The boys entered through Platform 9 3/4 (dang, I didn't take a picture).
Shopping at Diagon Alley for wands (tutorial found here), cauldrons, broomsticks and glasses.
On to the classes...
Divination (fortunes found here)
Defense against the Dark Arts (boys just being silly with their wands)
Bertie Botts Tasting Contest (some of the flavors--skunk, boogers, vomit, dog food, baby wipes, etc...)
Potions (by far their favorite--we had pop rocks, vinegar, and unicorn blood)
Quidditch (they took this very seriously...riding on broomsticks the entire time, while wearing their glasses)
Time for the magical Golden Cheeseball Snitch cake filled with jelly beans and a horcrux (idea found here and she rocked the cake). The boys also had Butterbeer (cream soda floats with Butterscotch caramel and vanilla ice cream).
After some presents and more spells, the boys grabbed a few treats from our mini Honeydukes (ring pops, gummy rats and Berti Botts jelly beans). And then ran around in the torrential rainstorm.
When all of the guests left, Rob pulled out the rest of the dry ice and we had a little "After Party". Note to self: Dry Ice=cheap and easy entertainment
A little photo review...
(Decorations all came from my ever growing stash of Halloween clearance items...at some point I'm going to have to stop!)
Every year we plant a small garden.
Every year we take good care of it.
We weed. We water. We reap the benefits of our labors.
And then August comes.
And then we forget.
All about the garden.
This year baseball season took so much of our time. And the garden got pushed aside (It never happened). I kept hearing people talk about their gardens and felt a little sad that we had dropped the ball this year. So when one Sunday at church, someone had left some sad looking plants in the kitchen and we snagged a few (a squash and 2 tomato plants). And then the next day at Lowe's, I grabbed some clearance plants (2 cucumbers, 1 green pepper, 1 jalapeno and 2 tomato). It was already the end of June, but better late then never, right?
1 1/2 months later, our little "I think I can" garden is finally producing! And being that it is already mid-August and we are already neglecting the poor thing, I'm quite shocked.
Our first harvest.
I don't think this little guy is going to make it. You win some, you lose some.
(If you need a little reassurance/reminder about being a mom, you should watch this little video.)
Today is my Mom's birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom!
Really, she is my "step" mom.
But I find that to sound ugly.
She's been my "mom" since I was 7.
We never called her "Deb" because Alison started calling her Deb and she was only 2.
My Dad asked us if we would call her "Mom" in the house for Ali's sake.
I guess it just stuck!
She was only 27 then. Wowsers, that is really young! Can you imagine?
27 with 7 children (between the ages of 2 and 7). Makes me wanna cry.
She worked full time,
Put herself through nursing school,
Served diligently in her church callings,
Fed and clothed us,
Taught us how to clean properly,
And how to get along with each other.
I find no distinction between my "real" and "step" siblings.
That's because of my mom.
Then we all moved out
and got married,
like within 1 1/2 years of each other.
And gave her 22 grandchildren.
I often wonder how she did it...
And on the days when I just want to give up on being a mother, I think about her. And that gives me strength to keep going.
She's taught me that I don't need all of the greatest things now. And if I wait for that really nice couch (say, when my kids decide they hate sticky foods or move out), it will be all the more enjoyable! Good things come to those who wait!
She has taught me how to be assertive. If you don't like your service, it's okay to say so. If you have a concern, then bring it up. Things don't always get accomplished if you keep quiet. Although, this has sometimes gotten me in trouble...but not as much trouble as she has gotten into!
She has taught me how to serve others and magnify callings. If she can be the Young Womens president while raising 7 young children and going to nursing school and working, then there is no reason I cannot do any calling asked of me. I think of her often when I hear people whine about their callings (me included). And then I buck up and "just do it." Because really, I can't think of any reason not to.
But I think the most important thing I have learned from my mom is forgiveness.
She hasn't had it easy.
Her journey has been hard.
Her pain has been real.
And she endured.
And she is all the more beautiful and wonderful and better for it.
Thank you for teaching me that, Mom.
Your example helped me move on.
I love you, and hope you have the best birthday.
Love,
Andrea
Elder M. Russell Ballard on mothering:
"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else." “Daughters of God,” Ensign, May 2008, 108–10
