Happy Birthday to Emily!

We finally made it to November 8th. Our weekend of parties left me a little exhausted before her actual day arrived. Emily insisted on making her own cake just like Megan did. She did require a little more help, but did very well picking the colors, mixing the frosting, and spreading on the ice cream colors. I will admit I did the cone, but Emily pretty much did the rest.
The finished product. Quite a cute cake for a 6-year-old.
This is the Birthday girl. If you look close you will see the glitter and make-up in all it's glory. She looked like this, minus the crown, for church and told people she didn't even know that it was her Birthday. After church, she planned her dinner of taco ring and had Mammy, Grandma Grace, and Jeff over to enjoy it with her. To say she was excited is a huge understatement. The dinner didn't take as long to eat and clean up as we thought so we had to play games to entertain her before the other guests arrived. In fact, she was more wound up than most at the party had ever seen. When the cousins came she started by singing for everyone and then dancing. As Tyler said, "It was so embarrassing!"
She loved being in the spotlight and milked it for all it was worth. She was especially excited to get her Nintendo DS and the tinkerbell accessories for it. At least we have a year to recover before she plans her 7th Birthday. I love that Emily was so excited for her big day. Happy big 6, we are so grateful Emily is part of our family!

Emily's Birthday---Part 2

Even after the stealing incident of last year, (Lucky the Dog was taken from our table) Emily still wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese for her "family" party. We didn't take any presents this year and only left food on our table.
The kids played and played. Emily wanted to ride this horse the entire night and when she did finally get on, she wanted off within seconds. A little too fast for her blood.
This is a picture of the party-goers. Tyler brought a friend and Emily brought her cousin Anna. She was a little disappointed more people didn't come, but then again this isn't even her actual Birthday. She still had plans for another "family" party with more people. I must say she could easily be a wedding planner.
We didn't pay to have the "official" birthday, but as luck would have it another Emily was celebrating the same day. Every time they announced that it was Emily's birthday and they were going to sing to her, our Emily thought it was just for her. She didn't want to hug the giant Chuckie, but did enjoy dancing while the Birthday song was played. We had a great time and even left with everything we came with. The restaurant has redeemed itself in Emily's eyes.

Happy Birthday Emily--Part I

We've officially hit a milestone. Emily wanted an all-girls party for the first time ever. She planned the entire party. She wanted dinner (gourmet chicken nuggets and tator tots), cupcakes, a snack bar, and a movie on the projector. The movie was Tinkerbell which may explain the lack of boys at the party. She invited 7 girls from her kindergarten class and the ward.
Her cupcakes had tinkerbell papers on them and had to be funfetti. I must say she knows what she wants. I like that she is still in her school uniform. All the other girls came dressed up and Emily didn't even think about changing. I hope her choice of clothing stays so easy.
Apparently when a girl turns 6, all the other girls pick out what they would actually want. This meant she got lots of stuffed animals and even more make-up. Yes, make-up. Emily was in heaven. Eyeshadow, lipgloss, and of course the ever popular blush and glitter all in convenient cases. Can I just say Emily has gone to town? She wears blush and eyeshadow to school and church. I guess I'm hoping if she uses enough of it, it will be gone soon.
The girls earned tickets throwing rings on soda bottles and then used the tickets to buy popcorn, drinks, and candy. After the purchasing, they all settled in to watch the movie. It really was an easy party and Tinkerbell was a hit! Happy Birthday Emily!

Fall Days!

We don't have very big trees, but the kids raked and raked until they came up with a pile big enough to hold them.
Tyler did finally get enough leaves to bury Megan. She then complained she had leaves in her pants and shirt the rest of the day. I guess leaves are kind of like sand----really hard to lose.
After the raking and chopping of branches, Jeff came out to haul it all away to the dump. Luckily for the kids we have many more leaves to still fall. We just love the Fall!

Halloween 2009

The night began with a parade through the neighborhood with a fire truck leading the way. I had the neighbor taking pictures for me and he didn't get real close-ups of the parade. Oh well! We have a nice long video tape.

The parade ended at the park with cookies and milk. Just enough sugar to get them all back home for dinner. The weather turned out to be really nice. As you can see we didn't even need jackets.

This is Tyler in his mask. The eyes lit up and he looked pretty scary. I have to admit I kept looking all over the park for him because I just wasn't expecting such a creepy character. This is about the first year he hasn't been a pirate. I guess he is growing up.

After the parade we went back home to hurry and eat dinner with Mammy and Grandma Grace before the real trick or treating began. Wendell took the kids while the women manned the house. Emily made it about 2 blocks, had her pumpkin filled, and then wanted to come home.
She was more interested in E.T. that was playing on the projector than getting candy.

Our great pumpkins lit up for the trick-or-treaters.

Megan was a die-hard. This is only a portion of her haul. She was out with Wendell even after Tyler finished. She got back just in time to see E.T. go home in the movie.

Tyler lasted longer than Emily on the streets, but he too got caught up in the movie we had playing on our queen size sheet in the family room. He had his bucket filled and enough big candy bars to last him until Christmas. We had a fun night and are glad Mammy and Grandma Grace could come and spend the evening with us.

Student of the Month!

Tyler was chosen as student of the month for October. He was picked because he is trustworthy. His teacher said he does what is expected and always has a smile.
We were excited for Tyler. Megan and Emily just can't understand why he gets all the certificates and they don't get any. I guess not talking has it's benefits when it comes to teachers needing to pick model students. Way to go Tyler!

Halloween Parties-----

We had a busy month in October and it seems still. I had every intention of posting this weeks ago, but better late than never. Our first official party to wear costumes was the Ward party/carnival. No masks were allowed so we had to try out our make-up skills. I thought Tyler turned out pretty scary.

Emily donned her Barbie Fairytopia dress complete with the crown and high heels. She also wanted flowers painted on her cheeks to "look even more Barbieish." (Her words, not mine).

Megan was basically unrecognizable at the party with her get-up. Many people passed right by her and then did a double take. Her Frankenstein was unexpected.

After we ate and ate, the kids got to play tons of games put on by the Primary. Emily loved this cute Halloween Twister game. This is not her most lady-like pose.

Megan played the games, but is excited to be in Young Women's next year when she gets to help run the games. It's sad she's about outgrown being a kid.

I made 120 cookies again---which was half of last year. We still had some left, but not dozens and dozens like in the past. I need to remind myself next year that about 60 cookies will do and half the frosting.

Wendell dressed as a cowboy and the kids wouldn't let me dress in my witch costume. They told me I needed something different. Well, I think they were disappointed when all I came up with was a scrub shirt. I'll try harder next year.

Tyler, Emily, and Megan in all their glory.

Our next party was the traditional carving night with our friends. It just wouldn't be Halloween if we didn't try to have 10 kids crowd around our table trying to carve pumpkins.

We had seeds and goop all over. Luckily, the kids ar getting old enough that they can actually scoop out most of the pumpkins by themselves and even do some of the carving.

The best part was trying to decide what to carve.

The finished products turned out awesome.

Mindy brought cool stencils and this is a close-up of Megan's masterpiece.

The partying continued at school. Emily was a little disappointed in her first official Halloween party. She wanted to have it last longer and play more games. I told he maybe next year when the kids are a little older. She did make a cute bat.

Tyler's class had crafts and tons of games. His schedule was very full. They made Harry Potter wands and masks. Emily should have gone to his party.

The 6th graders really got into the games. That pumpkin they are kicking did end up as a smashed mess. I'm sad that this was Megan's last elementary party for Halloween. It was fun to help with this party, because the kids are able to actually play games and not need a million instructions.

Mammy's Halloween party was next. Soup in pumpkin rolls, caramel apples, chocolate, and oh yeah and pumpkin carving. Mammy went all out decorating with cool signs and of course her witches.

Megan tried to convince Jeff to carve, but he wouldn't give in. Tyler and Emily wore gloves and pronounced them the best things ever for cleaning a pumpkin. Tyler worked and worked on his pumpkin all by himself. He wanted to be able to say he carved it himself.

The finished products. Tyler did the skull, Emily the cat, and Megan that huge face. The black looking pumpkin is actually a zuchinni we carved. Lots of fun and great looking pumpkins. Now we were finally ready for the actual Halloween day.

Pumpkin Walk

Megan's class at school each got to bring home a huge pumpkin the week before Halloween to carve for the city Pumpkin Walk. Megan of course chose the biggest pumpkin she could and we just happened to have parked the farthest away that day. Just getting the thing to the van was a struggle.
She was proud of her creation and found it right away among the hundreds and hundreds of other pumpkins. We were just grateful the city hauled it to the park and then disposed of it after.
Tyler found his favorite pumpkin along the walk.
Emily found this cute princess castle and proclaimed it her favorite. I think the candy that was passed out was the most favorite.