my girls

my girls
MacKenzie (Mac) age 11 and Camille (Mille) age 8 1/2

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Mac's 11th bday and Christmas stuff

We celebrated Mac's bday early this year(I'm very late on posting these pics! oops!) She really enjoyed giving money to a charity last year so she wanted to keep to that concept.  I'm so proud that my girls enjoy giving more than receiving.  When I asked Mac what she wanted to do she directly started thinking of things she could do for others.  I'm so proud to be her Mama, she is an amazing little lady with a sweet compassionate heart!  Mille is now planning her party and wants to do a pet theme with donations going to Furry Friends!  I'm so blessed, these precious girls make my heart so full.  Back to Mac's party,  we wanted to do something a little different so we gave up with the idea of doing Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.  We asked each friend to spend the amount of money they would have spent on buying Mac a present and out it towards a little girl or boy.  We gave them the instructions on what to do and each friend came with items to fill a shoe box.  It was so much fun and I love that we gave to needy children.  The decor theme was Chevron and Cherries.  I had to do a cherry theme and actually am shocked I haven't before now.  With a fun last name like Cherry you have to use it.  I went ahead and made new faux roman shades.  I figured I could use them for Mac's party and for Christmas(I might even bust them out for Valentine's day). 
I had made the 6 layer cake for Mille's bday and Mac really wanted one too so I made it.  It has a surprise inside, pics to follow.
I bought cupcakes this year.  I normally make all the stuff but Mac and I decided to do this party very last minute and I only had a week and a half to make everything.  They ended up tasting really good(thank you HEB) 
I did make some little home made cherry pies.  I found the little chevron cupcake toppers at Marshall's.  I was so excited!  I added a little cherry to 1/2 of them.
Little happy birthday sign for Mac using cheap wood frames that I covered with paper.
I have wanted to use huge balloons like this for a while!  I think they are so awesome!!!  They were gigantic. 
The girls at work outside stuffing their shoeboxes.  The girls supplied the goods to put in the shoebox and I went to Big Lots (well actually my dad and Lisa Lewis went there- thank you so much!!!)and bought the plastic shoeboxes.  Once the stuff was packed in the box the girls filled out a card.  Some put their addresses, we're hoping some kids will write back.  Then the girls wrapped their boxes with fun paper. 
A little puppet Mac picked for her shoebox.
Getting ready to wrap that box up! The girls were so sweet, they took their time to wrap them all so perfectly.
Little name cards for the girls.  I just painted clothes pins and little wooden circles and hot glued them together to make place card holders.
I love my mason jars!! I've used them for every party.  The girls drank yummy cherry(had to be cherry!) 7up.  I also bought the cute red and white paper straws and made little name flags for the drinks.
Close up of the cupcakes and toppers.  I asked HEB to use white papers and use the buttercream frosting.  I wanted to flat topped cupcake but they were going to charge me extra for that.  These turned out perfect!!  The girls ended up taking them home in a goody bag.  I put them in a small plastic cup and put them in a plastic baggy tied with string.
Those girls wrapped and wrapped and wrapped!  Of course chatting the entire time, so cute!!
Miss Mille bug was working hard!
Time for a little bouncy play
Look what I did Mom!
The birthday girl!  I made her t-shirt, just sewed chevron fabric on a target t-shirt then stitched some red sequins in the shape of cherries and added a stem and sequin leaf.
Bouncy play!
Such sweet friends!  Camille is 2nd to left and she's hanging out with Mac's friend Camille(far left)  My Camille adores older Camille.  Thinks she's super awesome, which she is.  Love it when Mac's friends treat Mille like their friend too.  Makes my heart smile.
It's cake time!
She got all of them the first time!
It was McKenna's bday that day so we sang happy birthday to her.  She and Mac have been friends since they were babies!  They were in Mom's Day out and preschool together.  Thankfully they do dance and have stayed best friends!  Now they are at River Valley and have a few classes together and are even in the same homeroom . Small world!
The girls couldn't wait to see what was on the inside.
Super fun!
Eating, drinking and chattin' it up.
Smile
Mac the Silly!
Look at all of those boxes!  There will be several happy boys and girls.
What would a party be without a silly picture?
Now onto Christmas!  This year we were able to be at our home for Christmas Eve and Christmas day! I must say it was awesome!!!!  We were able to relax and do fun family things.  I always give the girls Christmas Eve p.j.'s.
New tradition(I hope it will become a tradition!) I wrapped some tickets to go look at christmas lights.
The golden tickets!  Mille even got the hole punch and punched letters on them like on Polar Express!  The girls put on their p.j.'s, my dad joined us, we stopped by Starbucks and got hot cocoa then looked at Christmas lights for alomost 2 hours!  It was so much fun!!!
Here are their christmas p.j.'s
The little jars of reindeer food.  The girls sprinkled them around for Santa's reindeer.
Santa got yummy cookies and milk!
Last pic of Mr Twingle!
You can't tell but Mille was very sad to say goodbye.  She loves Twingle so much and she jumps out of bed each morning to go find him!!
Because we were at home Craig read T'was the Night Before Christmas to the girls.  It was so fun!  He was in Mac's bed and I was in Mille's.
Cute baby, all nestled in bed!
Who's ready to see if Santa came???
Mac's loot 
Mille's loot
Running into see what they got
Woohoo Santa delivered!  They both got ipads!!!
Mille got Tatiana, she had wanted her for a while!
Mille gave Mac a fun purse, look at that sassy girl!
Mac and I gave green team an indoor basketball goal.
Mille and tinker
Mac and Miley, she's holding the sleeping mask I gave her that looks like Miley. 
Granger in his new coat!  Griffin got one too along with a lot of yummy treats!
Am I adorable or what????
The cats got treats too, this is a ball of catnip and Tinker was so happy!!!
Don't take the ball, I love the catnip ball!!!!
Finally a pic of Griff, he's looking sporty and enjoying his treat!
Granger:"Look mama, I have a treat too!"  I love my fur babies!!!