{For credits, go here.}

This banner would have been perfect for Cinco de Mayo – if it was done in time.  Sometimes the food is a priority.  😉  The banner makes for a fabulous party decoration anytime though.  I was going for a colorful after-a-pinata-burst look.  *Fiesta!*

We celebrated the day by having yummy Cafe Rio style salads:

…and playing outside for hours with Jim Bob’s brother John.

There was lots of frisbee and then a new game broke out.  It started with one little one in a hollow construction tube:

Drewby started looking for a friend:

And along came Uncle John:

Soon there was a whole lotta people (5 in this photo) rolling around:

Times like that just make me smile.

So does this photo.  Partly because of the large apron-bib.  Partly the smile behind the binky.  The tight grip on the sippy cup… it all contributes.

Such a fun, laughter-filled playing time.

Later Jim Bob and John started their own fun.

Jim Bob called it “a new take on the classic log rolling sport of lumberjacks… with less water and more kids inside the log.”  Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.  🙂

You can even play frisbee at the same time… if you’re coordinated.

John got a lesson, Katey got snuggles and the neighbor got a wave…

We’re thankful John lives so close and could come visit – mid-week even.  He came to dinner and said the blessing on the food in Spanish.  John served his mission in Mexico and said where he served – they hardly celebrated Cinco de Mayo at all.  I found that kinda interesting… and sad.  I always imagined huge, noisy, yummily-scented celebrations.  I don’t understand all the social significance – it would make for some interesting research.  For me, Cinco de Mayo is a time to celebrate Mexican culture, most especially the food… and sometimes a pinata.

These were in the plans, but will have to be made for another time.  My ideas always outshine the time available.  We settled for fiesta Starburst instead, which were quite yummy and were thankfully on hand for such an occasion.  It’s not my favorite to change plans at the end, but our children are so good to adjust.  Plus if I was hurriedly trying to make mini pinatas, I would have missed out on the fun activities above.  How sad would that have been?  🙂  I’m learning.

Perhaps someday now that I have the banner made we can make miniature pinatas and have another fiesta.  That would be a fun activity to do together.  Feliz Tres de Septiembre?  Sounds good to me.  😉

I have quite a few photos of projects I haven’t posted… and many fun stories and details behind them.  This week will be a sharing extravaganza.  Are you sitting on the edge of your seat?  Oh, good.  😉  First up we have an invitation to a birthday party:

{Invitation made with Cosmo Cricket’s Mr. Campy Journal Stack & Mr. Campy Elements – one of my favorite lines ever.}

Not just any birthday party… Joshua’s 8th birthday.  We won’t talk about his actual birthday date – this party happened much later.  It didn’t even happen on the date of the invitation.  (Thankful for perfect matching masking tape  🙂 ).  Joshua wanted an outdoor birthday party badly, but this last spring has been our wettest that I can remember.  We postponed it until the beginning of May and found a day that the weather was to be perfect.  No rain or snow.  Jim Bob wouldn’t get home until half-way through the party so he got the fire all ready to light – what a blessing.  We did get it lit:

and it even burned for a short time.  Sadly, we had a large wind storm blow through.  I believe two boys got to roast dogs before the smoke was too bad and the fire was not cooperating.  I tried to light the grill to cook the dogs, but the wind was incredibly too strong.  Thankfully hot dogs and s’mores can be cooked indoors as well.  One of the boys there mentioned that his family cooks them right on the racks in the oven.  We tried it out (I personally do not like boiled or microwaved hot dogs) and it worked pretty well:

Joshua had a grand time.  While I made the s’mores Joshua opened presents and his daddy took photos.  I love these captures.

And although I didn’t get any photos of the s’mores (it was a little busy!) – the wind finished blowing through and I was left with gorgeous lighting outside.  I was able to take a few after-dessert photos of the birthday boy’s little brother.  This being one of my favorites:

– look at those eyes and messy mug.  Pure delight.

Happy Birthday Joshua – how we love you!