Birthday Recap and Picture Overload

Since we went to Disneyland over Spring Break, Mr. ESPN and I decided we would not be throwing a birthday party for the girls - that was their party.  But somehow Chatty seemed to get a whole weekend of celebrating.  I'm still trying to figure out how she accomplished that.

The festivities started on Saturday.  Chatty requested ribs for dinner.  So her lovely servants (aka Mom and Dad) got busy and grilled some ribs and made some cupcakes.  It wouldn't have been a celebration if our favorite neighbors weren't there ...

Chatty and JR

After dinner Chatty requested to go to Dave and Buster's.  If you don't know what Dave and Buster's is, think over sized arcade with a bar in the middle.  It was loud and expensive (both the games and the adult beverages), but the kids seemed to have fun when they weren't fighting over who got to play what.

Air Hockey Ace

The parents aka Chatty and Bia's servants 

Chatty took this picture

Bia loving the air hockey

Chatty surfing

The next morning we headed to church with cupcakes in tow.  Because what's Sunday school without cupcakes right?  Afterwards we met Nana and Poppa at our favorite pizza place (yes this is a birthday tradition at our house) for lunch and birthday pizzookie.

Birthday Girl

Birthday Girl with Nana and Poppa

So was it over yet?  No - now time for her actual birthday ... Monday.  Here she is bed head and all opening up a few small presents.  She received an I-Pod Touch from Nana and Poppa, Grandma and Grandpa and Mr. ESPN and me (we gave it to her on Sunday at lunch with Nana and Poppa).  She is obsessed with it!  Kind of like Mr. ESPN and his I-Phone!

Lovely hair girlfriend

Dress from Grandma

Are you all tired yet?  I was - I volunteered in Chatty's class and stayed for lunch and took cookies in for a treat.  After school I took the girls to the pediatrician for their well checks and Port of Subs for dinner (Chatty's  choice).  Monday night our favorite neighbors came back over for Peeps birthday cake. 

Easiest Cake Ever

Make a Wish

My little peep eating a peep!

Remember how I said in my last post I hadn't eaten sugar in the past week or so ... didn't even lick my fingers when I made the cupcakes or cake ... well I couldn't help it I had to have a small piece (and it was oh so good - moist yellow cake and homemade chocolate butter cream frosting)!  Now I feel like I am starting all over!  Good thing birthdays are done in our house for awhile, now if I can get my kids and Mr. ESPN to finish off all of the leftovers I will be good!

Hello Friday ...

Oh how I have missed you.  It has been another long week here in the ESPN house.  Here's a recap ...

• Chatty lost her library book again - this is her second one this year.  She has been informed she will be paying for it with her own money if she doesn't find it at school today.
• Bia is a HOT MESS .. extremely demanding and so adorable all at the same time.  Lord help me!
• I mailed a soccer refund check to the wrong address (Yeah Dumb Me!).  I went over to the house I accidentally mailed it to, to try and explain (I even took Bia so I would look more legit) but they weren't home.  I guess I will try going over tomorrow.
• I haven't had any sweets in over a week ... but I have inhaled mass quantities of almonds and spinach salads!  They're not nearly as good but the scale has been much friendlier.
• Co-irker as my co-worker aptly named Clipper Guy got his clippers unglued when I was in NJ the other week.  So when I got back in town last week I threw them in the garbage (in the women's restroom).  On Tuesday he was rummaging - actually it was more like a dog rooting through his drawer looking for them.  So far he hasn't brought another pair in but if he does they are heading straight for the trash.
• Chatty turns 7 on Monday ... every day she gets up and tells me "Mom my birthday is in (insert number) days!"  And I respond "Really?" Some day when she has kids she will realize it is very hard to forget the day they were born ... that and it was the final round of the Master's.  Chatty was sweet enough to stall her arrival until after the Master's ended that Easter Sunday so Mr. ESPN wouldn't have to turn the television off too early!
• Speaking of which Mr. ESPN will be watching the Master's this weekend in between family birthday celebrations.
• Bia snuck silly bands into school yesterday and when Mr. ESPN confiscated them she had a royal fit!
• Chatty lied to me about syrup on her shorts.  She has this habit of ordering breakfast at school, which Mr. ESPN has instructed her not to do (he can see it on her online account) because she eats breakfast at home, takes an early morning snack with her, plus she has a snack in class during the late morning.  So the other day I noticed she had syrup on her shorts (and she had eaten her breakfast at home in her PJ's) and she lied about how it got there ...
• So right now we have a petite thief with a tendency for tantrums and a liar who likes to talk back in our house.  Is that why they invented wine? 
• I am thinking of making this cake for Chatty's birthday.  I think it is super cute.

Courtesy of http://www.tasteofhome.com/

OK - that's about it.  Next week I'll post birthday pics ... have a good weekend!

It's Not Christmas Yet

I know everyone says it is the Christmas season but to me it doesn't officially begin until December 1 (however with that being said I already decorated my house) ... because today is my birthday!  I had grand plans to write a nostalgic post about turning 36, but no one wants to hear that crap - plus who has time? 

Seriously I have never seen my phone buzz so much - between texts, phone calls, e-mails and facebook messages.  Thanks to all of you who sent me one!  I really appreciate the love!  But one question for you .. don't you think it's weird when random people from high school or college send you HAPPY BIRTHDAY notes on Facebook?  I think it is a bit odd, especially from those people who I barely talked to in high school and are friends with on Facebook but never correspond with.  Maybe it's me but it's a bit weird!  It does make me look super popular though!

Mr. ESPN wanted to make me cake balls for my birthday with the assistance of his two little sous chefs.  We discussed it briefly and I told him (very nicely) that cake balls were a little advanced for the three of them and suggested the box of funfetti cake mix and frosting in the pantry.  I could sense the relief in his voice.  Anyway Mr. ESPN and the little sous chefs made 19 funfetti cupcakes (which I iced b/c well Mr. ESPN isn't so good at that part).  Yes the box makes 24 - I am not sure what happened!  In addition to that lovely dessert, my buddy the Kingston Queen made this for me (from my post last week):


(although her white chocolate snowflake broke!).  Can't wait to dig in - she is an awesome baker!

OK - I better get back to work because unfortunately I can't slack all day, even if it is my birthday!!  Enjoy the last day of November!!

Look Who's 6

Six years ago (yesterday - yeah I am that kind of mom - a day late and a dollar short - but better late than never) I became a mom. It was Easter Sunday and two and half weeks before my due date when Chatty decided to make her arrival. We were watching the Master's on the television at the hospital and Chatty made her dad happy by waiting to make her debut until after Phil Mickelson holed out on the 18th to win his first major (yes every milestone in our lives seems to have a sports tie in; Mark McGwire broke the homerun record they day we got married - it's fate I tell you)! Although she tries my patience on a regular basis she is a loving, independent, stubborn, talkative girl and I wouldn't want her any other way! Chatty your dad and I love you more than anything!

2 Days Old

Baptism 1.5 mths Old

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

(a little blurry-my first attempt at cake decorating)

4th Birthday

(the kids decorated their own cupcakes)

5th Birthday Picture

(didn't have any good ones from the actual day)

6th Birthday

(please disregard the fact that my pentagons aren't all the same size)

3rd/6th Birthday Party Pics coming up this week!

Hey Good Lookin' What you Got Cookin?

It should say What you Got Bakin' - 48 cupcakes, 12 mini cupcakes and a soccer ball cake was bakin' last night.  I also whipped up a double batch of butter cream frosting and tinted it pink and green.  Sounds like an exciting Thursday night at the ESPN household.  And guess what I will be doing tonight?  Frosting all of those bad boys and hopefully not licking too much frosting off my fingertips (sooo fattening!).  As if that wasn't enough excitement for a Thursday evening I mopped the floor and then proceeded to try and find outfits for our family for pictures tomorrow. 

Yes we had the bright idea of doing family pictures tomorrow before the party.  I found stuff for everyone to wear in the family except me - what else is new?  So that means in addition to my frosting duties and grocery shopping this afternoon, I need to find a shirt that is either navy, yellow or green so I look like I belong with the people who live in my house!  Bia told me this morning "No want picture taken" - lovely!  We told her and Chatty that we will stay and take pictures until we get good ones even if it means missing their birthday party (yes we are those kind of parents).  I even told Chatty to start practicing her smile (she has this goofy, constipated looking, fake grin that Mr. ESPN and I hate).  Needless to say I may get a note home from her teacher telling me that she couldn't concentrate in class because she was too busy practicing her smile so she could make it to her own party on time. 

If my children listen as well as they usually do it will be a doozy of a session tomorrow!