Pattye Duffner's Blog

Bike Birthday Party

When making birthday invitations I always try to include their photos.  This year we are doing a bike riding party at the local BMX canter.  Quinn is my biggest and best poser for photos.  Any time anywhere he is ready for a photo!  But let me tell you I never know what I am going to get… he has a plan of his own.  I picked this one to make his 7^th birthday invite. Using Photoshop and my own photo this invitation was a snap to make!  With trophies and candy for the party favors, donut birthday cake, pizza and shave ice will round out a party.  I will post more detailed photos ASAP!

34 Weeks

Baby #4 is coming… ready or not!  I am now thinking I am almost ready for our new addition.  Having four kids is not the frighting part for me at all.  It is having 3 of them be boys!  We are still not totally sure of a name, bed is not up, and bag is not packed… My appointments are every week now and belly is growing.  If you have some great can’t go into delivery with out suggestions please pass them along to me.  As you know I am a list person so I can easily add your suggestions to my list (that I have not started).  Thanks in advanced for your help… I need it! 

Celebrate Summer

Picnic Essentials 

Whether you're planning a picnic to celebrate an occasion or simply enjoy a pleasant summer afternoon, it's easy to make each picnic unique. The food, candles, flowers, games, music, and other diversions you bring add a special touch. But no matter the occasion, most every picnic requires some basic essentials. Consider the following:

For Transporting and Storage 

·  Cooler fully stocked with ice or ice packs

·  Picnic basket

·  Food storage containers

For Safety and Comfort 

·  Picnic blanket or tablecloth

·  Low-standing picnic table

·  Cushions or pillows

·  Folding chairs

·  Antibacterial gel

·  Insect repellent

·  Anti-allergy medication

·  Sunscreen

·  Umbrella

For Serving 

·  Utensils/plates/cups

·  Napkins/paper towels

·  Condiments

·  Bottle opener/corkscrew

·  Plenty of water/beverages

For Cleanup 

·  Towelettes/paper towels

·  Trash bags

Feeling HOT HOT HOT...

Perfect Lemonade Recipe

• 1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute)

Method

1 Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely.

2 While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons, enough for one cup of juice.

3 Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

Serve with ice, sliced lemons.

Serves 6.

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers day to all!!!  This is one of my very favorite days of the year.  The kids are just themselves but I take the time to do nothing but hang out with them…  Just being.   This summer is going to be a bit challenging for me with 3 big kids and the need to keep them all busy along with a newborn.  I do have some plans in mind but would love to hear some more ideas of what you do during the summer to keep the little ones busy and having a fun summer for all!  In the past years I have done different summer themes for every week.  Got all the crafts, books, etc to support the theme and just play.  This year I was thinking about doing a more structured plan of every day activities…. Something like:  "Mondays Manners with Mom" I got a couple of books so that I am sure to teach them the things correctly…  Tuesdays Play dates with Friends… Wednesdays I was thinking would be good for service days…. Thursdays water days… I don’t know help me out here.  If you have any ideas I would love to hear them.  What is your summer plans to keep the kids excited and smiling?

Teacher appreciation week

This week is teacher appreciation week and today we brought flowers to the teachers.  I am too practical (or is it cheep) to buy cut flowers and prefer myself to get plants.  This is what I have come up with.  I hope you find some inspiration and think this is fun.  The kids looked cute caring them to their teacher.

A Day To Remember...

Ella has lost her first tooth!  I made such a big deal out of it I think I frightened the poor girl.  She does not know to be excited or not and keeps saying to me "Mom I can't believe I lost my first tooth".  Jerry and I have told her to be excited and it is fun to lose your teeth.  Maybe after the tooth fairy comes tonight and leaves her some cold hard cash she will understand why she should get excited.  She has it in a tooth fairy pillow along with a note that she had me write...

Dear Tooth Fairy,

I have a tooth fairy pillow.  It is on my bed in the back, not the side, next to my pillow.  Love Ella

I do not know where she gets it from... very clear on what she needs!