Princess's Party

Well I am kind of done with parties, at least for now. With Boobie and Princess having back to back birthdays, less than a month apart, lets just say March and April can get a little hectic for me. Don't get me wrong, I love a party. I love planning parties and I love to cook for and eat at parties. I love having that day to enjoy with good friends and close family. Plus my kids get a day just for them; a special day where everyone is there to celebrate their birth. They get their own celebration and I think that is wonderful!

But no matter how much I love parties, I am glad I don't have to think about another birthday or party for a few months. Once August rolls around, I'll get back into party planning mode for Fatty's birthday.

Now for Princess's party, I got the idea to do a Hawaiian theme. She wanted a Princess party (again), so I sorta compromised with her and got her a Little Mermaid pinata (that goes with the Hawaiian, under the sea theme, right?)

I was busy as a bee, planning the menu, getting cake ideas from the internet, buying decorations and favors and prizes for games. And of course, I needed the perfect party spot. I mean, can you have a Hawaiian themed/Little Mermaid Princess party without a pool?

I found the perfect place: Parque del Este in Sabanilla, a suburb nearby. It's actually the next suburb over and the park is about a 10 minute drive from the house. Perfect!!! The best part was the price. For roughly around $50, I could rent the hall in the park for the whole day from 8am until 4 pm. I also paid for each adult to attend the party (park entrance was not included in the hall price). All in all, for the hall and all the adults, I got away with spending less than $100! How cool is that?

Kids had a blast. Adults had fun. And the food was delicious (thanks in part to Hubby's aunt, who cooked up the best Arroz con Pollo you have ever tasted). There was also tuna pasta salad, macaroni and cheese, lettuce salad with dressing, chips, and cole slaw.

The location was amazing, a perfect party spot! The rain finally stopped just in time for the party and the kids were able to enjoy the entire park (well, except for the pool... so much for that, oh well).

As for my Princess, she had a WONDERGUL time... and that was all that mattered!




Princess's birthday, Abril 26

The Little Mermaid Princess Hawaiian Theme Party

Appetizers: cheese cubes with marshmallows, fruit skewers, chips and dip

Mozzarella stick and 'oreo' truffles

Mommy and the birthday princess

The cake and cupcakes...and yes, I made them : )

Parque del Este

The hall

Playing 'hot potato' but with a beach ball

The park

Princess and her preschool friends

Hula girl cake and cupcakes with parasols

A birthday celebration at school

Easter Weekend

Over the Easter weekend, we headed to Doubletree Resort in Puntarenas for some family fun and R&R before the kids headed back to school, rested from their Semana Santa week off.

Princess all by herself in the kiddie pool

Princess and fatty

Beach shots

These waves are 'gnarly dude!"

Having fun at the kids club

The kids show

The live band

Fun in the tub

Our room... which is actually like a master bedroom suite with a small living area that came equipped with a sofa bed, TV, small table with 2 chairs and coffee maker with coffee.

Enjoying a daquairi : )

The casino... WE WON!

The all you can eat buffet (fresh fruit side)

Dessert side

After we got back from the resort, I made up a scavenger hunt for the kids to enjoy, long with their Easter baskets filled with goodies. They hunted for clues to eggs, which led them to a surprise.

Huevo numero UNO! Let the hunt begin.

Even though the kids had a blast hunting for their 'treasure', the highlight of the weekend was the time we spent at the resort, swimming, eating, lounging, relaxing and drinking! Princess didn't even want to leave: she asked if she could live in the room. Oh Princess, if only...

Next time we'll go for TWO nights!

It was a great and awesome Easter weekend.. and even if I had planned it, it could not have been any better.

Hip Hip Hooray!!!! Some Good News

So remember last year, all the posts about Boobie not doing so 'hot' in school. He got so many negative notes home from his teachers about his lack of attentiveness, his horsing around in class and just not doing his work. He barely passed the year, which left me on the edge. All year, it was a constant battle with him, an ongoing struggle to get him to 'buckle down' and get his act together.

Well, guess what? He finally got his act together. I guess he's "done gone and grown up on me" (in my most proud voice). So far this school year, he has been doing awesome, I can hardly believe it. No negative notes home, no more complaints from his teachers. He is actually paying attention in class, doing his work, listening and participating in class and get this: PASSING ALL HIS EXAMS!

I bumped into his 4th grade teacher from last year, who happens to be his English teacher this year. She is so amazed with Boobie's transformation. In her words, Boobie has 'matured'. She doesn't know what happened over the summer break, but Boobie is a changed man and she likes the new improved Boobie. He's actually 'present' in class now, not off doodling in his Mario fairyland.

And of course I let Boobie know just how proud I am of his accomplishments and remind him every day to keep up the good work. After all, it is only just 3 months into the school year. But I am hoping he can keep this up. And with all his good grades, I dare say, he might end up being able to buy the Nintendo 3ds before Christmas. : )

Now if only I could get him to change that pre-teen angst attitude at home, I would be in mommy heaven!!!