Splitting the Odds

The work pumpkin contest continues...

This year I didn't have to do anything except help come up with an idea.

It's always a toss up as to what will win.

We stuck with the food idea, turning our pumpkins into a banana split and providing the ingredients for coworkers to create their own works of ice cream perfection.

While we got beat out by a "baby in a pumpkin" - yes, someone put a real baby in a pumpkin - for the top prize, we did still win! But with only three pumpkins in the entire competition, it's a little hard not to win when there are three prizes (this may be one of those events that has run it's course!)

Carving Tales

When Mom Gets Involved...

When Kitties and Jokers Attack

Evie and Griffin's Halloween party is always a "scary" good time!
Sports and dance friends a plenty!

Ashlee's Room

I finally finished the gallery wall in Ashlee's "bigger" girl room.

A few months ago, I decided, on a whim, to redecorate her room. The plan was to do it using the furniture she had - and to not have to repaint the room.

I'm trying to get as much time out of the paint as I can!

I moved the furniture around; brought a book case out of the closet (to hold her trophies and growing book collection); moved my desk into her room; gave her a reading corner and fun girly gold lighting, and voila, a "bigger" girl room fit for a pink, brown AND gold princess.

All of the movement opened up a room, perfect for a gallery wall. She picked out everything that is on the wall. 

 

The two hanging items that look like "junk" are her Girl Scout SWAPS (one from each year of camp). The square photos are from Mixtiles. The unicorn is from etsy. And she drew the square photo, and painted the owl at a birthday party!

Treating the Beast

My role with the Step Beyond Celiac 5K was to find and take care of the blogger(s).

Once we secured Erica, including her airfare (thanks to a volunteer for donating points and to my hubby for agreeing to "donate" her hotel room), I decided to create a welcome basket. 

I paid for most of the items and did this on my own. We were just so excited to have her here for our first year!

The goal was for the basket to in her hotel room when she arrived (they actually just handed it to her when she checked in ... with me, which kind of blew the surprise).

Inside were all things Kansas City and all things gluten-free, including:

• Live gFree crackers, pretzels and cookies from Aldi's (she doesn't have an Aldi's in Arizona where she lives)
• A Hallmark ornament (purchased from my local Hallmark; I found a cute doctor one on clearance)
• A package of gum
• GF Rotella bread. Technically from Omaha but they only deliver to a few Midwest states
• A KC hat from a local boutique (not pictured and donated)
• A package of colorful macaroons from 3 Women and an Oven bakery
• Toaster savers so she could have toast during her trip if she wished. They let gluten-free people use the regular toaster without cross contamination
• A small Ziploc with a knive, peanut butter container, Nutella container and jelly container to ensure she would have safe items for her toast

We went shopping the night of her stay, so I'm not sure she got a chance to enjoy any of her goodies while here. She did IG live the hat and macaroons, so that was fun for those businesses.

Celebrate the Rainbow

I'm in charge of the yearbook at school this year.

It's a big. Daunting. Task.

Typically, the yearbook coodinator has to create the cover and all of the contents. While I still have to do that, I am leaning on the kids to provide the artwork for the cover and the insides.

Four students were selected to design the cover (2 for the front and 2 for the back).

I surprised them by getting them Skittles and putting these fun "Congrats" signs on them and sending them to school.

Mrs. Boyle, the art teacher who helped coordinate the contest, is going to make the kids feel extra special by announcing their names on the morning announcements!

Now who wouldn't want to taste the rainbow?

Stringed Web

I love seeing Tyler's artwork on display.

I love it even more when he is excited to show it to me.

Both he and his buddy, Jack, were excited to show off their artwork after school today. It's fun to see them proud of their hard work.

Now to start thinking where this one will live when it comes home.

I'm quite fond of it - and it's Cyclones colors.

Wordless Wednesday {Pretty Flower}

Camp Like a Girl

2nd grade cabin

This past summer, Ashlee went to summer camp for Girl Scouts.

It was SOOOO HOT! 


They had to cancel the overnight camping part because of the heat, so they rescheduled it for this past weekend. And the weather was gorgeous.

Granted the numbers were down, but that's not always a bad thing!

The girls, aka Elise and Ashlee from their troop, spent a lot of time running around and exploring since there were less activities (the true activities were planned back in July). They had nachos for dinner, s'mores for snack, played with chalk and balls, made some crafts and just explored the outdoors.

I think it's safe to say they had a good time (other than the extreme lack of sleep - for them and me!)

Meant to Be

Reunited with her Dex! Happy 8th birthday buddy!

Lemonade for Charity

The kids had an open afternoon - and since I spent most of last week at the hospital with dad, I thought I'd spend some special time with them at a lemonade stand, raising money for Ashlee's Celiac walk.

They love lemonade stands.

Or maybe it's just the thought of the stand?
Or prepping for it?

Ashlee and her buddies, Rory and Reese, spent a good hour-plus making a sign for the table. We purchased cups and lemonade from the store and planted ourselves at the corner of our neighborhood where we assumed we'd get the most traffic.

But it was also the hottest location.

The girls were out there for about an hour before they started hiding under the table

When they started doing that, I knew it was time to leave.

I signed up for parental protection, not to sell lemonade.

The girls raised $63, just $2 shy of the $65 Ashlee needed to reach her $500 fundraising goal for the Step Beyond Celiac 5K. Daddy added in the extra $2 so she could have the $65 to meet her goal.

Let's just say we had one excited little girl on our hands. And we had one proud little friend who helped her with the task on an abnormally hot fall afternoon.

Eight will be Great

...once I learn more about this girl, JoJo Siwa from Dance Moms! 

She is the inspiration for birthday #8 for Ashlee

Good thing I have until November to plan!

Spa Party

It's hard to beat these Pintastic parties!

Happy birthday Avery!

Dreams Come True

Meet George Niang, the Cyclone turkey.

He has a great story of overcoming the Hawkeyes!

AB Loves DC

Ashlee spent the afternoon at Dexter's house.

She loves her Dexter.

Together, they baked gluten-free cookies and decorated them using a multitude of sprinkles and frosting.

Dexter surprised her with a Christmas gift - a cute, fluffy stuffed doggy. She and her daddy picked him out a set of Legos.

Ashlee had so much fun this weekend that she ended up falling asleep in the sitting room on her blankey, with her new puppy.

These moments are few and far between. Man, they are precious.

I Love You Snow Much!

Another one of those homemade gifts I love so much. Opened early with love and adoration!

Wordless Wednesday {Celiac Kid's Gingerbread House}

*She did use 2 graham crackers on her plate that are GF

Cookies with Grandma

Gluten-free, of course!

Gingerbread Baby

"The Gingerbread Baby" ran across yellow pod yesterday.

He tumbled upside down and right side up as he made his way into the gingerbread house that engulfed Ashlee's first-grade classroom door.

It was all part of the holiday decor I spent yesterday creating.

The kid's have been studying Jan Brett so they each made their own gingerbread baby that was on display on the bulletin board.

Math fact houses surrounded the babies to help keep them on track to the house!

The house was made with construction paper and some old candy string holiday decor the teacher had in her decorations stash. Plastic candy canes lined the floor.

The kids were ecstatic to get back from specials and find this special treat awaiting them.

Today, we're adding a roof and white paper for snow!

UPDATE: Sadly one of the kindergartners thought the candy was real and ended up pulling the house down. Next time, we'll have to print the candy strings on paper!