Kori's Carnival!

BigTop Cake and Ice Cream Cake that kept melting as we tried to decorate. Then when it sat on the table outside, it was hard as a brick! Sweet Girl

Our hard to explain dog, likes parties as well.

Hula hoop, bean bag toss, nerf target, bolo ball, knock the boxes down, sak race, football toss, candy crane- Josh's catapult was the best!

Josh's catapult was a hit

Prize Tent

Very happy of all her decorations Candy Crane..awesome

Hot dogs, corn dogs, chips, carmel corn, cotton candy,lemonade, peanuts

I spent the week making a carnival with the kids for Kori's 10th birthday. However, with great excitement, my kiddo's experienced a different area of life. We spent the time discussing, what RSVP means( 4 French words-Translated in English "Please Respond"), How to behave if someone gets a prize you wanted, letting others go first etc. and so on...... the only thing we didn't cover was how to handle destructive behavior in others.. Hum.. that was a crash course and fast. Since our kids made the games, of course, they went easy on them=) It was fantastic as we all scavenged the after party mess around outside and cleaned the whole place up in no time and I heard these words. "Wow, Mom, you were right! Glad we went over these things before the party."

It was another life lesson. It was fun! I can say, I do miss the Mommy Days of Mom networks and all events inclusive with the 'group". I had 3 RSVP and had 13 show. I do RSVP so that I can do specific thank you's and party bags. Party goods can be quite costly and not always feasible if you over buy. So I wait until the timeline of RSVP has passed and then I go buy party stuff, this way I know if I can splurge or skimp based on the amount of children. I thank God that He provided today! It was really great! Although, I didn't have enough "prizes " for the kids, I hoped it didn't hurt their feelings too bad, I made sure my 3 RSVPers got first.

Letting Go......

Kori painting her ticket booth Boys making sign for Josh's homemade catapult

Birthday invitation

Its pouring down rain and cold outside, cardboard and poster board warping

They are very excited to be doing this themselvesExplanation is necessary for this one! The boys said "mom, since you decorate the inside, we'll do the outside." so, they took their tools and put them on a shelf and put pink grass around it to make it look'fancy".

I would say, I have come so far its not even funny. I have not been a very "kid-friendly" parent. Though, I was extremely fun and kid-friendly BEFORE children. Now why is that? I decorated for every holiday tremendously, had my house in the paper for TOO many lights and decorations, Halloween block parties at my crib, you name it. Now I do good to remember a holiday!

Needless to say, to allow with any ease, children in the kitchen to "help" or allow them to color, paint, draw or anything messy in the house or around me to happen would be a NOT... Until now.

Kori is having a carnival for her birthday party and she wants to make all the decorations. I bought some, but her and her brothers want to make the games and booths. Hum...... well, ok.

A year or so ago, I could not have allowed this to happen.

I remember as a child, making my own tepee, tree house fort, and many other things and how much fun it was and how I thought it was awesome. I hope Kori's birthday makes these kind of memories for them, because it may be the only time this happens! hahaha.

Kori's Carnival Coming together

http://www.etsy.com/shop/icelebration
for these adorable Invitations!
You can personalize it with a picture, but Kori opted out for that.

Party Goods, carnival theme....A rare find. 2 choices.
We found quite a bit of stuff at http://www.orientaltrading.com/ as usual, I should own stock in that place.
This ticket booth I found online someone else made is adorable! We just may attempt this.
I wish I had not gone on an ANTI-Box campaign not too long ago( tired of moving fit), trashing all our moving boxes, boy, they would have come in handy for this party!

Due to small town and most extremely limited resources, I gave up on Cotton Candy machine and tried to locate one to buy, yeh, well, good luck with that- Christmas must have wiped everyone out, one on order may get here around Valentines. Did find a neat place who festively packages cotton candy and ships to you cheap. http://www.papajohnspeanuts.biz/cottoncandy .39 a bag is still cheaper than dollar tree.

I am wondering how I am going to get balloons. I don't want to drive an hour one way to the one large town to pick up balloons, I hate paying the extra money for high float for 2 hours of real party time use. just so I can go out of town to pick up balloons the evening before, when I could be home decorating instead, there's that dilemma.We are hoping we can get some to dress festive, clowns, strong man, acro-brats etc.. Yes, the brats part was on purpose. Even if its just our bunch it will be a circus!

Carnival fit for a 10yr. old!

Searching blogs for Carnival cake theme idea's!


This was all the items I used for Candy Land themed birthday awhile back. Hoping to do much more simpler things, right?

Looking for Idea's for a cool carnival themed birthday party! Let me know if you have done one or know of something cool to do. So far we are using spin the wheel invitations. We are just now starting to choose games to play. I figure you can't go wrong with a bean bag toss, hula hoops, bollo ball. Not sure what else. My favorite I think will be having carnival food, such as corndogs/hotdogs, cotton candy, carmel corn and lemonade.

I'm a bit concerned as to where to have this party. We have an awesome space outside to do it, but in Jan. the weather is usually not very friendly around her birthday. So I think I will convert either the garage or the shop for a make shift game area- I hope its not too cold. CandyLand was set up for outside but had to be brought inside. ugh.....
I have put this off long enough time to get this planned! I am sad, we are planning a party for the first time ever with the chance of Dewayne not even going to be there. He has no schedule at work that is ever consistant, what a total change this job has been for him and us. Thankful to have one. HE is always the one that comes and bails me out of a party perdicament and I am really freaked that I have to do this by myself, chancing he might not even get to come to his daughters party! We know its temporary and need to do whats needed. But still;(..





So leave me some comments of blogs or idea's!This was from her candy land party and it was some work, not sure I want to put that much time into this one.

Pictures! Very thankful, where to start?

I am so thankful for so much. Having gone through what we did has really had an impact on me and my family. Some good, some not. I laugh on days like today, when I didn't have anything to wear outside, no shoes and had to dig for socks in the sock bag. I don't care! No, really, I....Don't.....Care...... Its Awesome! I do care about no messes around the house, that hasn't changed and I care about all the wash and clothes we seem to go through, but other than that, there is just not much to sweat over!

Well, it snowed again. Last year it snowed and this year. Must know I have moved back and detest the stuff! Unless, you can drive up the mountain anytime you want and get it and come back home to 70 degree sunny weather an hour and half away, then sure, I love it! But rural Texas, no thanks.

When the Enemy seems to win.

What a freakin battle. I can say without a doubt. He doesn't win in the end. However, the scripture John 10:10 does lead me to believe that there is a possibility of some destruction that may take place a long the way. I hate the fact that we have some super righteous scaled over christians out there that totally are being obliviated by deception. What can I do? We tried to help and they threw us to the wolves. It was us that did not discern the spirits we were dealing with.

Today, once again, it seems like the Enemy won. I know that he didn't and I have to watch my words. But from eye level.......geesh! I am sad. Then the Lord gave me Matthew 10. So Thankful for confirmation. So Thankful.

The other day, I read a phenomenal message about being the Doorkeeper Church.

I quote... "RECENTLY, I WAS WITH SOMEONE WHO SAID THAT USHERING IS NOT IN THE BIBLE, BUT PSALM 84:10 SAYS , I WOULD RATHER BE A DOORKEEPER IN THE HOUSE OF MY GOD THAN TO DWELL IN THE TENTS OF THE WICKED.

A doorkeeper is an usher. He opens doors and welcomes people in. Every disciple is CALLED to be an usher. Doorkeepers usher people into God's presence and open the doors for the purposes of God to flow into people's lives. Some doors cannot be opened without the help of an usher. In this way, every pastor, worship leader, intercessor and believer is called to be an usher. I would like to pastor a church where, if I asked, "who in this church is an usher?" the whole congregation would stand up and say, we are all ushers here! That would be, what I call, a dynamic doorkeeper church." Dr. Peter Wyns

http://www.unexpectedfire.com/

I included this above excerpt from Instructions in Righteousness by Dr. Peter Wyns, because it is the very essence of how I make believe Church. Why wouldn't we all be doorkeepers of the church (Kingdom minded). Really? Why wouldn't we all be kind and pleasant and do what we are suppose to do aiding those who enter? Not posing for the pastors.

I struggle with exactly Whose in Charge at a church when you have a church full of POSERS, you have meet and greets and stabs and jabs. When the enemy seems to win. Yet the hearts of the Pastors are so sensitive to the Spirit. Why? Who is manning their posts.

I am greatly saddened that Satan doesn't play fair and that he uses the Body of Christ, quite well against itself. Perhaps if we had REAL doorkeepers, real BELIEVERS, real, real, real. The enemy wouldn't conquer and divide as easily. You see, we would use that gift of discernment and would guard the gates, we would form community and not cliques. We would be Gods arms outstretched in Communities and not to glad hand, when one is watching.

I made the comment at the place with church leaders one night, that "The demonic stronghold is so saturated in the community and that we needed to make a plan. We're here to help." The next day, my entire family was thrown to the curb at this church, never to recover. God spoke, "exactly whom were your going to make the plans with?" Dang, just when you think your safe. It has brought me great sorrow to see one thing after another happen as I have hung on trying to be obedient. Hoping to be used by God.

I say all this to bring some encouragement, if you are trying to do the will of God, the enemy is right there making sure you don't complete the task. Hold firm, He will either send you help or send your get away car. Tune your ears to HIM. Don't get clouded by what people may think or say, chances are...... They may not be on the same side and your response may be the very thing that draws them to HIM.

The BEST'ES of this So Long.. Gone.. Year! Selah!

~Some of the Best of 2010~

~My Dewayne~

~The OBVIOUS my Peeps!~

~My BOYS~

I Give ALL the Glory to HIM, The MOST HIGH!
Lord God, You are my Refuge, My light in the Dark

New Growth. The Orchid has been dormant over a year, we move and it sprouts a new bud!

Large Utility tote by Thirty one. Does wonders tote-ing clothes thru out to wash!
~FREEDOM~ Theres Nothing like it! Restoration of a place to LIVE! Wow, the Biggee!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2011 Here we COME! THANK GOD ITS HERE!