Rockets & Rainbows...

This month marked the birthdays of a very special little boy and girl. So, what better way to celebrate than a joint party with Rainbows for the girls and Rockets for the boys?? Who are the lucky twosome?? My favorite 1 year old, Rush and the most awesome 4 year old, Troy!!! These are the children of my friend Kasi. I always look forward to her parties because they are awesome - every detail captured and SO creative. This party was no exception.

Before I get into the fun that was this party, I have to go down memory lane for a minute... It is unreal to me that I met Troy in the hospital and was there for her first birthday party. Now we celebrate FOUR years!!! 

As soon as we walked in the door, we knew this party was going to be true Kasi awesomeness...

Soon after we arrived, the activities for the kids began. Painting and drawing pictures and magnets. There was paint and every shade of glitter known! There was also a face painter!

Troy is ready to paint!

Rush wants to color!

Troy looking on as Mom gets a rainbow painted on her arm.

Cute Rush sporting a gel - mohawk.

The birthday boy and girl

Troy, in all her rainbow colors... showing off her artwork.

The adults enjoyed BBQ for lunch while the kids got their own treats. 

After lunch and the activities were done, we moved to a favorite part... the cake. Just as Troy had done on her 1st birthday, Rush got his own "smash cake" and he did it justice!!!

Too cute!

 

Going to get cleaned up by Aunt Monica.

Troy's cake wasn't just any ol' birthday cake. Kasi had baked a surprise in this one and we were all wow'd by the cake - especially Troy. 

SEVEN rainbow layers!!

A few of us grown-ups decided to join in the face painting too! The artist was happy to oblige since we didn't squirm as much as the kids.

L to R: Monica (Jay's sister), Me, Tolva (Kasi's sister) and Kasi.

After all the guests had left, we stuck around with the family for a while. As we cleaned up from the festivities, Troy decided to have a little fun with some of her cake.

It was kind of disgusting - but she was having so much fun!

I feel so blessed to consider them my extended family. Every year I see Troy get older and get to know Mr. Rush even more, I love Kasi, Jay, their families as my own.

From G to Z...

This weekend was a busy one with happy occasions! Saturday afternoon, we headed to San Marcos for the wedding of one of my friends from work - Erica. You may remember her from our adventures in California when I started my new job and went there for training. She married her long time boyfriend, Adam aka "Zimmie". Adam is nicknamed Zimmie because his last name is Zimmerhansel. So, Erica went from Gonzales to Zimmerhanzel! 

They got married in a Catholic church (with their SEVEN attendants each!) in a traditional and very pretty service. 

After the ceremony we all headed to the Kali-Kate Pavilion in Buda. It was a little warm for an outdoor pavilion but they had plenty of fans running and lots of cold drinks. Including a custom wine Erica had created, bottled and labeled for the occasion!

Making their entrance...

First dance...

We enjoyed a BBQ dinner and visiting with some of my co-workers that were there. Besides the BBQ, there were lots of other Texas things...

Cupcake UT stadium!

Erica wore her Cowboy boots to the reception!

But perhaps one of the coolest surprises of the night... a Mariachi Band!! They arrived and serenaded the Bride & Groom. Then they made their way around the room... so fun!!

It was a fun night and Erica couldn't have been more beautiful!! I am so happy for both of them and wish them a fun an relaxing honeymoon in the Dominican Republic!

The floors...

Saturday...

After a quick breakfast and relocating the furniture to the kitchen a garage, we were ready to go!! 

Everything is out!! Except Gypsy and the TV so we could watch college football.

Zoe checking things out and Brad pulling up the last carpet strips in the closet.

Our kitchen became out temporary living room.

Good friends, Ricky, Nicole and their son, RJ arrived, shortly joined by Brad's parents, Larry and Dorothy.

Larry making some measurements.

Everyone pitched in their own way, but Ricky, Larry and Brad worked solid for hours. There were very frustrating moments but they figured it out and made it happen!!

The first planks are down!

We took a break for lunch so the guys could re-fuel and rest.

Then they were back at it!!

While they put the floor down, I worked on painting the white trim along the staircase. The only real "oops" for the day was this...

I thought I had closed the can of white paint but when Brad didn't see it on the stairs and he tripped, it clearly wasn't closed tight enough!! We plan on replacing the carpet eventually, but not for some time. So, for now, we will find a pretty area rug to cover it!

By 4PM, they were still hard at work. Our friends Adam and Jenna were getting married that night, so I went to the wedding with my date, Laura and left Brad to keep working.

Late night finish... even Samson is tired of all the work.

Several hours later, I came home to this...

And it is done!!

The next morning... everyone is checking it out.

BEAUTIFUL!!!

All but a small section in the front closet and the quarter-round is left. It is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

They had worked for almost 12 hours and I can't thank them enough. Today Brad is working on the quarter-round. Once we get the room together, I will post the true before/after pictures.

Our living room comes together... finally!

Unfortunately, the paint drama continued before this was all said and done. Brad picked up the re-mixed, darker color. Since Friday was company holiday for me, Brad also took off so we could work on the house. He painted over all of the spots and edging. However, something still wasn't right. I tried hard to convince him that it was just visible to him, because he was the one that painted it. He wasn't convinced.

As I started looking closer, I realized the color was correct but the finish wasn't... they had used the wrong base for the paint! That made all of the new paint shiny compared to the original paint! UGH. So, we loaded up and headed BACK to Home Depot which a fire in our belly to get this correct once and for all!! Over an hour later of going back and forth with the Paint Department and a Manager, and they FINALLY understood what was wrong and how to fix it. Seriously frustrating. By the time we left, we had a gallon of the corrected paint, a new brush I need for trim and a gallon of the color we will be painting the kitchen. Certainly not repayment for all of our lost time, but it helped.

So, finally, as the paint went on the walls, it looked right.

Helping Brad with the re-touch up.

They were not amused...

Brad had also pulled up all the carpet and started on the pad.

Saturday we had help coming in to put down our new laminate flooring!!