Sneak Peek: Birthday Count Down

I can't believe Grace will be 6 in just over two months.

The party planner in me has been dreaming about her 6th birthday party for a few months and now that it's January I feel I can finally start making preparations.  

I was inspired by many gorgeous photos I found on Pintrist. 

Mind you, the photos are just that-inspiration as our budget it not one in which we can copy what they've done but this mama likes to dream.  After I dream for a bit and drool some,  I give my self a reality check and go with what we can afford.  And, then love it just the same.  

Theme: Candy Shoppe

Location: Jazzercise

I would love to do a party at my house, by our house is too small and the weather is too unpredictable up north to do something outback.  So Jazzercise it is.

Unlimited kids can be invited, someone does a Jr. Jazzercise session with all the kids.  All I have to do is set up the party table(s)-Voila.  

Below are some of the photos that I drooled over 

A part of me is slightly jealous and the other part of me is glad to know my girl would be happy with a few balloons, some cake and a lot of hugs and kisses.  But, alas I only have one kiddo and love to plan a party so I take a few notes, figure out our budget, visit the dollar store, get creative and see what I can do.  

But I have to give a shout out to all these incredible mamas and papas!

You are so creative and talented!

  

 AMAZING, right??!!




Now here are some things I will be incorporating into Gracie's party:

Lollipops as part of her candy bar.
The candy bar will be the "goodie bag"...but
the kids get to fill the bags themselves.
I'll just put candy in $ Store flower vases.
To make the vases look a little more fun,
i'll hot glue simple ribbon around each one and adhere a flower or something on it.

Her cup cakes are going to look like candy dots
Johnny Cakes will be making them for us.
Love being able to support a friend/local baker

I fell in love with this shirt.
Our friends, the Turners, are going to try and make one for Grace as her gift!

For Valentines Day we'll be making this.
We will just reuse it as decorations.
Simple: just a $ store picture frame, candy hearts and some hot glue.
Cost: $2

This is another item we'll be making for V-day
FREE!
Paint Color Samples (from Freddies) + a heart hold punch (borrowed)
+ needle and tread = a cute garland.
I'll reuse this at her party as well

Simple, Yummy and Fun.
To my girl who's turning 6.
You make my life sugary sweet.
Love you, Gracie Statema!

Resolution Update

It's been 14 days now and we are on a roll.
It's the first time we have ever stuck to working out, eating healthier and eating almost no sugar on a schedule of sorts and it feels great.

Loren's been running laps around the hospital that's across the street from our house.  He's doing over two miles each go now.  We have been "playing" on the Wii doing yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance games. All fun and all a super work out.  To spice things up we set out today to our local park and set up an Statema Family Obstacle Course.  We spent an hour running, jumping rope, hopping, play soccer & Frisbee.  Our dog even got in on the action. Her doggy friend Perry showed up and wore her out.   The best part about heading to the park and setting this all up was  that it was fun.   We got fresh air, some vit D and a whole lot of exercise in the process.  We've learned we  have to make working out fun for all or we'll never want to do it and would fail at keeping it up.  And, I've learned that I'm a much less grouch person when I get out of the house and get outside to move around a bit.  I feel more like myself when we can do that.

Statema Family Obstacle Course.

Exercising and eating more fruit and veggies has been the easier part for me. The hard part (initially) was the sugar on Sunday's only part.  I don't eat a ton of sugar but I ate enough for it to make a difference.  This past week I really surprised myself.  I found my will power and it was a good find.  At bible study there was food out for our "welcome back" meeting.   90% of which happened to be desserts.  Like the yummy homemade kind.  The kind you never want to turn down.  This was my first attempt at saying no and I succeeded!  I ended up eating a string cheese, some fruit and a sausage link instead. Phew-couldn't believe I conquered the sugar temptation.  It set me up for success the rest of the week when when I had to boldly tell myself NO.  Grace had a little friend over and they made cookies together.  First time I've ever not had raw cookie dough while baking cookies. I must admit I smelt it and almost put it in my mouth but I threw it out instead.  It was empowering.  Then my third and final sugar triumph was when I went to a Norwex Party last night.  My good friend made some yummy goodness, but I stuck to the fruit and veggies and the homemade artichoke dip she made.  Looking forward to some treats on Sunday but to be honest I do not crave them nearly as much as I use to.  The longer I go without it the easier it is to say no and not be phased by it.

One more resolution:
The other thing we are doing this year which I did not write about in my last blog post is that Loren and I are reading the bible, front to back, in one year.  Since I started I have actually, for the 1st time, read the amount I needed to each day.  I'm loving it. Loren has it programed on my phone.  It tells me where I left off and how much I need to read in order to finish in time.  With it being on my phone I can read anywhere and anytime I have a few minutes free.  Sure, it's not the same as flipping through the pages of my actual bible but I am more likely to accomplish my reading goal each day this way.  One of the times I am grateful for modern day technology.

The longer I stick to each of these goals the better I am feeling.
The more refreshed I feel.  The more confident I feel.  The more I feel free.

My word for this year is :RELEASE.  

It's very fitting due to how God has been working in my life the last 12+ months.
The last 12-13 months have been hard. I have had to release a lot of things in my life.  It was painful at times and changes are still being made but I'm releasing more (laying more and more things at the foot of His Throne) and feeling more at peace.  I know through all of this I will be a stronger and more confident person.  And, someone who cares less about what others think and solely what Christ thinks, resting in His truths and not the thoughts of others who don't know my heart.

I could go on as I have more to share but I have a girly girl who would like some undivided attention  and a hubby who just walked in the door who I would love to hang out with too.

Have a great weekend.
Make it count!

2012

Happy 2012!

My oh my where did 2011 go?

I feel like it came and went in the blink of an eye.

I'm not sure if that's because I'm older, because I'm a mom or because so much happened in our lives this past year.  Great things, hard things, challenging things, surprising things, and the like. Either way I am hoping 2012 proves to come and go at a much slower pace. 

Do you have any favorite moments of 2011?

Ours:

Our trip to Florida and Tennessee

Thanksgiving in Spokane with family

Grace: Starting Kindergarten, watching fire works for the first time without having a panic attack, dance performance for Moment's to Remember ....

(there were lots of 1st this year and lots of fears overcome.  It was a spectacular year of achievements for her)...

Loren's career change, becoming the Human Resource Manager at Lowes in Union Gap.

Melissa teaching dance over the summer, doing more photography and starting to work again in the fall

Melissa's dads visit to the Burg.

etc.

This is the first year we have done resolutions.

We have done goals in the past but like most people, never end up sticking to them.

So this year we decided to change things up a bit.  

And, we have such a strong desire this year to make changes that I know through prayer and God's help we can do it.

Loren's Resolutions: 

Get Healthy!

Eat treats only one day a week

Exercise 3 times per week

He's going to lose 20 pounds by July 1st and 40 by January 1st 2013

He signed on with Lowe's "Weigh Smart" program

He's heading up a team of 7+ people at his Lowes and they will all work on becoming healthier as a team, being accountable to one another

Melissa's Goals:

Exercise at least 3 times per week

Double my veggie/fruit in take each day

Eat treats only one day a week

Get more sleep at night

Removing things in my life that cause or have the potential to cause anxiety

Stay on top of the dishes so they don't pile up (we don't have a dish washer)

Spend at least one hour of uninterrupted quality time with Grace each day

And, blog more.  

Grace goals:

Stop interrupting 

Be quieter

Eat treats only 3 times a week 

What are you goals/resolutions?  

A little December 2011 Update:

December 19th we headed for Puyallup to celebrate an early Christmas with Loren's parents.  

It was a really lovely visit. 

Grace and her Grandpa Statema

Harris loving his Nascar Gifts

The Statemas are gardeners so Grace wanted to decorate a pot for them

Grace entertaining Grandma

After our visit with the Statema's we headed to the Turners

G & G  

Oh boy, the silliness that takes place at meals when these two are together
Mine forgets all her manners and all our meal-time rules
They just never want to stop having fun

My amazing friend!!!

A great Puyallup Trip!  Grateful the snow ceased this year and we were able to make it over the mountain pass to celebrate with family and friends. Not photoed is our lunch date with Shannon, Matt and Kai.  It was the most fun I've ever had at Red Robin.  I lost my voice from laughing to much.  It was hard going home.  Grace cried for quite some time.  We really miss our friends in Ptown.  They are irreplaceable.  

Grace T. made Grace S this gorgeous scarf.
She could not wait to open it so we let her open one gift early (hope you don't mind Jennifer) 

Favorite Christmas Moment 2011:

Christmas caroling on December 23rd with all these wonderful people.

A night of Christmas Caroling at Nursing Homes

Brought back memories of when I use to perform with Children Around the World

Walking the halls at the nursing homes singing songs of Praise 

Christmas Eve:

Baking

Baking

Baking......

Then Christmas Eve Service, grilled cheese and soup dinner, and preparations for Santa!

Making Cake Pops

Making Peppermint Bark

cake pops

Putting Reindeer Food out for the Reindeer of course

Cookies for Santa and Carrots for the Reindeer

A Christmas/Birthday card for Jesus

Someone gave us used Zhu Zhu pets.
So put together a letter from King Moonracer (the lion with wings from the Rudolph movie)
asking Grace to care for these toys from the Land of Misfit Toys.
She LOVED it and could not believe the movie is actually real.
 I love imagination 

Gifts for us from many people.
So blessed.

Gifts from Santa for Grace.
She got one Zhu Zhu pet and two things for them to go in.
He also filled her stocking with some socks and hair accessories oh yes and a thing of candy.

Frist thing Christmas morning.
Girlfriend slept in!!!....probably the only kid to ever sleep in on Christmas morning.

The candy from Santa

All the stuff from Santa and King Moonracer....and yes, that is a whoopee cushion 

She was so full of gratitude.

Thanks Tyler

Gifts from Grandpa Guibert amongst which is her new favorite movie: Horton Hears a Who

Grandma got us fun matching songs amongst many other things

So happy that IT'S CHRISTMAS 

Thanks Spokane Statemas

Thanks Dad/Papabear

Grandma got Grace the doll she wanted: A Bitty Baby

Grace so happy she got an Easy Bake Oven

The treats we made for the guards at the Jail

At the Jail in Ellensburg 
Our church encouraged the congregation to go out and do something for someone on Christmas day.  We chose to bring treats to the guards at the jail. We initially wanted to bring them to the inmates but we weren't allowed

Then home for some R&R and a little Disney Christmas  

And, Christmas Dinner, just the three of us.

So, we pretty much stayed in our PJ's Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.  Our first year EVER that we both had all four of those days off.  We loved every minute of it.  Relaxing at home spending quality time together is one of our favorite things to do so we are grateful we got to do just that while reflecting on God's amazing sacrifice for us.  

We hope your 2012 is full of hope and joy.