J Cooper Photography

1.  I’m in post party planning mayhem here…up to my eyeballs in laundry, shredded gift wrap, and I have eaten 7 cupcakes in the last 48 hours.   Someone may need to send in reinforcements.

2.  A few weeks ago Mr. P ditched us for 10 days for a overseas adventure including seeing the preparations for the Royal Horse Show in London and going on a South African safari.  Ok.  He didn’t really ditch us.  It was a business trip and there was a fair amount of “working” as well.  But would you be sore if your spouse was off taking these pictures while you were puking your brains out?  Yeah…thought so

3.  While he was gone I decided to party a bit myself (before I got too sick to think straight).  I called up a friend and asked her to come on over for some pizza and crafting (I know…we are two wild gals!)  I couldn’t leave the house with the kids in tow so we hunkered down and did the best we could to completely ignore the kids while we made ourselves wreaths.  Her sweet boy was literally begging to go home around 10pm…my kids had worn him out!  The kidlets kept themselves busy by playing dress up for hours. I took these pictures well after 9pm…oh, we are negligent mothers!

pretty pink princesses

gardeners

chefs {pardon the little one clearly needing a potty break}

Overeaters Anonymous (Jules not pictured as she had a wardrobe malfunction when her “fat” fell out of her nightgown)

4.  I’m thinking I may need just ONE more cupcake tonight.  I’m in love with buttercream.  It is a recent love affair.  I never knew that cupcakes could look and taste so divine until I discovered the art of homemade buttercream icing.  This is the recipe I used:

1 stick of softened butter, beat for about 30 seconds until creamy.
Add 3 cups of powdered sugar,
3 – 5 TBSP milk,
1/2 tsp vanilla.
Mix until consistency for spreading or piping.
If you want to make the buttercream chocolate, add 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa.

5.  Baboo took these picture of the “girls club” at my niece’s graduation a few weeks ago.  The club used to consist of my girls and their favorite youngest cousin.  Now that the Peruvian Princess is home the group has grown (and evened out some).  I think she is fitting in just fine.

Maybe a little too well

6.  For some reason Sam starts to yodle EVERY night when we join hands to pray at dinner.

7.  He’s cute…but man does this kid keep me on my toes

8.  Miss Middle graduated from Kindergarten today.  I’ve always thought “those” moms who cried at “those” types of occassions were sissies.  Well join me up for the Crybaby Club because I was a teary mess.  Once her sweet teacher started that slideshow of all those chubby faces gone slim on the smart board I was a quivering mess.  We reviewed her portfolio and ate a few cookies and off she goes to first grade (and all day school).  The Brainiac has a half day of school tomorrow and then she is done as well.  SUMMER HERE WE COME!

First and last day of school – Kindergarten and 2nd Grade

{I should have included Super Sam in today’s picture…he has changed the most!}

9.  My sweet girly girls in a moment of best friendhood.

10.  Oh yeah…that’s more like it

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!!!!