Archive for May, 2010

• Great Husbands, Great Ideas

  Date: 2010.05.26 | Category: MFM, Recipe, Twins, garden, personal | Response: 1

  Great Husbands. Great Ideas.

  No, I’m not being sarcastic.  At least not now.

  Several months ago, we started planning the 5th birthday party for the twins.  Rob had the idea of doing a “Garden” Themed birthday party.  I had heard of another neighbor doing this party, and thought it would be an ok idea.  But as Rob elaborated on his plans, I began to stiffen, balk, and inwardly rebel.  I did not want to follow his plan. I was thinking, “oh, great…”

  You see, I was afraid.  I was afraid of how it would turn out, of what the children would think, of how we’d manage the grandiose idea, and of what the neighbors would think.  However, I’ve walked with the Lord long enough to know that when a wife submits to her husband both are blessed.

  My idea of a party was to provide continuous entertainment with all the guests bringing toys or other presents.  Rob’s idea seemed completely revolutionary. We talked through both our ideas, and came up with a plan.

  The day of the party, 12 children poured into our backyard. The decorations were a few balloons and a banner leftover from another party.  We started off with face painting.
  

  Each child decorated a pot and planted their own snapdragon flower to take home and “baby.”  We had bought most of the pots on clearance at the end of last season and saved some containers from others. The leftover plants were planted in our front flower bed after the party.

  

  The girls and I made a poster board sized flower for “pin the butterfly on the flower” game.  

  The girls and I transformed a yellow bundt cake into a caterpillar.  It was very simple and fun to do.

  I  served bug shaped macaroni and cheese and pink lemonade.  At the end everyone took a turn squishing their feet in the mud. We’d planned on planting the seeds, but it had rained. Squishing in mud was much more fun.

  

  We had other games planned but we ran out of time. Once again Rob and I collaborated and I listened and  every child was totally thrilled.  It was probably the best party we’ve ever done.

  We plan on sharing the produce of the garden with those who came to our party come harvest time! Thanks, Nina, for being the party photographer!

• Progress

  Date: 2010.05.21 | Category: personal | Response: 0

  I just checked in on myself. I was wondering how I was doing with my New Year’s resolutions which I wrote in a post Dec 30. 2009.

  So far, I can see that about 50% of the goals have been met. Another 25% have been re-prioritized. Some will never happen. Some will just be put on hold for later, like next year. Some have fallen under “corporate restructuring” and thus have been eliminated.

  An example of restructuring:  I wanted a new kitchen floor and new living room furniture.  Yet I wanted to pay off a loan as well.  We chose to pay off the loan with this year’s tax refund and postpone the home improvement expenses till next year’s refund.

  I know I haven’t posted much since Spring began to show itself. I have 3 April posts which ended up as “drafts”. Perhaps my goal for June is to revise and post these drafts.