MONDAY TIPS FOR MAMAS | ABOUT BIRTHDAY TRADITIONS

One of my most prized friends started a blog which is now my new favorite. She is a single mama who has raised three phenomenal young men - I'm sure it helped that she is pretty phenomenal herself. She was having a little chat about birthdays (on her birthday) which prompted me to journal some things I wanted to remember and share about the birthdays I remember growing up and the traditons I've started with my own little family.

It still mortifies amazes me that I get to take care of and grow and usher this little flock of mine. I am so very proud to be a wife and mother to this brood…

But before that I was (and am) my mamas child. And for as long as I can remember there was the Bell Family Happy Birthday song. Especially once we moved off and went to college and such. Before I could open my eyes and get out of bed tos start the day, scrambling to open my eyes and answer the phone - and then hearing everyone's voice on the line (mom, dad, sissy in med school, high school brother) raspy sleepy voices, singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!  And then a rendition of "For he's a jolly good fellow, which I never understood, but sing along and crack up laughing every time…

As tired as I was - I felt super special from the moment I opened my eyes that day.

We didn't have a big party for the munchkin for the first time (she turned six) this year. I figured I'd just do a little something at school with treats and balloons and favors for her classmates. I got a sitter for little h and came to her class and read one of her favorite books to her class...she wore a favorite dress and we had a special "fancy" dinner at her favorite restaurant.

We had an amazing day - celebrating all that she had accomplished and learned and how much she had grown this past year. I made sure to give her extra snuggles and tell her how very proud of the young lady she is becoming...

I wanted to take the time to jot down some of our birthday traditions so I wouldn't forget and hopefully to inspire you to create (or add to) some of your own. 

Morning surprise.

Ever since the munchkins first birthday I've snuck into her bedroom before dawn and filled it with balloons. She almost caught me last year so this time I strung a wall of steamers right outside her door - worked like a charm.

Favorite Breakfast (In Bed).

Chocolate chip waffles for this last birthday. Or warm bubbly oatmeal for h. If you are lucky enough to have your birthday fall on the weekend you get to have your breakfast served in bed.

Balloons/Streamers in the car.

If her birthday falls on a weekday, instead of filling her room with balloons I turned the car into "party bus"!

Sweet Treats.

This year we actually put candles in a chocolate glazed donut - her current favorite. For Lover I made a double chocolate cake (I'm still working off the pounds from helping him demolish that one)... 

Every year we still wake up to a birthday song (from grandma, granddaddy, auntie Michelle and Uncle Alvin, mommy and daddy - little h or big sissy).

What I realized over these years is it doesn't take a million bucks to make someone feel like a million bucks on their special day. You'll be surprised how far a pack of balloons, a roll of streamers and a batch of cupcakes will get you.

P.S. This year I filled the hubby's car with balloons while he was asleep. The look on his face when he got in for his drive to work was priceless..

P.S.S. Did I mention that my two year old wouldn't touch a piece of cake (or any other sweet treat) with a ten foot pole. Doesn't like anything sweet, except for my homemade oatmeal, which consequently tastes just like birthday cake??:-) but that's another story for another day…

What special traditions did you grow up having or do you have now? I'm nosy like that:-)

xxB
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{HELLO OCTOBER} THE GEORGIA STATE FAIR!!

Hello October!! Woot Woot!
We almost missed this (as the next day was the last), but so glad we were able to make it to the Fair this year!! Its the first time I've been since we moved to Atlanta 10 years ago. I used to go every year as a kid (and teenager) in Florida. It always came around Halloween so we'd go at night and it was so Magical (and spooky!)!! Please forgive the photo overload, but it was such a beautiful day. LOOK AT THAT SKY!! The weather was perfect - so we headed out right after munchkins ballet practice.

What a perfect way to kick off Fall!!

It was game day, so H made us get dressed in our best lucky colors - Go Irish!!

In hindsight, I realized that I didnt even get on any rides myself! Too busy wrangling these folks. I was too afraid to put little h on any rides. He's such a wiggle worm, and I thought he might abandon ship. No I'm sure he would. So I held him on the carousel (with the jaws of life) and around we went! We met up with some good friends so Andie had a partner (in crime) for the festivities. I must admit, I had alterior motives for wanting to take the kiddos this year. And I totally scored! Gah!! This is my problem. Total sugar addict. No really, I think I need some therapy or hypnosis or something. I found an old oreo at the bottom of my purse yesterday and I ate it. It was in a ziplock?!!

But I digress..

I hope you have all sorts of fun planned for the holidays. I think we are heading out to the pumpkin patch next weekend. I'm itching to get my fall porch ready and set.

xx,
Bunnie

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Oh, the Places You'll Go!! {Family Traditions}

Happy Monday!

So summer is officially here (not technically) and THIS ONE is off to Kindergarten in the Fall. She's ready. IM NOT. I know its cliche' but I just cant believe my little girl is growing up so fast.  I know she's only 4 (and three quarters) but such little lady. She uses words like "properly" and "apparently"  and "appropriate"(wonder where she gets that from).  And she amazes me every day.  Like all mothers, I know she can and will be exceedingly and abundantly more than she can even think or ask (Ephesians 3:20), right now thats an astronaut and a principal ballerina in a major dance company - my words not hers... I've been forcing her to watch youtube videos of Swan Lake.

Unfortunately, I've already started to try and live vicariously through her. I mean, I really had to restrain myself from wearing a leotard to her ballet recital (in case one of the little ballerinas got hurt). I  smother  shower her with so much love and attention Im sure its almost hard for her to breathe. She will appreciate that someday right?

PHOTO
I got her this book as a little "graduation" from preschool gift.  DR SUESS ROCKS RIGHT?! I asked her teachers if they would write a little note inside for her. I plan to secretly do this every year and present it to her as a gift for graduation from high school. I will try my hardest not to read it. I'm pretty nosy so It will take an act of God. Good thing he and I are pals:-)

SPEAKING OF GOD
And so CAMP MOM begins. I decided not to put them in any summer camps this time so that I could have them all to myself. This last week was a bit rough. WONKY SCHEDULES, FRANTIC TRIPS TO THE PLAYGROUND, AND ME DRIVING AROUND FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF GETTING LITTLE H TO FALL ASLEEP. Ended with me all dressed up outside a very nice restaurant with the husband in tears (me not him) questioning wether he LIKED ME AND THE CHILDREN.

Keep him in your prayers:-)

How did you guys celebrate the end of the school year? Any big plans for the summer? Any ideas?

xx,
Bunnie