Last week my kiddos were gone for FOUR days.

Yep, no kiddos here.

I had training to attend for those days and so my Sista took on the kids. Did you know my Sista has 6 of her own yet she didn't hesitate in OFFERING to watch mine too. Amazing huh? (you may have read my blog a while back about how wonderful my Sis is to me).

If you know me IRL and know my Sis, you'll know that our living environments/locations are EXTREMELY different. We're the city group and they're the country folk. As my kids have grown I have learned how wonderful it would be to live in the country, or at least with a lot of land.
(i'll be honest here and say that my ideal situation would be about 5 acres, complete with a natural flowing water source (yet no poisonous snakes), not farther than 10 miles from a big city. I certainly like my Super Target, Super HEB, all restaurants, Old Navy, Kohls, movie theater, ETC, ETC...all within 8 miles of our home :0)

My son is very much an outdoor kinda' kid. He loves collecting bugs and animals, playing in mud, and just exploring outside.

Not much to do for that around our house.

We've made do with what we have but when given the opportunity, we love being able to truly explore. Caleb RELISHES it. I love it too, especially watching how happy it makes him. Georgia...well....ya know how kids can be born like their parents? Caleb = me. Georgia = my hubby. She'd rather not get real dirty, doesn't like to play in water (even clean sources such as pools), and after being outside for too long she'll ask to go play computer. nice.
Anyway....this past week was wonderful for BOTH kids. Georgia got to have tea parties with her cousin (even one at 6:00 AM.....btw, if you know us irl~you know that sort of thing would NEVER happen in our house) and Caleb got to do his two favorite things: explore outdoors AND play the Wii.

Ok...I'm gonna stop "talking" now because I really only intended to post this:
the whole story
it says it all AND has photos too!

My Sis really is the greatest!
:0)

Ok, not a huge post yet, but I'll get there. I was just blogging and surfing and noticed the time. It's my FAVORITE time of the day/night. The actual time. It happens twice a day.

12:34

I just love it.
don't you?

do you have a favorite time?
if so..when is it?
:0)
(my husband has always grinned at this little quirk of mine)

Maybe Sis needs some help deciding what to post so... go ahead and vote on the poll. Let's get this girl rollin'!! (I'm sure she's going to change her password soon. Ü hee! hee!)

Love,
Cajun Gal's Sister

Hi, there! This is Robin's sister, Grateful for Grace (That is not my real name, in case you were wondering. My mom and dad picked a very nice name and then proceeded to call me something else for the rest of my life. But that's a 'nuther story.) .I am here because my sister has not posted in waaaaaaaaaaaay too long, so I am doing it for her.

Here's what she's been up to:
Curriculum training for her upcoming new job as a preschool teacher.
Enjoying a late night date with her husband: dinner at Hu-Hot and "The Dark Knight".
Spending time alone reading 2 good books.
Enjoying hearing about her son and daughter spending time with their cousins- away from home!
Basking in the silence.

I am hoping this will prompt her to post. I love reading her blog. Don't you?

So much has gone on since the party, it's taken me this long to finally post about it! It was a lot of fun!

It was a stretch for me in that I am trying hard to beat the pressure of parties.

You know what I mean...

the BIGGER BETTER (more expensive) birthday parties?

Kids (parents) try to outdo one another when it comes to birthday parties and it can get out of hand (imo).
More elaborate decorations.
Huge entertainment expenses.
Lots of food...most even doing meals these days.
LOTS of time. Heck, some parties I've been to lately are an all day event!
and the one that rubs me the most..the "goody bags" or downright gift for the attendees.

So...I try to NOT do all of that.
I've been successful a few times in all categories.
I like to do streamers, balloons, and homemade (computer made) decorations.
I like to do mommy-made games/activities that correspond to the theme.
For food...it's cake and ice cream only.
I would love for guests to be in AND out in no more than 2.5 hours.
I do NOT do goody bags.

This year Caleb's party had a great theme...BUGS.
It was one that I could do and stick to my low key/high fun ideas.
Here's the thing though.... Caleb had met "The Bug Man".
He was a guy out of a nearby zoo that came to Caleb's preschool this past spring. He brought animals and BUGS for all of the kids to see. Caleb was the one that got to hold the hissing cockroach.

Caleb LOOOOOVED it.
He talked about it FOREVER.
SO....I looked into having the guy come for Caleb's birthday party.

Yes, I did.

When Caleb's "Nana" and his "PapaLou" asked what Caleb wanted for his upcoming birthday gifts I let them know about The Bug Man. Instead of more toys that Caleb wouldn't need, especially toys that they would spend a lot of money on, I asked if they wanted to each put the money instead to the cost of The Bug Man.

They did.
We booked him.

So much for my low-key parties.

Now...I didn't go nuts. As far as the other criteria..it was all still met except I didn't have to plan/make/create ANY other activity/game for entertainment.
The Bug Man was it.
Less decorations too.
I LOOOVED the cake we got (I designed and talked to a wonderful lady at the Wal-Mart bakery... she did it all and way better than I had even dreamed of!) and still no other food except ice cream.
No goody bags.
Time frame still met.

It was fabulous.
There was: a hissing cockroach, big walking sticks, tropical cockroaches that get 6 inches long, a kotamundi/coatimundi, a baby kangaroo, a blue-tongued skink, a huge porcupine, and 2 gorgeous and large snakes. .. I think that's it.
The kids AND adults all really seemed to enjoy it. I've never seen anything that truly captivated all ages.

So...here are photos from our "low key", traditional, birthday party.
;0)




Caleb also got to read his
Bug book to everyone at the party.
He was SO excited to
get to do this and it was
our way of getting everyone
seated and diverted
while The Bug Man
set up. :0)






this was as close as Georgia wanted
to get to all of the critters.
She was NOT interested!


(he really was a lot happier than he looks here!)

(the photo directly aboves shows our new pet Moses...yes, he's a praying mantis. He's actually a lot of fun and Caleb LOOOVES him!....((birthday gift from cousins/Auntie)) So far he's doing well!)