Mac's 2nd Birthday Party!

Mac had his fishie themed birthday party on December 3rd. It was a great sucess minus the sweet tea tragedy as guests were arriving!! Basically the bottom part of the drink dispenser separated from the rest of the dispenser and sweet tea went everywhere, including into my shoes! We wiped it up as quickly as possible but it made for a sticky floor! At least it happened at the beginning and the rest of the party was perfect and I don't think people cared that there was no tea.. ha!



Once all the guests arrived we sat the kids around some kiddie tables to eat. The blue table was Mac's birthday present from Jimmy and me. The kids did great at the tables!





I served the kids fish shaped sandwiches, goldfish crackers, strawberries (which they devoured!), apple slices and apple juice. I was really happy with my kiddie menu and the kids seemed to enjoy it so yay me! haha



The adult food table consisted of spinach dip in a sourdough bread bowl with bread and veggies for dipping, jalapeno dip and chips, sandwich wraps, sausage balls and of course goldfish crackers.






After the kids were done eating and the adults were still snacking I had each guest take a moment in the "photo booth" area. It was a lot of fun!












After the photo booth pictures were taken I had the kids go fishing! They threw the line over the half wall of the dining room and caught themselves a little fish!








When the pond was all fished out we brought in the balloons! These kids went crazy! One package of balloons cost $1.99. Best $1.99 I've ever spent! Jimmy blew them up that morning and it was worth it. They loved chasing them all over the living room and running around to get more.





Once the balloon craze was over Mac opened his gifts. He got so many awesome toys! He is into Sponge Bob Square Pants aka Bob Bob and cars and trucks right now. His addiction was certainly fueled by all the gifts! :)











And of course you always follow up gifts with cake! or cupcakes in this instance! I ordered the cupcakes from HEB and they do not skimp on the food coloring! No way anybody was going to sneak a cupcake without everyone knowing...








It was a great time. I know I enjoyed myself and was exhausted after everyone left. I was sooo happy that my Mom came down to help me out with decorating and just to be at Mac's party! He loves his Nana so I am know he was excited about getting to see her for the weekend! I know I was!!

Here are some more pictures of the decorations and party goers...

Peas In A Pod

(Pictures taken Nov 5, 2011)

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving 2011 was great! We had a really fun weekend at my parents house and enjoyed visiting with the family! And I guess we were having such a great time that we didn't bother to pick up a camera! We have NO pictures :( Just memories...

We loaded up the car and headed to MtP early Wednesday. I helped Mom get things ready for the next day since the family comes to our house for the big Thanksgiving Day meal! Thursday we set up everything and tried to watch some of the parade while doing so but it was a little hard and Mac wasn't that interested in the parade. People started arriving around noon and I think we ate close to 1pm.

The food was fantastic as usual. My family can cook a meal. We ate and ate and then I ate some more! I was miserable!! I even had to change into my pj pants before everyone left because I just couldn't stand to be in my blue jeans any longer! I think the last people left around or just after 5pm. It's always nice to just sit around the table and chat with your family. Especially for me since we live five hours away.

Later Thanksgiving night UT played their last (most likely) Thanksgiving Day game against A&M. I was so tired from all the eating plus the game didn't start until 7pm so I barely made it through the first quater, slept through the 2nd/halftime/most of the 3rd but then it got scary! We almost lost! We pulled out the win and a near heart attack! Whew...

Saturday was my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary and boy did we surprise the socks off of them! Randall and I had arranged a small family surprise party at El Chico for them. We told them that we, along with our significant others, wanted to take them out to eat as an anniversary gift. We walked them into a room full of family! I was surprised that my Dad didn't bolt but he was a trooper!



We also had a 70's style cake made in their wedding colors.




Oh yeah we made them cut the cake together...


We had a lot of fun and my Mother LOVED it. I think my Dad had a little fun but would never admit it!


Sunday morning we hit the road super early to try and beat traffic. We got back to Austin around noonish and had the rest of the day to sit and rest from our holiday trip!

Mac's NYE

He played with some bubble wrap...



And took a nap.
Going...

Going...

Gone.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a very safe and happy New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! We certainly did. We didn't leave the house on NYE and were in bed by 9:30, just after Jaws on cable came to an end. We just didn't have it in us to stay up and watch Jaws2 or the ball drop (nor did we care). But hey we are usually in bed by 9pm so we gave up a whole 30 minutes of beauty sleep to see the end of the movie (that we have seen a billion times)!

I did make cabbage and black eyed peas for New Year's Day. It was my fist attempt at cabbage and it turned out great!
BEFORE:

AFTER: I did over pepper it but it was still really good.

The black eyed peas were from a can and while edible we will never again have canned peas. I will make them in the crock pot from now on.
We also enjoyed sausage balls and queso!!

I think we just might have a new Clanin tradition on our hands!


I don't do resolutions. Resolutions just seem temporary to me and there is never much stock in having a successful resolution. Change, however, is a commitment. I like this much better. It's something you can work on and be held accountable for so here are some changes that I want to make in this New Year of 2012:

- Change the eating habits of my household (certainly including myself).
- Pray everyday during my morning commute to work.
- Be more patient.
- Take steps to better our financial situation.

Wish me luck and good luck to you on your resolutions or changes or solemn vows/proclaimations!

Also, before I go. Here are a of couple post subjects that you will see very soon in an effort to catch up my blog while at the same time keeping current!!

-Thanksgiving
-Mac's Birthday
-Christmas!
-Random pictures that never made it to the blog...

I have tried lately to pick up the camera more so that I will have pictures to blog about and now that Mac is talking more I'm sure there will be blog worthy statements as well...