Summer Splash Park Birthday Party

July 1, 2012 by Jules 2 Comments

Yesterday we celebrated our Summer Birthdays at the War Memorial Splash Park!!!

These are just a few of my favorite pictures from the day...I took ~300 ;o)
Maybe I should start a side business? hehe

Filed Under: Baking and Cooking, Being a Help-Meet, Holidays, Homemaker, Parenting, Parties, The ones about the Rothacher Home

What Does “Hospitality” {REALLY} Look Like?

June 13, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

Hospitality is so important to the Christian life. But so many Christians struggle with it...or so they think. When you hear the word "Hospitality" what is the 1st thing you think?

I have to fix a 'proper' meal
Do I own a tableclothes
My plates don't match
How are you supposed to set a 'proper' place setting
When am I going to find time to make my house shiny clean
What in the world will be talk about
There's no 'good' time to have ____ over

Read the rest of this post over at the Homemaker's Challenge!

Filed Under: Baking and Cooking, Cleaning, Organizing, Parties, The Ones about Homemaker's Challenge, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Rothacher Dress-Up!

June 5, 2012 by Jules 1 Comment

My kids LOVE dress-up! We have an entire "center" devoted to dress-up stuff. I can often find them helping one another into a dress or finding just the right hat for the day. I'm not just talking about my princesses either. My prince can't go a day without trying on a couple of hats and strut'n around in them.All kids come by this naturally. Pretending is a wonderful creative outlet! My kids are also learning that dress-up doesn't have to stop. God made us creative and fun so why should there be an age cut off for these kinds of things. I like trying funky outfits every-now-and-then and Matt and I both love using Halloween costumes as a good excuse to have fun. In the past several years, we've has annual Costume Parties with our youth groups. FUN STUFF!!! I love making our own costumes. I also love to make the adult Halloween costumes and kids' Halloween costumes go together: family costumes! Here are some examples from years past:

The Increadibles {2006}

Family Costume Ideas: Fire Truck, Fire Dog {Dalmation}, and Fireman

Fireman, Fire Truck, Fire Dog- Dalmation {2008}

Family Costume Ideas: Potbelly {pregnant} Farmer, Prize Winning Pumpkin, and Farm Dog

(pregnant) Cubby Farmer, Farm Dog, and Prize Winning Pumpkin {2009}

Family Costume Ideas: Picnic- Can of Diet Coke, Lady Bug, Chick Leg, and Bag of Grapes

Picnic: Can of Diet Coke, Chicken Leg, Bag of Grapes, and a Lady Bug {2010}

Family Costume Ideas: 3 Little Pigs, Brick House, and Big Bad Wolf

The 3 Little Pigs: 3 little pigs, Big Bad Wolf, and the Brick House {2011}

When's the last time you played dress-up and enjoyed the creative side God gave you?

Filed Under: Being a Help-Meet, Holidays, Parenting, Parties, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Carpe Diem: Seize the…Opportunity {Five Minute Friday}

May 25, 2012 by Jules 1 Comment

On Fridays over here a group of people who love to throw caution to the wind and just write gather to share what five minutes buys them. Just five minutes. Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking Link back at the gypsy mamma and invite others to join in.

Please give me your best five minutes on:

Opportunity…

Today I am grateful to have seized the day on more than one day this past week. It has flown by but not with a single missed opportunity! Last Sunday was our last day at our {potentially} last church as youth ministers. Our New Adventure has started.

Among Matt starting work at his new "office" with regular 'buisness hours', there has been tons of celebrating going on this week. We are exhausted and filled. God has filled us with so much love this past week from all those who love us so dearly. I know last weeks 5MF ended up being...contreversal even though I still not sure why. This week I wanted to share nothing but the positives of this past week.

Sunday night there were the Awana Awards! AND a going away party for us!Monday night we had a FUN staff going away cook out! Tuesday was officially Nakey Day! along with some Nakey Painting! Wednesday was Maggie's last night in Cubbies which included a PJ party!

Thursday night was our fellowship night with the Journey class!

Friday night was dinner with awesome friends!

Saturday was a birthday party at the park! AND Nanna's birthday, including dinner and icecream cake! Memorial Day Weekend and our fun has just begun. We're looking forward to slowing down but not until after the SPLASHPAD and picnic at the park tomorrow as we take our 1st true Sabbath in a long time! Fun way to celebrate our Freedom in Christ! Thanks to all those who are missing someone special today who gave their life for America. Let's be sure to remember The One who gave His life for Everyone's Eternal Freedom from sin!!!

Our fun will continue into next week as Matt and I go to a cabin for a couple nights {ALONE} to celebrate our 8-year-anniversary! {THANKS Nanna and Papaw!} So, if you don't hear from me...that's we're I am ;O)

Stop.

Hope you enjoyed our life via my camera. {THANKS Aunt TeaLee for letting me borrow yours after the 'bad guys' took mine!!! I promise I'll get a new one of my own soon ;o)} What are you doing in memory of those who have given their lives for our American freedoms?

Filed Under: 5 Minute Fridays, Being a Help-Meet, Parenting, Parties, The Ones about Link-Ups, The ones about the Rothacher Home

McDonald’s Play Place Party

February 15, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

One of the newly remolded McDonald’s near our home has an awesome Play Place! There’s tons of seating near the toy. It includes a toddler area. AND they have a bathroom out there for quick potties without running through the rest of the restaurant. My eldest has been suggesting we go there for her siblings birthday’s since seeing their party room near the toy the 1^st time.

We have made the commitment to only do BIG birthday parties for our children’s 1^st birthdays and then other big milestone birthdays as to stick to our guns about being frugal. {I LOVE HOSTING PARTIES!}

My middle child just turned 2 and my niece turns 8 the same month so we decided to celebrate both girls birthdays with family by having lunch at the Play Place. We weren’t inviting lots of other children so we didn’t pay to do the party room and chose to bring our own simple decorations and cake. *note: we ask permission form the employee in charge of the party room to make sure it was okay.

The birthday banner my Sis-in-love made me for Christmas last year and the giant cupcake pan was a gift from my mom. Izzie chose a pink {strawberry} cake and I decorated it with white frosting, red sprinkles, spray on frosting coloring, and a valentine cupcake topper.

We ate our lunch,

played a little while,

sang “Happy Birthday” to both girls, ate cake {and shared more than ½ with other children in the Play Place as well as McDonald’s employees}, and opened gifts.