WILD About Learning!

If you follow me on Facebook then you know that I spent most of last Sunday turning my classroom into the Amazon rain forest.

Here is the before...

 

and the after!

 

You may remember my post from last year...so a lot of this is going to look the same. :)

 

Rain Forest Animals A-Z

 

 

Layers of the rain forest

 

Monkeys and sloths galore!

 

Math fun...

 

 

Products from the rain forest

 

If I Ran the Rain Forest...

 

Tree frog alliteration

The view from the back of my room!

Each child did research on a specific animal from the rain forst. They were also in responsible for creating their animal at home...

 

 

There were sloths...

Anacondas...

 

 Jaguars..

 

and more sloths...

 

 

Another Open House has come and gone...that means one thing...summer is almost here! :)

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of throwing a bridal shower for my little sister.

 

 

We had a wonderful luncheon at

 

and I have to say that it was pretty much perfect. The entire staff at Sequoia Brewing Company was wonderful to work with! I had another place arranged and when I called to set up some of the details, the person at the other venue told me that she had never written my name down...even though she had the e-mails from me and the one she had written to me telling me that it was reserved for me...so I had to look and find a new place. So, after some moments of panic passed...and a few "choice" words about the other venue...I decided on Sequoia Brewing Company...and I think it really was a blessing in disguise! They made everything so easy, wonderful...and I cannot say enough positive things about them. The manager was super helpful, flexible, quick to respond to any questions I might have, and their staff was so friendly and helpful...LOVE THEM!!!!!!! They have a beautiful private room and I highly recommend them for any kind of event!

 

Family and Friends Recipe book, photo board, cupcakes from Creme de La Cake, 56 days until "I do" sign, and an R monogram that each guest signed and left a special message.

 

 

The OCD me has to point out something that I didn't notice until looking at these pictures...I am sooooooo upset that I put the letters on the banner in the wrong order...the white accents should have alternated corners...I don't know if anyone else noticed...but it drives me crazy now and I can't believe I didn't catch it before the event.

 

I had originally wanted the shower to be on their patio. The manager told me they had a private room, which I wasn't aware of, and I was a bit hesitant. After seeing it, I loved it. It was a great room with lots of windows to let light in and it has this amazing, rustic wood table!

 

I went completely away from my sister's colors...I hope she didn't mind. :) She loves the burlap and lace that is so popular right now, so I went with that.

 

 

I layered organza with a burlap table runner. Then I used an assortment of mason jars that I decorated with a variety of ribbons, lace, and twine. I purchased all of the flowers from Trader Joe's and Vons.

 

 

The place settings...

 

The favors...He "popped" the question and she said, "YES!"

 (clear cup with a vinyl embellishment I added, filled with a yummy popcorn mix,

wrapped in a cello bag and tied with a bow)

 

The menu

(printed on cardstock with a raffia bow hot glued to the top)

 

The Bride's seat...with an arrangement specially picked by the cutest nephew in the whole word!

I have to do a bit of a side story to tell about these flowers. On Friday I picked up Landry and told him that we had to go to the store to get flowers for Auntie KK's party. When we pulled into the parking lot he asked if he could pick his own flowers for Auntie KK. Of course I said yes. We went in and I got the flowers I needed. Then I took him around in the cart and asked him to choose his. He said, "No mama. I get down and choose da fowers aw by mysewf." So I got him out of the cart, he walked around, and chose this bouquet "aw by hissewf!" Melted my heart!

 

 

 

The family and friends' recipe book...

 

Prior to the wedding I asked each guest to send me some of their favorite recipes and a photo of themself. Then I put it all together and made her a recipe book on Shutterfly. I have to say...it turned out really cute!

 

This was a photo board that I made for our game of "How Old is the Bride?" I collected pictures of Kaitlin as a child and numbered them. Each guest had to guess hold old Kaitlin was in the picture.

 

 

 It turned into a very serious game!

 

 

One of the answer sheets...

 

 

We also played a game, "He Said, She Said." I sent a list of questions to Ron and Kaitlin and sked them to answer them. Then I read the question, along with one of the answers. The guests held up a mustache if they thought it was Ron's answer and the tiara if they thought it was Kaitlin's answer. I wish I would have gotten some pictures of the actual game...it was so fun. :)

 

 

I stole an idea that my friend Kim did at a baby shower she threw for me...and I made each guest take a picture with the bride while she opened their gift. Like I said, Kim did this at one of my baby showers and I love the pictures. Trust me...everyone is very hesitant at first...but by the end they realize that it is such a great idea. Thanks, Kim!

 

Kaitlin and Jaylene

 

Kaitlin and Tanda

Tanda is Brittnee's mom...Brittnee and Kaitlin have been friends since elementary school.

 

Patsy, Kaitlin, and Ginger

We have been friends with this family since I was in 7th grade or so. They are part of our Fresno State Baseball Family! :) 

 

 Robyn and Kaitlin...thank you, Robyn for being silly with your picture! :)

 

 Kaitlin and Elizabeth

 

Kaitlin and Patsy

Patsy was one of my mom's first friends when we moved to Clovis. Now she is a great friend, the best hair stylist, and my mom's Mary Kay partner in crime! :)

 

 Kaitlin and Brittnee...Brittnee wrote something very "sentimental!"

 

Sarah, Kaitlin, and Lauren

Sarah and Kaitlin were roomates in the dorms at Fresno State...I think Lauren may have lived with them at one point, too...but I'm not positive. :)

 

Kaitlin and Aunt Judy

 

Kaitlin and Carol

 Carol has been our neighbor since we moved ino the house where my parents live...I used to babysit her twin daughters...who are now teachers, too!

 

Here is Sarah making the ribbon bouquet...she was very nervous about this task...but she did an AWESOME job!

 

 Way to go, Sarah!

 

 Kaitlin, Mom, and me

 

The "second best" bridal party ever!

 I have to say second because I think mine was pretty awesome! :)

 

Kait, I hope you had a wonderful day! I had so much fun planning all of the details and I hope it was everything you could have imagined...love you!!!

Fiesta de Landry!

As you know, our little man turned 3 years old on Monday! We couldn't let a birthday go by without a party...I was supposed to...that was my intention...small, family dinner is what I kept telling myself. Simple dinner. Small. Nothing fancy. Just a dinner, a cake, and a few presents.

Yup...that's what I said...but what I did...well...maybe not so simple. :) Here's my problem...I get these ideas and I just "have" to run with them. Really. I do. If not I kind of drive myself crazy. So, when we knew that Chad's parents were coming down...and other relatives were asking about when the party was going to be...which on a side note is so extremely flattering as a parent...people waiting to hear about when they get to celebrate your little one...nothing feels better...I knew that I wanted to do his party on Cinco de Mayo.

In the middle of dinner one night, an idea struck...and I was so excited about it I could hardly finish my dinner...actually, I'm not sure that I did. I had to run and get the sombrero...here is the result:

I just e-mailed that ADORABLE pic to our closest family members...even though I was super tempted to do invites...did I mention that this was all decided about 2 weeks before his birthday. For normal people this would be plenty of time. Not me...no joke, I started planning his 1st birthday party in September...and his 2nd birthday in November. Told you. I'm crazy. :) I also have to add that I am so thankful that I have a child who is always game for my shenanigans. :)

 

Party day came...and the house became a fiesta!



 

Simple tissue flowers and a green 3 added some fun to the dinning area...green is Landry's favorite color for the moment.

 

Banner for the birthday boy!

 

Fun Mexican banners definitely added a festive feel to the kitchen...and patio, too!

 

Mini sombrero garland on the fire place

 

When I asked Landry what kind of cake he wanted he said, "green." Green...really? Then I asked if he wanted anything else on it..."candy...M&Ms...and lots of fire." Clearly I am not a cake decorator but  I have to say that I think it turned out pretty cute. I also have to add that there is one orange M&M that was put on backwards...so you can see the logo...and it is driving me crazy. :)

 

Who is this cute boy...waiting for the party to get started?

 

We had to take a picture in front of the chalkboard...which is becoming one of my favorite holiday/party decor areas. Handsome is showing us how to do "free" fingers.

 

 

"I'm free now, Mommy...I all growed up now!"

 

I've got good news...and bad news...I'll start with the bad...my food pictures are not so hot. Like. At all. Sorry...everything looked much yummier and more festive in person.

 

Now the good news...you know one of my favorite parts of a party is naming my food. Really...it is like a fun game I play with myself. It really does bring me so much joy. Told you. I have issues! :)

 

Back to the food...I did a taco bar with all of the fixings!

 

 

If you didn't know...you can "google" any word and it will give you the Spanish version. I took 3 years of Spanish in high school and remembered most of them...but there were some I had to "Google!"

 

After dinner...it was time for some "fire" - a.k.a. candles, singing, and cake!

 

Landry really didn't want us to sing to him...at his 2nd birthday he actually cried when everyone sang...but we told him that if he wanted cake and "fire"...we had to sing.

 

Hope he made a big wish!

 

 As you can see...he asked for green cake...and he got it!

 

 

We had just one little slice left...

 



 

Oh...and a whole other cake! I was worried that the round cake wouldn't be big enough so I made a whole other cake...just in case.

 

After cake it was present time!

 

 

He was a very slow, meticulous, gift opener...should we have expected anything else?

 

He loved everything and was so excited abouth every gift, card, package, everything...except...this...

 

This was a really cute card that Grand Papa got him...Poppie actually picked it out...and Landry HATED it. The minute he opened it and saw the little boy covered in cake he went silent, got a very serious look of his face, studied the picture carefully, and then told me to make it go away. It was so funny...to us of course...that he was so upset by the fact that the little boy had cake all over him. He kept telling us, "Dats not me. I don't do dat. Dat card needs to get outta here." So, we have hidden the card.

 

 We had so much fun with our close family and are so thankful to have such an amazing support group that loves our little man just as much as we do! Nights like this remind you of what really matters in life and the things that should be our priorities!

 

Here is the birthday boy with Gary and Mary (Chad's aunt and uncle)

 

G.G., Ladry, and Poppie (Chad's parents)

 

 Landry and Grand Papa...Grand Papa always makes this funny face at Landry and Landry loves to make it back...I just LOVE this picture!

 

 Grand Papa is Chad's grandfather

 

 Landry and Auntie KK

 

 Nawnie, Landry, and Papa...my parents

 

Speaking of Nawnie and Papa...they got Landry all kinds of gear for his t-ball games this summer. Yes, we signed him up for t-ball. 3 year olds playing t-ball...this oughta be fun! :)

 

After everyone went home Landry put on his batting helmet...

 

Put on his mitt...and we started to work on fielding grounders!

 

Once again, we had a wonderful time and feel so blessed to have an absolutely amazing family that loves our little man so much. Not only do we have an awesome family...we also have some pretty amazing friends. Check out this picture Landry got...wishing him a Feliz Cumpleanos!

 

 

Thank you Frank and Davis...Landry loved it! :)