on Wednesday nights when they had games and stuff and all the other girls were in jeans. As long as my girls are appropriate, I don't try to make them be someone or something they are not.

Tomorrow Jasmine and Kaleb are running in a one-mile run. Jessica marches in the second Mardi Gras parade, and Adam has Saturday school. He has to go the eight Saturdays leading up to the reading FCAT because he has failed it at least twice so far. It's not that he is not capable. I am pretty sure that with having to do this, he will make an effort to pass it.

So what are all of you doing this weekend?