BAM!, BBQ, and MAIL

BAM!

Now this is an acceptable scene to walk in on...

I was so ticked when the SMALL (Sandusky Mall) took out Borders book store and replaced it with BAM!  Borders was awesome, and BAM! sucks.  They do, however, have a great children's book section.  Patrick is in desperate need of more books; he has quite a few, but Mama has memorized all the words in them and that gets old.  I picked up these two new ones from BAM! this morning. 

They are super and I can't wait to read them to him tonight before bed.


BBQ

We had some family and friends over last night for a small BBQ.  On the menu:  beef kabobs, rice pilaf, and sweetcorn on the grill.  It was delicious!  I found the recipe for the beef kabobs here.  That's the link to a blog called Many Makings that's done by two women with kids and they have fabulous recipes.  I've made at least a dozen of them!

teryaki ginger beef kabobs.

lilly & pat - bff's

Isn't that so annoying when parents label their child and someone else's child like "boyfriend and girlfriend" or say they're going to get married someday?  It's like what are the chances?  One in 3 billion?  Well, I'm going to be just a little less annoying and label them BFF's. 

Lilly and Patrick are a mere five weeks apart!  It seems like Amanda and I were just bantering about whose belly was bigger last summer, and now we're planning first birthday parties.  Craaazy!


Speaking of first birthday parties, I have been busy ordering from Etsy for Patrick's party like it's going out of style.  I recently became an Etsy shopper (after finding my way through Pinterest) and I am just LOVING it.  There is nothing more special than a.)  giving small businesses your money and 2.)  receiving a handmade, high-quality purchase in the mail.  The people who have these shops are just incredible.  So far for the party, I've ordered some garland from Hobblecreek Designs and custom invitations from LittleDarlingsUK. 

This is how my invitations came wrapped.  I mean, could it be any more lovely?