Happy Friday everyone! Today happens to be Ella's first birthday but since we aren't celebrating it until tomorrow I will post stuff about that later this weekend.





Right now we are nearing the end of Birthday Season in my family. I guess my brother and I get bored around July & August because all five of the grandchildren on my side have birthdays from end of March to the first week of June. This means that I spend a few months each spring trying to figure out what to get the kids for their birthdays - mine included.





I have been through enough kid crap over the last 11 years to know that:

they don't make toys like they used to (ever played with Hungry Hippo lately?)

95% of the toy gadgets don't work and end up in the garbage (I should do a blog of what toys to avoid, especially for girls)

kids (at least mine anyway) quit playing with the stuff within a week (perhaps because it's cheap & didn't work like it claimed)

(you had to destroy the box to get the toy out so if you have the receipt, good luck returning it)

I swear kids get 3x's as much stuff now than I did growing up

I have made it a personal goal to only purchase gifts that will be used, are disposable, take up little room and/or create memories. If I find one that works, I tend to use it for all our God Daughters + Anna. I thought I would share my idea for this year. Keep in mind all the girls are between ages 6-10 and like arts & cooking.











