Book Club

"Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet"
FORD


Wow, 4 post in a month.





Well I'm officially a mom; I joined a book club. And it seems that we all like the same types of books, so I think it will be fun. We just read our first book and had our first meeting.





This is a fictional love story that takes place in Seattle during WWII. It takes place during the time in which Japanese families were removed from their home and taken to internment camps during the duration of the war. I recently read another book titled, Nissei Daughter, which went into more depth of the historical aspects of these camp.





I liked this book because the author's goal was to tell this love story, without going to far into political opinion. I would reccomend. I give it an A-/B+.

Swimming at the pool on top of Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. K refused to go down the slide, but once I bribed her to go, she kept going and going and going and going.

We were lucky enough to get to go to "Goofy's Kitchen" at the Disney Land Hotel. The kids loved seeing all the characters during dinner. Here is K with her cousin Braden and of course, Goofy.

Ryan's new girlfriend, Aurora, and baby Tayvlee

Me and the girls with Pluto

Seriously, more celebrating for this little 4-year old. The day after her party we headed to San Diego for more fun.

Monday-San Diego Zoo's Animal Park

Tuesday-Lego Land (first time there and I thought it was great)

Wednesday- Coronado Island. We rented a surry's to ride around on. Then played at the pool at the Hyatt afterwards.

Thursday-We left Sand Diego and drove North to Anaheim and went to Disney's California Adventure. We got to stay at one of the Disney Hotels(first time for us). K went on Tower of Terror with daddy and cried at the end, but when I asked her to go with mommy, she got right back in line and did it again.......I was so proud of her for facing her fears.

Friday- the group slit up, half going to Disneyland and our half going to Knotts Berry Farm

Who knew you could go to that many theme parks in a week. In fact, they also wanted to hit up six flags on saturday, but we went to downtown Disney and then 3rd street promenade.

We were with my side of the family. My 3 sisters, 3 of my four brothers and the 4 grandchildren and my Dad and his Wife. Thanks again for a fabulous vacation, even though 13 of us got sick!

A Very Merry UnBirthday to YOU!

Here is what the invitation looked like. (except it was in 3-D)

a little out of order here, but for the party favors, each kid got to take home their party hat, teacups, Caterpillar bubbles (picture below) and........

I just made these in photoshop and adhered them to the bubbles.

some 'looking glass candy' (my first attempt ever to make candies, and luckily most turned out perfect, while a few not so much), and.................

a mome rath.

When the kids first arrived they went to the "Mad Hatter Hat Shoppe" and the boys made mad hatter hats and the girls made queen of heart crowns. They also got to decorate their teacup saucers and color pictures from the disney movie.

It is hard to see from the picture, but behind the craft table is deck-of-card garlands hanging in the tree.

These are the topiary's that were centerpieces on each table, with white roses painted halfway red by the deck of cards that were scattered in the topiaries and on the table. I also had bright colored flowers as centerpieces with google eyes on them to look like the 'talking flowers'.

The kids got to eat gogurts, cheshire cat cookies (picture below),

sandwiches with "Eat Me" signs on them, and fruit.

They also had lemonade with "Drink Me signs on them".

Here is a shot of the two tables they ate at. I used pom-poms rather than paper lanters, cause they were easier to make, but I think it still worked. I made Kennedee's chair a little more festive with extra flowers on it.

After we ate, we played games. First was croquet with the Queen using a croquet set and oversized playing card I found in the casino section of the party store, then 'pin the smile on the cheshire cat', and then a fill-up-the-teacup-with -water-race.

after we opened presents, the kids got to eat "queen of hearts" cupcakes

My good friend made this beautiful topsy turvy cake for the party. So talented! It was so hard to finally cut into it to eat it.

F*O*U*R

Lucky girl gets to celebrate her 4th birthday over several weeks. We got her an early birthday present by going to build-a-bear (pictures to come). This was her first time going, although she has asked several times before.

Gramma Bo and Pappy come next weekend, then she has her big friend birthday party a week before her birthday.

Then we go to San Diego and Anaheim for a week of theme parks with Gramma/Grampa Johnsen and cousins.

And then we finally celebrate her actual birthday on March 19th.

I am so excited for all the festivities because this year she really understands the concept of a birthday much more than she ever had in the past.