Birthday Parties!!!

You may have noticed that I have been away from my blog for the past couple of days. I have been away because of two parties in honor of our eldest daughter, Leighlyn.

The first party was held on Friday evening from right after school until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. As he has for most of the last 13 years, Stan took the day off for Leighlyn's birthday. (He does the same thing for Abigayle also, of course.) Anyway, he drove the Buick and I drove the van to the junion-senior high school to pick Leighlyn up and the majority of her closest friends. A few of them were delivered to our house later after basketball practice.

At 4:30, Aida Alicia Heredia arrived at our home to give a Mary Kay party for the girls in attendance. Though most of us are familiar with the parties going all of the way from teaching us of their skin care routine through their glamour collection which includes full coverage make-up, Aida Alicia sticks strictly to the skin care regimen for these young girls who are now beginning to face pimples and acne. I, for one, find that to be so very important!!! She will allow the girls to try out Mary Kay lipgloss and a baked cosmetic that allows the girls to brush it on to their eyes and cheek. It gives a totally natural look to their faces and just enhances their own beauty. I recommend it to all young girls who may be interested! The skin care class was the end of the peacefulness at our house for the rest of the party!!! All of these girls hung on to every word of Aida Alicia. They paid perfect attention to what all they needed to do to keep their skin clear and soft. By the way, parents of young girls, I want to tell you that Aida Alicia does an EXCEPTIONAL job of teaching these girls!!! I whole heartedly recommend that you give her a call for your own daughter either to schedule a skin care class or to set up an individual appointment for Aida Alicia to help your own daughter. Of course, she conducts the entire class for adults--not just the skin care. This lady is beautiful inside and out!!!

After the class, the girls just had a great time visiting with one another. Once the basketball players arrived here, the work began on individual pizza making. I made FOUR batches of the best pizza crust dough that I have EVER made!!! I'll be posting it's recipe later on here for you to try out!

After the dough was ready, Stan balled it up into just enough dough for a large personal pizza for each girl. He then rolled it out and placed each one on a baking sheet. I slopped the pizza sauce on it before we called the girls in to garnish it with whatever meats and cheeses they so desired. After that, they were popped into the oven. Once fully baked, Stan cut them into 4 wedges before placing them on the girl's plate.

After each of the girls had eaten, they retired to the living room to watch a slew of horror flicks that they found on our Netflix movie menu. Abigayle and her friend, Sophia, moved to the girls' bedroom to watch the Disney Channel while Stan and I took our pizzas to our bedroom. It was the first time in MANY years that we had done that!!! The earlier time was when we had ordered pizza into a motel room. We had fun also! I have to say though that eating meals on our dining room table is much more convenient!!!

During the entire night, the girls only slept for 3 hours. (Man, I don't know how they can do that!!!) I know that once upon a time, I was also able to do that. This old woman has gotten too old for it now... It was no wonder that Leighlyn took a 2-hour nap yesterday afternoon.

Every girl ate pancakes before their parents picked them up on Saturday morning. It was almost shocking how quiet it became when these noisy girls left! LOL!!!

After the girls left is when we gave Leighlyn her gift from us--a Nintendo DSI XL. Santa Claus brought each one of the girls their original DSes for Christmas awhile back. Leighlyn had used her's so long that it actually came apart at one of the attachment points! In case you have heard your own child or grandchild speak of wanting the DSI, let me describe it for you just in case they have not heard of them yet.

The DSI is used for playing a multitude of Nintendo games in this hand-held game. Of course, each game is purchased individually. Fortunately, the same game cartridges are used for DSI as they are for the original DS. DSI comes with two built-in games, Brainage for Math and Brainage for Letters and Arts. These are excellent games that are not only fun to play but are also excellent learning tools.

DSI enables people of all ages to listen to music and connect to the internet where the players can tune in to games there. They also take pictures for the user to post on the internet, etc.

If you think that someone you love might be interested in one of these for Christmas, birthdays, etc., expect to pay $169.00 at such stores as Wal-Mart.

Leighlyn's second party began last night at 6:00. Guests included our son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Mel, from Scott City, Mama, our brother-in-law, Leif and nephew, Lars, and our Grandma, Neva Duncan. Lori was unable to be with us because of illness, Lona Sue had a fondue party in Garden City that she was committed to, Hunter went with a bunch of his friends to Denver to watch the Denver Broncos and Rob was unable to join us either.

We enjoyed barbequed meatballs, potato casserole, corn, jello salad, a relish tray. Leif and Lars brought over chips and dip. After dinner, we brought out one of the absolute prettiest chocolate birthday cakes that I have EVER seen!!! Of course, we bought it from Julie Faurot from Scott City's Cakery Bakery!!! It was frosted in pink icing with big white polka dots. Around the center of the top was a circle of small pink and white frosting beads. Around the base of the square cake was a beading of larger pink and white frosting. We were able to find polka dotted birthday candles at Mel's Foodliner in Leoti. It was just ADORABLE!!! (I will be posting contact information for Julie in case you want to surprise a loved one of your own with her delightful edible artwork!!!)

Of course, the most wonderful part of the evening was all of the conversation and laughter that we shared with one another!!! There is absolutely nothing that compares to family...

So, today things will begin to return to normal in the Blau household.

VLE-B