Gifts

I just turned 46 (thought I was gonna be 47 this year, but apparently I got ahead of myself!) My idea of the perfect gift has changed through the years and this year was amazing!

Here's a list of my favorite presents:
1. Girlie-whirl made the whole family out of popsicle sticks, new grandbaby, unofficially adopted daughter, and future daughter-in-law included! Don't ya love seven year olds?

2. Banana-girl made a box band. The thing hanging from the ceiling flashes psychedelic colors when it's turned on. I wish you could see the keyboard. For pipe cleaners, it's impressive! So fun!

3. Although he didn't want to go, and slightly injured himself in the process, my 15 year old son was pumped at the end of our run. We're racing together this summer and that kind of determination is a gift!

4. My son and daughter-in-law sent me this picture of my stunningly beautiful grandbaby! How cute is THAT?!

5. I got phone calls from my kids who are far away. Hearing their voices makes me happy!

6. And last, but not least, Hubders wrote me a poem! I LOVE it when he does that! His poems are few and far between, but they're sweet and sappy and hilarious. Nothin' better!

What are your favorite gifts?

Hogwarts Party!

Although we celebrate birthdays with a family party every year, my children don't get friend birthday parties yearly. They only get them on "big" birthdays -- when they turn five, eight, twelve, and sixteen.

Banana-girl is nuts about Harry Potter (okay, to be truthful, the whole family are huge fans -- especially of the books), and so decided she wanted a Harry Potter Party for her twelfth birthday. We made BIG plans, and sent out cool invitations that looked like a letter from Hogwarts addressed to their specific bedrooms (owl feathers and everything) but then life got in the way and most of the plans had to go by the wayside as we threw the party together in the last three days before the event.

Two days before the party, I found this link and simply HAD to make wands. I made ten. It took me most of the day and I was sick of them before I was through, but very happy with the results! Who would guess that they're made of paper and glue! I bought some hot glue sticks and paint, but literally only spent about $10 dollars on the lot! The friends got to choose a wand (a party favor) as they came to the party -- via platform 9 3/4 (the porch). Below is a picture of all ten and a close-up shot of the one Banana-girl chose. (it's ticking me off that the pictures are flipping sidways when I upload them, but I can't seem to do anything about it, so sideways they shall be. Sorry, no pictures of the actual party -- I never think to pull out the camera during events!)

We played games, laughed a lot, ate too much (there was butterbeer and treacle fudge, but the rest was muggle food), stenciled shirts, and generally had a great time!

Here's a picture of the party favors, minus the wands (fizzing skittles really do fizz!)

Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom!