art party

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Well, it's official, I am burned out on birthdays.  Having two so close together is a bit overwhelming. Travel, birthdays, Easter- March has been a busy month.

Emma is an interesting mix of both intellect and creativity.  Desiring to be just like her Dad, she is a budding little artist.  For her 7th birthday she requested a party centered around that theme- art.

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According to first grade girls, the best way to get the party going is dancing.  Emma played DJ and it was pretty funny. Carl and I kept peeking around the corner, and he even managed to snap a picture of the action.

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Next up, each girl was given a canvas and some paints to create her own masterpiece.  I was surprised at how seriously they took on this project.  Such detail and concentration.

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Then of course, there were cupcakes (Emma insisted that she be the one to frost them).

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Here are the favors that we gave out . It was a fun day filled with sweet seven year olds....no more big birthday bashes until June- whew!

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"good enough" is good too

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The last few weeks have been too busy for me.  It has all been good- but at a pace that I could not longer keep.  Guests, travel, birthdays, and then Easter (which I was hosting). Saturday night I surrendered.  Instead of scurrying around working myself into a froth over all that was left to be done- I collapsed on the couch with Carl and watched this movie.  For me, Holidays are usually about letting go a bit.  I can be "way-over-the-top-idealistic"- and, at some point during the preparations, I usually come to the realization that I cannot accomplish everything that I envisioned.  I am learning to be okay with that.  I am learning to laugh at the little imperfections.  It is possible to make events special and enjoy them too.

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I ran out of time to make place mats, napkins and new curtains for the dining room- but this little chick and some cheery tulips seemed to do the trick.

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No one seemed to mind hunting for eggs with plastic shopping bags instead of sweet little wicker baskets, or the absence of fancy apparel donned by my daughters.

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The tart crust that collapsed as I piled huge strawberries on top of it was easily hid beneath the thick layer of mascarpone cheese.

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Playing a Nintendo Wii was not my select choice of entertainment for a holiday like Easter.  However, when I was beating my husband in a round of golf by 3 strokes I quite liked it! (He did win- I blew it on the 9th hole.  Thanks to my sister-in-law for bringing it and taking it back home with her :)

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We ate, we laughed, we hunted for the golden eggs, we were together... and that is all that really matters. Thank you family for helping, and for humoring me.