Look at me me me, I'm three three three!

Although Dani turns 3 on August 2nd, we decided to have a birthday party for her about a week ago because my parents were in town.  She told us she wanted a pirate themed party... so that's what we did. Tyler and I had a lot of fun making decorations, food, and creating this party for her.

I made the vest, shirt, and tutu, and the rest of the outfit was bought from haloheaven.com

Shortly after this picture, Dani didn't want to wear the vest or the tutu anymore... and didn't the rest of the party

Here are the decorations in the front room:

Decor on the wall (above Dani in the top pic)

Tyler made an awesome and huge treasure map

 

 

 

 

(you couldn't actually see the thermostat as well as you can in this pic... ha!)

Decoration/food in the kitchen:

 

(this was above the food table)   

Squids

Every time I read "Shark Bait" I couldn't help but say, "Shark Bait, ooh ha ha"

(Cyber high-five if you can tell me what movie that's from)

 

 

 

It was a lot of making little pirate outfits for the kids

 

 

 

My wonderful parents!!  It was so great to have them here for a week

 All the nieces and nephews that are here in Utah (there are 4 more in CA)

Job Perks

I'm feeling super-mondo sick today with a dumb little cold.
I complained about it on facebook, saying "Dude, moms need Sick Days."

While downing some Day-Quil this morning, I was thinking about how I wish Tyler was here; not because I'd rather be sleeping right now (although I would love that), but because I just want his company.  It also got me thinking about all the nice perks that Tyler's job gives him (specifically PTO). 

It made me realize how much I love the perks of being a mother. If being a mother was a job, I guess you could say I work for my kids... that they would be my employers. Yes, sometimes I have a very bossy two year old "boss," but my kids give me lots of wonderful perks as well.  I began to list them in my head...

• Free artwork
• Free comedy shows - although, now when Dani says she wants to tell me a joke she just whispers in my ear "I love you"
• Lots of affection
• No need to pay for a gym membership (ok, that's not entirely true... I still need major help in that department, but you should try holding Talmage for more than 4 seconds and then tell me that's not a workout)
• Free entertainment - oh, the entertainment!!
• I could sing all day and no one gets sick of it... in fact, they smile and I believe they actually enjoy it. (Especially if I remember the songs from Busytown Mysteries)
• Lots of smiles
• Always feeling wanted (although sometimes this is hard, I do enjoy being the one to calm a crying baby or watch their faces light up when they see me or hold them on my lap)
• A colorful wardrobe - spit up and spilled juice make any outfit so much more colorful
• Seeing holidays through a child's eyes 
• A great excuse to get up and dance crazy... or just be crazy (and no one looks at me strange)
• A great excuse to sit and play with legos
• Making fancy meals means using a cookie cutter to create new sandwich shapes or making a "sushi" sandwich
• Free wake up calls... yeah
• My own personal cheerleader... even when I go to the bathroom.  Now who gets that with their job??
• Getting to squeeze and kiss and hug and tickle baby rolls whenever I want
• Receiving tons of cuddles when they are sick


Of course there are tons more. 
Between mine and Tyler's daily routines, I think I've got the better end of the deal. 
Sorry you have to go to work today Tyler! (Yabba dabba dooo, iiiiiit's Friday!!)