This is the sign I've dreaded for 6 months. The sign that showed up yesterday on our next door neighbor's front lawn. The husband works for the navy (he's not in the service, but he works for them). He was transferred to California for a 2 year assignment. That was 6 months ago and his wife and child have been here still. Getting new neighbors always opens you up to a wonderful experience or a nightmare. Renting is even worse. We live in a very nice, family neighborhood and when we moved to our street, the house across the street was rented. The people were STRANGE and the house was not kept up very good. Imagine our surprise when the wife up and moved out of state with her daughters because her husband (the step-father) was arrested for getting the 15 year old daughter pregnant. Then we get new renters. A younger guy with his girlfriend and baby and some of his limo's. He owned a limo company. Within a year, one day the FBI is at the house carting tons of stuff out. What happened to him? He was arrested for running a prostitution ring. This is our experience with renters (thankfully the house was then sold and the new owners are VERY nice people).

So we are very leary of renters and this time they'll be right next door to us.

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In other events, Kayla and Alysa have a birthday party this afternoon which means fun for them and tons of stress and anxiety for me. It is at a play place, which means pizza and cake (it doesn't get much worse for us). And they play, eat pizza, play more, eat cake and play more. Yay! Thankfully the Mom is a friend of mine and she will be helping to make sure all the kids are washed up before going back out to play. It's also close to home, so we can leave early if we have to.

After, J and I have plans for a minor league baseball game with friends tonight. The girls will be with my Mom, so I'm looking forward to some baseball arena junk food - hot dogs, soda, etc (maybe even some popcorn).

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Kayla's party is 2 weeks away - she is getting super excited. I of course, am annoyed. Today is the RSVP date and I have not heard from 8 of the kids from her school and none of J's family. And since I need to order the favors on Monday, I have to make a whole mess of phone calls tomorrow. I hate doing this, especially to the parents I don't know - but I'd hate for them not to call and show up and me not have favors for them. Do you think I'll get all 8 phone calls today? ;)

I had not really attached a theme to her party, but after talking to a friend of mine, I decided to get Littlest Pet Shop dessert plates (for the meal, I'm sticking with generic foam). She also gave me the idea (her daughter's birthday is this coming week) to put a petshop animal on the cupcakes. So...I was able to get a lot of 25 for $1.00 an animal on eBay. Jackpot! Since we'll have kids at the house too for the "adult" party, instead of doing an activity (we have the pool), I'm going with a pinata and I've decided to take a stab at making it. I'll get some skittles and starburts (both safe for Kayla) and some pinata toys. That should be fun. I'm planning on making it with the girls and then letting them paint it and put Littlest Pet Shop stickers on it. I found LPS ones (home made) on eBay but with shipping it would cost me $25 - I think that's a bit steep for a pinata. Maybe not, I've never purchased one before, but it's cheaper to make one.

Thursday, I got to run some blissful errands without the girls (my Mom was down for the day) and I stopped at the craft store to see if they sold Wilton's 4-Tier Stacked Dessert Tower. I was originally going to go for one of these, but the plastic one is cheaper AND more versatile - I can use it for cookies and other snacks for other events. So I was thrilled that they sold it (saved me shipping) AND that it was on sale for $12 (down from $20). We're having cupcakes at the play place and I'm making the porcupine cake from Allergy Moms. I'm also taking a stab at making Miss Roben's dairy-free Soft Pretzels for the play place.

I am still working on the rest of the menu, but I will be posting that either right before or right after the party with recipes.