Little Miss Lily Pad's Fifth birthday....

Blue fishpond jelly; takeaway popcorn boxes; LouLou making mermaid gingerbreads; frothy wave cupcakes.

























Maddie in her costume; her Mermaid Barbie cake; making popcorn boxes.

Sunday was my first daughter Maddie's fifth birthday party, and it was chaos -but fantastic fun. In typical Lily Pad style, between the two of us we 'designed' a party made from a lot of homemade, handmade items - and had an absolute ball preparing together.

The theme was 'Under the Sea' - an idea which we stretched our imaginations a bit for, in order to make her original idea of a Barbie Mermaid party suit all our friends, boys included. Maddie hates to leave out her two best boy buddies, Tyler and Campbell, so she suggested the wider theme. We asked them if they'd like to come as pirates (they looked fantastic) - and lead the 'treasure hunt'. To make the treasure hunt, we hid gladwrap sandwich bags of small balls, packs of playing cards, gold chocolate coins, notebooks and pencils in the clam shell pit, then Maddie drew a map with "X marks the spot", and hubby traipsed the two pirates, Maddie, and all the other littlies on a wild goose chase all around the property and back to the clam shells. There they 'dug for treasure' with teaspoons til all the prizes were found.

The second game was 'pin the tail on the mermaid', which Maddie and I drew together earlier in the week, and she painted. Our decorating theme included giving each child a pair of paper 'googles' to wear under the sea (a ceiling full of blue balloons and green seaweed), a table of food sitting on top of a striped picnic rug, instead of a table cloth, bunting flags (another great excuse to use the free alphabet bunting downloads I love on ruffled) and an activity getting the kids to decorate gingerbread mermaid and starfish cookies with coloured icing and sprinkles.

Once all the welcome games and activities were over, the kids had a picnic on a blue beach towel, with 'takeaway popcorn' in boxes, 'fish 'n' chips' wrapped in takeaway packages of newspaper and wax paper, and 'goldfish bowl' blue jelly with fish lollies inside.

Instead of a loot bag, each child took home their googles, a balloon, and their own gingerbread cookies.

I have to admit I went all out for this party and made a mermaid outfit for Maddie, as well as a 'guppie' outfit (skirt and tail) for my little one year old. They looked so cute!

I also spent a lot of time thinking about her cake, which I made the night before, and kept a big secret. She was quite overwhelmed/excited/blown away and unfortunately cried when it was time to blow out the candles! Oops - too much for one small child!

It's quite wierd now, with the big party over, and the waiting game of two weeks of school holidays before she's off to school for her first day. Lots of time to write names on clothing and stationary, but also a big build up! I hope it goes well.

Love you HEAPs Maddie Moo, and I'm so proud of you

xxx

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Happy 6th Birthday To My Baby Boy!

I love our yearly Birthday tradition of taking pics of Isaac in his Daddy's shirt. We have done this since his first birthday home (2nd Birthday) ... in an effort to see the progression of his growth.

It is very obvious that soon this boy will outgrow his Dad's shirt. All too soon. I mean - 6 - really!!??

I think this past year has shown the most significant growth spurt ... but you can see for yourself ...

5th Birthday

4th Birthday

3rd Birthday

2nd Birthday

Unbelievable. My baby is 6. I think that means he is not quite a "baby" anymore. I do miss his chubby baby cheeks ... and his toddler walk ... BUT I love every new adventure he brings to our lives. 6 is a whole new world. And it is awesome.

Thank you God/Universe/Creator ... Isaac is the most amazing person I have ever met. And I get to parent him. I am so very thankful.

And always, always, I am thankful to Marjorie for giving birth to this wonderful boy ... and making sure he was safe until his forever family found him.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy. We are so very proud of you.

Love,
Mama

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Isaac's 5th Birthday Photo Shoot.

Every year --- on Isaac's Birthday --- he dons his Daddy's shirt for a mini-photo shoot to show how much he has grown. And boy has he grown since he last wore that shirt! (Click here to see his previous birthday photos.)

So, here he is ... the most beautiful person I have ever met ---

Little Man ... we love you more and more with every breathe we take ... and we are EVER so proud of who you are and who you are becoming.

xoxoxoxoxo,

Mommy

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A Surprise Birthday Treat.

Among my top ten favorite joys in the world is a visit with my Brother. And for my Birthday this year (which isn't until Wednesday the 14th), my Brother surprised me with a visit this past weekend. It was very nice, low-key, with perfect weather and a lovely meal at the Sea Dog. But as much as I enjoyed my Brother, I think that my son enjoyed him even more. In fact, I would venture to say that hanging with Uncle Jamie is among Isaac's top five favorite joys in the world. And I am so glad.

This week, I will be so bold as to celebrate the conclusion of my 36th year with a week long blog party. Please leave a comment on each post, all week long, and you may receive a "Happy Jodi's Birthday" gift! Each comment (one per day) will be collected and entered into the drawing. Winner will be announced on Sunday, October 18th. Thanks for helping me celebrate & good luck!

Love,

Jodi

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Isaac's "Frugal" Birthday Party.

I love hosting birthday parties "on the cheap". I whole heartily believe in keeping things simple for Isaac so that he appreciates all that he has in life ... without the expectation of the "more, more, more" attitude that seems to prevail in our society. So, I make it a goal at Christmas, Easter, and his Birthday, to keep things as simple and homey as possible. And I have alot of fun with it. So does he.

This year, I found a party package of Pinocchio goods at Goodwill for $1.99. It included matching plates, napkins, hats, and a tablecloth. I then added some matching handmade-by-me placemats to the table.

The 3 cakes were both made by me - from scratch. The castle cake was made using a mold that I borrowed from my mother. I sprinkled the cake with powdered sugar, then scooped cool whip into the center. For the decorative piece, I printed 2 wallet sized pics of Isaac & "his princess" and glued them to a popsicle stick, then stuck it into the cake ... as a sort of castle flag. And each tower was used for holding each of his four candles. Perfect. He loved it. And it cost less than $5 to make.

I also made a second cake for the adults ... a Pineapple Upside Down cake. I got the recipe from a child's cookbook. And this too cost me less than $5 to make from scratch ... and it was SO delicious! (Leave a comment here if you want the recipe - and I will post it.)

As for decorations, I usually post baby pics around the birthday table ... reminding guests of how much Isaac has grown. But this year, Isaac's Auntie had the wonderful idea to trace Isaac onto brown packaging paper ... let him color himself in with crayons ... and then post it on the door for the party. Another way to show how much he has grown. And he absolutely loved it!

The party was a wonderful success. Mommy and Daddy got him this great tea set made from recycled milk jugs. And although his grandparents doubted it at first - Isaac loved this gift just as I knew he would. He also received other wonderful gifts that totally made his day ... Legos, Playmobil, Tonka truck, Melissa & Doug Jumbo Blocks, etc. His Auntie even gave him the pet turtle that he has been longing for.

We enjoyed immediate family: 2 sets of Grandparents, Auntie & Uncle, and 3 cousins. A lovely, manageable gathering of our closest loved ones (although we wish Uncle Jamie & Aunt Amy were there too).

As for party games ... we all went out and played in the mud after. Buckets & spoons were all that was required ... and I have never seen kids laugh so hard. Again --- good times "on the cheap". Very easily done and oh so appreciated by all.

I hope you find some inspiration to create your own frugal get-togethers. What matters most seems to cost the least :)

Love,

Jodi

P.S. To see all of Isaac's Birthday photos, click here and then click on the thumbnails to see each picture.

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Happy 4th Birthday Isaac!

Happy Birthday my sweet son. You have grown so very much.

Here is the day that you were brought to Three Angels Orphanage --- to wait for your Mommy & Daddy to find you. You were under a week old:

Here you are on your 2nd birthday. Mommy decided to start a new tradition of photographing you in your Daddy's shirt every year on your birthday to show how big you have gotten:

Your 3rd birthday:

And today:

Wow! Check out that shirt on you now! You are SO going to be bigger than your Daddy in no time.

We love you so much. We are so incredibly proud of you. You are sweet beyond comprehension ... you are so smart ... so respectful ... so hilarious ... and such a joy to be around. Man - we are crazy about you.

Happy Birthday Baby :)

~ Mommy & Daddy

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

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My Birthday.

I was born 35 years ago today. At 3:15 to be exact. On a Sunday. Daughter of an 18 year old girl and her 21 year old husband ... who are still married to this day :)

I love that I was born in October. I love that the day was beautiful, full of fall foliage, and crisp fresh air. I love that I was born on a Sunday (as is considered a special day according to my Catholic heritage). And I especially love that I was born to two young people who were very much in love.

Every year I like to enjoy the great outdoors in celebration of my birthday. Halis and I have usually travelled somewhere special the weekend before ...to Bar Harbor, Salem MA, Boston, and various spots along the Maine coast. But this year, we decided to stay "home" and play some soccer by the Penobscot River. Perhaps in my "old age", I am less of a wanderer and much more appreciative of all that is local.

So, we hung out at Webster Park in Old Town. We played soccer, ate goodies from The Store at Ampersand, and enjoyed one another immensely. Life is good.

And as I enjoyed my two favorite people in the world, I reflected on whether I was where I wanted to be at the ripe age of 35 ... and I decided YES, yes, yes. I am so enjoying my life right now, as a Mommy, as a teacher, as an artist, as a wife, as a human. I used to have such lofty expectations of where I would be at 35. I was going to be a world famous Marine biologist and photographer. My work would rival that of the infamous Jacques Cousteau. I was going to live on an island off of the Pacific Coast, spending my days watching the migration patterns of Orca whales. I would have one daughter, and a husband who lived away and visited when he could. I would write journals that would later become best sellers. And I would attend high class gala events in honor of my photography. Etc...etc...

And although I wouldn't mind living on that island, and watching those orcas swim by ... I much rather be there with Isaac and Halis ... without any desire to be famous ... or to have a title other than Mommy or Babe (aka Wife).

There are many things I still want to learn and achieve, many ways in which I still want to grow ... but I guess what I am most grateful for on this day is that I am able to appreciate where I already am ... and to embrace it. I have come to learn that that is where happiness lies ... in appreciation and gratitude for what you have, for who you are, and for who is taking the journey with you.

So, on my special day - the day of my birth into this world - I want to thank those who are taking this journey with me - and to tell you how much I love and appreciate you. Hopefully you know who you are ... because if you don't, I am not doing a good job of reminding you how much I love you ... and I will get working on that right away :)

Happy Day to All.

Love,

Jodi

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Welcome Spring! (Sort of ...)

Welcome Spring!

Happy Birthday Mom! You are the greatest :)

Happy Birthday to the late Mister Rogers! (Are you wearing your sweater today?)

Now, Universe/God/Creator, it is officially "Spring" now so I am begging you to bring on the sun. I mean, down on my knees pleading. I am ready to negotiate. At least stop the snow - please. Or lift some of the clouds. Let the sun peak through a bit so we can be sure it is still there. I promise to appreciate it. I really do! I will bask in its warmth daily. Please consider my pleas. Oh - and the pleas of my Mom - who is begging you for the same. And its her birthday. Come on, be a sport.

FYI: The above photo was taken last year at this time. If I showed you the weather outside today, it might only make me cry ... snow, rain and lots of clouds. So, I am instead showing a hopeful photo.

I am hopeful ... forever hopeful.

I hope that the first day of Spring is lovely where you are. Truly. No hard feelings if you are enjoying the sun and lack of snow where you are ... just please send inspirational photos and maybe put in a good word for Maine in your prayers :)

Love,

Jodi

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Isaac's 3rd Birthday.

My baby is 3 today. Such a big boy already. So sweet, kind, curious, loving, strong, playful, and insightful. I am so very proud. I am so very thankful.

As is our tradition, Isaac put on Daddy's shirt today to see how much more space his body takes up in it. He has proven that which we were already well aware of --- he is no longer a "baby". He is a "3" now and very proud of that.

For comparision:

"2" :

"3" :

Thank you Marjorie, for giving birth to our son. Thank you for choosing life. And thank you for creating such a wonderful plan for him. He is the most amazing being Halis and I have ever known. We are forever thankful.

Love,

Jodi

P.S. Happy Birthday Isaac Watson! We Love You More Each Day :)

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