HaPpY 3rd BiRtHdAy BeLLe!!

My Belle is 3 years old as of November 9, 2011! I was so excited for her birthday. But not as excited as Belle. She has been talking about her birthday since the beginning of October! The morning of her birthday she came down to her party table! She loves Balloons so we had to make sure there was a lot. She picked her breakfast... Lucky Charms and she opened her card form Grandma and Grandpa Jones... She was freaking out that they gave her 3 dollars! What a surprise!!!

Then Thalia came over for the day and we started to get ready for her firend birthday party. They helped me clean the house and vaccum... they just ran around screaming and I cleaned! So we got the house spotless and I made 48 mini cupcakes for Belle's cupcake fondue party! I got everything ready for everyone to come over (in 30 mins) and I told the kids I was going to run upstairs and get dressed real quick and sit and watch a show. I made sure to stuff the 48 cupcakes way back on the counter so no one would get them. I ran upstairs and maybe 3 minutes later Cash comes upstairs with crumbs everywhere on him..... The cupcakes!!! My heart sank I slowly went downstiars..... And there it was cupcakes all over the place. Smashed all in the carpet, all over the kitchen floor, trailed all the way to the couch where Thalia and Belle were chowing down on them! My eyeballs almost popped out of my head. People were coming in 10 minutes and the house was a diaster and the 48 cupcakes turned into 15 mini cupcakes with little bite marks on almost each one. My blood boiled!!!! I looked at them with flames coming out of my ears..."WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING!??!!" I should've not yelled but did! Thalia immediately started bawling! Which then also made Belle bawl! Cash just kept asking "What happened MAMA what Happened!?" As if he didn't know! I was shocked... and said "Well Belle Happy Birthday there is your party... hope it was fun!" She cried harder... Hahaha and I put them both in time out. They were saying sorry over and over.... and I just tried to clean up what I could. Then as I was putting the dishes away I turned on my disposal and SPLAT! it's clogged and water and cupcake crumbs went all over the counters and walls! I almost threw myself into the disposal.... Anyways after I got over MY 3 year old fit... I turned on 50's music decided not to blow my house up and tried to help Belle have a fun birthday instead of a mad mama birthday! Her friends came and we had a lot of fun... Her friends are so nice they were not suppose to bring presents but did and Belle loved them. So thank you all you Moms!! We had cupcakes, decorated them (Belle ate atleast 15... including the ones before the party), they danced, and played in Belle's room... Then it was over!! Maybe when she is older I will last longer than 2 hours!

Then that night we took Belle out to eat... which she picked pancakes! Hahaha Pancakes! So we went to IHOP! She ate her whole pancake, egg, and susage plate and I had a country friend steak and potatoes!! Cash had dairy free french toast and eggs. Monk got eggnog pancakes in honor of the holidays! We had a lot of fun and I was a lot more chill... Belle was so proud that she got to out... We rarely ever do that!

Then we came home and Belle got to open her presents! She opened her bedroom door to a new BIG GIRL bed which I finally gave in a got rid of her crib, a chair and new decorations (I will go into detail on my next post)! I tried so hard on a little budget to make her room cute! I think It turned out good. Belle was so excited she wanted to go to bed right away but she had more presents....

She is so into dress up! So 75% off halloween outfits is the way to go! She got really cute ones and she tried them all on! Cash was not happy he couldn't wear one so I felt bad and put him in one, which was a mistake cause now him and Belle have to wear them all the time!

I am so in love with this little sassy sweetheart! I am the most lucky Mom in the whole wide world to have her! She gives so much flavor to our family! I laugh all the time at her! I put her to bed that night in her Big bed and thought, time is going to fast...She was just a tiny 6 pound baby yesterday and know she is talking about going to school and signing her up to go to dance class. I am going to blink and she is going to be gone. I love her so! Happy Birthday Belles!

Belle's room transformation

So  this was Belle's room!! Haha I know awful. The only cute things in there were her Belle sign and crib! So I had to do something... Cash's room is just as bad but maybe a bit worse. He was a crib, a rocking chair, and a poster of Micheal Jordan on his wall. Haha Just wait till your 3rd bday Cash. Anyways Belle's room was quite an ordeal. My sister Jaclyn is incredible at this stuff she gave me a lot of the ideas. I had little money to work with so I used just stuff in my house....

This was a shelf Jaclyn gave me a long time ago... I decided to paint it grey! I loved how it turned out.

The Belle sign I couldn't bare to pack away... My great friend Vanessa made it for Belle. I love this sign so much so I painted to match the room so we could still have a bit of Vanessa in there! The picture frames were dollar store ones that I have had before I was married and since I had paint left over from spray paint I sprayed some in a cup and started painting... That was interesting!

This is my favorite frame it was burgandy and black with a cream and burgandy thing inside. I just flipped the boarder thing (for some reason I can't remember what it's called) inside and drew a design. I was so surprised it turned out okay. The paper had tears everywhere from previous paint so I am shocked you cant see the tears.

This laugh sign was black...

Oh to the nasty 17- 30 cent pillows at the thrit store. I got these and old sheets I had and started making covers for them. I decided I am not a sewer... I bleed like 100 times. I had to restart like 20 times. and I ripped some a couple times. I am amazed I actually got finished pillows.

 For some her bed and sheets and stuff I got them at Target... Totally cheap I got everything (2 sheets, pillow cases, duvet cover, and material) under 15 dollars. and I just reused everything for other pillows... if that makes sense. Like the little bag that held the duvet cover I used to Make the B on her pillow and the ribbon that connects the cushions to the chair .  The bed frame I was so happy cause I got the box spring, mattress, and frame for 30 dollars... Hahaha and when Monkey put it together I wasn't so proud anymore. The boxspring wouldn't fit!!! I almost cried but held myself together. Monkey drilled new wholes and we squeezed that sucker in till it fit! I am so glad it did!

Her chair was Chloris's which she gave us! It was first brown.. then I painted white, then finally painted grey!

I used an old white sheet that I had to cover the cushions.

and I used a under shirt for the stripes! Jaclyn gave me the idea to do stripes on the chair and gave me the idea how to do the flowers on the pillow I made also out of the same old sheet.

I have to say.... I am glad I am done with this project! I definately admire people who have the talent and patience to sew! Happy Birthday Belle!

(I will take a after shot of the whole room later!!)

Rhett's Thanksgiving

So the first weekend of November we headed down to The Dalles to celebrate Thanksgiving early because Rhett had one more week till he headed off on his mission to Brazil! I can't believe he will be gone for two years. It will not be the same without him... But what an amazing thing he is doing. Giving his full time to serve the Lord and teach people about The Savior! I am so proud to be his sister in law!

Thanksgiving Dinner is always amazing at the Mullins house! This family teaches me so much each time I go to their house! I really feel so grateful for this family.

The whole time was spent together... playing the piano, spending time with the kids, Grandpas tractor rides, laughing, and loving life! And rushing Cash to the ER... He ate something with dairy and his whole face turned a dark red with boils. His eyes swelled up. His whole body was covered in a boily rash and he was having a really hard time breathing. We were lucky to have Caleb who is a Paramedic. I gave him his medicine and Grandpa, Caleb, and Monkey gave Cash a blessing. I can't express how grateful I am for the priesthood. I now our Heavenly Father is very aware of my little Cash! By the time we got to the ER Cash was fine! I am so grateful!

Belle got to have a pre-birthday party with everyone! Chloris is so sweet she made Belle her favorite cupcakes which made her life and got her the most cute presents! A sweet ball, a rubber fish that Belle sleeps with, and a little people Noah's ark which she is in love with! Thank you all so much. They all love our kids so much! It's hard leaving because my kids beg me from the moment we leave to go back. I am so glad we got to be there to see Rhett before he left... He is going to be an amazing teacher and he already is an amazing example!! Happy Pre-Thanksgiving!