Party ON!!

I've recently received all kinds of special goodies in the mail from dear blogging friends. I haven't had a chance to photograph everything yet, but I will.

For now, I'll leave you with a picture of a sweet birthday apron from Renee "My Vintage Mending".

Blogging friends are definitely the most generous kind of friends. We're deep into birthday celebrations this weekend with Emma's slumber party. I agreed to 12 teens spending the night.  Yikes!  As you can imagine, Josie can't wait to visit with all the "big" girls.  It's nonstop parties around here. My birthday is next week, then we celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, and then Josie's 6th birthday! 


  This was an impromptu birthday song from Josie to Emma. Yes.  I ended up crying a bit.

PARTY ON!  

Happy Birthday, Emma!

Happy birthday, our beautiful fourteen year old.


You are passionate, spunky and personality plus.

You have shown us that life passes so quickly.  How is it possible that you are starting high school next year? Your little sister, father, and I love you more than you can possibly imagine.  We wish you a beautiful birthday (and fabulous slumber party later this weekend).  We love you with all our hearts.

Playing with tissue paper...

Crafting with tissue paper has been around forever (even before Martha had a blog and started making flower and pom pom kits now widely available at all sorts of craft stores).  You can find Martha's tutorial for flower pom poms here.  I also did a tissue paper flower tutorial in 2009 back on this post. 

These tissue paper flowers are hanging up in my craft room  along with my paper lantern and Chinese checker collection.

A few years ago, when Josie had a rainbow-themed birthday, I used tissue pom poms as clouds.
My mom and I also used tissue paper flowers and large pinwheels as birthday garland.  I loved the garland so much that it's still hanging up in Josie's room. 

You can find the tutorial for making pinwheels here on my blog.


Even our kitten Luna enjoys playing with tissue paper. I decided that mini tissue flowers attached to napkins/ silverware would provide a little glam to Emma's dinner/slumber party.

 

To make a carnation type flower petal, I used pinking shears to trim the edges of the folded paper. 

Good pinking shears have been one of the best gifts I've ever received (thanks, Mom).

The birthday slumber party countdown continues.

The birthday tree...

As you all know, the sunroom tree is a permanent year-round fixture in our house.  A family tradition has been to decorate it for approaching holidays (and some made-up holidays) as well as birthday party themes. To honor Emma's request for a more sophisticated feminine birthday party,  I dug through my stash of silk flowers, tulle and vintage paper lanterns.

It's been given the "official" Emma stamp-of-approval.  I'm not done with party decorations.  I've got a few more ideas swirling around in my busy head. 

Soo much fun...

On Friday, we traveled over the Mackinac bridge and into the upper peninsula to Lake Superior State University in Sault St. Marie, MI.

Not a short journey (at times it felt ALL of the 5 hours) but the girls entertained themselves. 

While I was teaching Friday night, Chris took the girls downtown to explore. 

Don't you just love this motel sign?

After my work obligations were done on Saturday, we took the girls to the Soo Locks to watch the freighters pass through.

Watching the locks in action is truly amazing.

We were able to watch a Canadian freighter go through from an upper viewing deck.  Yes.  I did climb stairs to get to the upper deck.  I behaved the rest of the weekend though.


 We were so close, we could hear their "salty"conversations. 

We then ventured back over the Mackinac bridge towards Traverse city.

We spent Saturday evening on Traverse bay enjoying our first official beach experience of the season.




We live in such a beautiful state.

It was a lovely mother's day weekend.  A little bit of work.  A little bit of play. This upcoming week is going to be crazy with my work, attempting to get to Emma's three soccer games, and preparing for Emma's birthday sleep-over with 12 teenagers.  Home sweet home!