Woodland Pumpkins

We have a big fall party every year, and instead of carving pumpkins, we use nature to decorate them! Every one is so unique, and kids can easily work independently (no knives involved).

We use low-heat glue guns, sticks, moss, leaves, hay, berries, pinecones, flowers, pine boughs....

basically anything and everything we can find out in the woods!

We LOVE this tradition, and they welcome neighbors on our front porch all throughout the season!

The Hidden Cupcake

We are big on birthdays around here, and The Hidden Cupcake is one of our favorite traditions! Here is how it works...In the morning, we put the cupcake next to the birthday person's plate. Sometime during the day, the cupcake disappears and is hidden somewhere in the house. At present time, the birthday guy or gal gets to hunt around for the cupcake, which is now housing inside of it a fun gift.

There are countless ideas of what can be put inside. You could even hide it with a big present waiting in the garage!

Celebrating in creative ways is a great way to show others how much we love them. Whether you buy a cupcake, make one at a paint your own pottery place, or use some other wacky container you have around the house, it's a fun idea that adults as well as kids love!

You HAVE to see what they've done!!

This year is a milestone birthday..... and on Saturday night my family and friends threw a party for me! I walked in to find these lining the hall....

I was speechless and crying before I even walked in the door! My husband and sister had organized for some of my family and friends to make plates for me at a paint-your-own-pottery place. Isn't this the most creative, precious gift? Let me show you how they turned out!

My favorite is the one from Erik and the kids. My daughter wrote our family verse around the outside and each of my kids signed their name next to their handprint. I can't think of a better gift....this one REALLY made me cry!

Each one took so much thought, time, effort, and planning -- a real act of love! I see each person's personality come out in the plates. I will TREASURE these because of the people who made them! It is a perfect gift for me.... a mix of the heart, homemade, and practical!!

That is my dad's hand on the blue plate. He wrote "Daddy's little girl." I feel like I always will be no matter how old I get! One of my friends did a WORD FIND in her plate! Can you imagine how much time that took?? I love each for different reasons~


The pink one with the cross is from my dear Grandma who is 89. I cannot tell you how much I love having a plate from her....

40.... bring it!!!