Last week Sandi and gathered our friends around us for a little "friendsgiving" Our original plan was to be in Santa Barbara for the Remnants of the past antique show...but plans changed and we made the best of it. Plan B. at my home.
Sandi and put together just a simple little lunch...with prizes. (smile) In the French market bag- a warm blanket, mug with mixings for hot chocolate.
Just a simple table of eucalyptus (thank you Ruth!) and pumpkins- we also wrapped up some french soaps in brown paper and twine. The soap came from Elise Green house and home.
Just a simple lunch- Turkey cranberry sandwich, pickle, cookie and a divine yam bake from Sandi....and a tiny little copper caneles filled with walnuts and chocolate.
The gathering was not about the food or the table or even the gifts...it was about sharing, uplifting and just enjoying each others company. I love these girls.
They are my team.
It was a wonderful afternoon of laughter, tears and love!
Sam and Heidi were so kind...they hosted Thanksgiving at their home.
Denver, Bree and Lincoln
Jessica, Ayden, Alene and Mason
Thankful that Kent and family came all the way from Utah. (Happy Day)
Nick, Becca, Christian, Kent and Ellie
Three new babies added to the family this year...what a blessing!
My Brother John, Libby, Mikayla and Ashlee
We played Pie Face...last man standing won a prize.
Thanksgiving craft- Thanks Heidi
Thanks John and Libby for washing dishes. (smile)
Thank you to everyone and the yummy food you brought!
Thank you Heidi and Becca for helping with the decorations and set up.
So very thankful for my family- For us, our thanks is to God our Heavenly Father for the Plan of Salvation He has established for His children, for the gift of His Only Begotten Son, and our knowledge of these gifts through the restored gospel.
I'm thankful for His example. Thankful that each individual is precious to Him. Thankful for His great love of the little ones. Thankful He healed the sick, made the lame to walk and the blind to see. Thankful we live in the dispensation of the fullness of times and are privileged to share His truth.
This is part two of the Adventure themed baby shower for Bree. See part one here.
"To Live would be an awfully big adventure."
As a guest book we had everyone sign a vintage globe with a gold pen- If you look really close down the hall you can see the globe...forgot to take a picture. Everyone signed their name along with words of encouragement-
Example- be kind, be happy, be a gentleman...etc.
Bree receiving a gift from her Mother.... Bree's very own quite book from her childhood. So adorable!
Strawberry & chocolate s'more
Carlee sewed this cute little gift for Bree- (a little envelope to hold small baby toys)
Thanks to Heidi for letting us use their home and for helping me plan and prepare this shower!
(and a lot of these pictures are from her=)
Let the Adventure begin!.....can't wait to meet Lincoln.
Thank you to all who came to make this day a Happy Day for Bree.
We held an "Adventure" themed Baby Shower for Bree- For some time Heidi and I have been planning and putting together an "Adventure themed" baby shower for Bree and Lincoln.
Heidi was so kind as to let us use her home...my home isn't big enough for an event like this...someday...when our home is finished.
we worked on favors- Adventure Kit
shower game- figure out the "quote" words on back of a paper arrow.
food
s'mores bar
map notebooks-Heidi made them
banners and posters
(We added paper map pin wheels to this vignette later)
South Bend Cranberry Orange Crunch Caramel Corn- cost plus
How the Adventure kit looked finished- tried with a balloon.
(We had apple juice to put in the milk bottles.)
Map Notebook
Write your wishes and advice for baby and Mom
Arrow- game. Part of a quote was on the back of the arrow...Your mission...to put together the quote...by talking to the other ladies to find out their arrow words. (Libby won this game)
Sharing a sweet little Valentines Breakfast/meeting at Sandi's home... Meeting there to have our Stake Young Women's Presidency meeting. (thanks Sandi, your home is adorable!)
Why have just any old meeting when you can have a small party? (Smile, we don't do this every-time...just once in awhile =)
Breakfast muffins and yummy smoothies
chocolate truffles in tiny boxes tried up with ribbons
pretty pink polka dot straws and bags
and the cutest banners ever! ( the banner was inside the tiny pink polka dot bag...Sandi Made them!)
What do you do to make " everyday ordinary" special?
You may of heard of the term "Pop-up Shop." Pop-up shops are often smaller in size than conventional retail stores....and by nature creates a sense of urgency to buy it now...and they can pop-up just about anyplace.
That is why we thought this "Pop-up Baby Shower" would be perfect.
1. Smaller in size- just four of us attending. We all serve together in the Stake Young Women's program.
2. Sense of Urgency- her due date is less than 10 days away.
3."Pop-up Baby Shower"... easy to set up just about anyplace you want to go.
The four items we used to create our "Pop-up Baby Shower."
Chocolate, fun straws, tiny favors and a very large balloon with a tassel....all the makings of a large party....we just made it mini.
Plus we didn't even have to cook...Panera Bread did that for us.
Loved the Cake Pops....Nancy picked them up at Olde Tyme Pastries....we love that place.
These ladies are so much fun to serve with.
Brooke we are so happy for you, blessings to you and your family....You are such a beautiful Mommy!
April 1st was the day of our Flower Potluck- I ordinarily planned it as our Branch Relief Society mid-week activity.... but opened it up to anyone who wanted to come. My branch sisters weren't able to attend but we had great fun with my Church sisters from Merced, Modesto and Turlock Stakes.
We held the event up in the foothills where the green was very green and all things spring were glorious.
Sandi my dear friend came up early to help me get ready...so blessed to have her as a friend.
What we did-
hung carnations from the ceiling, readied the gift baskets, cut flowers from my yard and taped printed art on the wall.
each sister received a basket with: ribbon, seed packet, note card, floral tape, wire, tags and pretty tape
The event was pretty easy.... as each person that attended came with a bouquet of flowers and a spring dish for lunch....sharing is awesome!
We gathered at 11am...in the rain... which added to the great adventure!
Notice that crazy lady with the unbrella...yep...thats me in all my fashion glory! =)
Heidi is always so helpful...with the picture taking.
After we ran around in the rain collecting flowers...we came back to "Le Shed" and began playing.
Before the ladies put their flowers in the mason jar vases we snapped a picture.
Bree, Emily, Libby, Heidi, Sandi, Bev, Breathe in Life, Pam and Bloom
Back to more playing...we all made floral crowns....and then Heidi took our picture.
peonies from my garden
After we had gathered, picked and played it was time to eat... we made flower place cards 0f course...and oh my, the food was great...chocolate dipped strawberries, snicker bar salad, fruit salads, citrus & broccoli salad, southwest salad, sandwich rolls, spinach salad, cookies , fruit filled cones, sliced baguette's filled with veg.
Did I mention....it is so much fun to Share!
and of course we wore our crowns. (its not every day that you can run through the garden in the rain picking flowers .....so we embraced the little girl in each of us today.}
Truth is, putting together this event I didn't buy any new decorations...used my old napkins and table cloth, we even made use of things left over from the Spring Event 2 years ago... but that didn't stop us from having fun ...I believe more often than not, the best memories are the ones where we forget about perfection and embrace those imperfectly endearing moments of togetherness.
Thanks ladies for putting on your garden shoes and coming to play with me!
Share what you do to made an inspiring life for yourself.
My Blog began in 2005- I write about "whatever" I am doing- about my husband (Danny) and our 5 grown children and grandchildren. I write about the things I love...from creating a new room to playing with my grand-kids...I share my blessings and my testimony about my Mormon Faith.{The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints} I love finding ways to be happy and enjoy the blessings I've been given....come what may.....Happy Day
