Birthday Girl

So here are a few shots from Sydnie's 7th birthday party....the festivities happened on friday the 29th, but the computer has been giving us a difficult time and so I am posting a little late.....She had a blast with 8 of her little friends. The girls played Dance Praise and made a couple of crafts (an adorable ballet necklace and beaded heart frame). They all really loved the dancing and in between everything they would run upstairs to play air hockey or barbies. This is the first year that I can recall Sydnie being super gracious and saying thank you for every gift and just really nailing the whole hostess thing. She was super. She had her two cousins stay the night and they had a blast opening all the gifts and playing with everything. How did she get to be 7 already? The night before we watched her baby video....she had a lot of fun seeing how little she was and seeing herself grow up. Everyone says that it goes by super fast and they are right....i love you syd.

The G-House

it is our time honored tradition to make a gingerbread house in the weeks before Christmas and this year is no exception. We sat down tonight as a family and worked on the masterpiece. We used to make our own gingerbread and buy the candies to go with, the first year we were married Thad wanted to make a replica of the church his parents were married in, I am talking stained glass windows and everything!!! Now in order to make time for other christmas traditions...I buy a kit from costco!!! Thank goodnes...still the same amount of fun, but a lot less work. Sydnie had a great time this year...noah was more interested in his new lego star wars than decorating anything. Now tomorrow is the real work with baking treats for the neighbors, now if I could only buy a kit of homemade sugar cookies and fudge life would be great......enjoy the season and make the most out of the time that you have with loved ones and family. Merry Christmas.

"Help is coming from above"

we just got home from watching Charlotte's Web...one of my all time favorite books and movies from when I was a kid. I love that line on the movie posters...help from above. The message of this movie is so good. Look at someone for who they are not what they look like. I have been reading the story to the kids from my old book, the pages are worn and very loved. We own the old animated version and they have seen it several times...I cannot tell you how much I loved this movie.

"Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class all by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both."

EB White 1952 Charlotte's Web

Sailing the seven seas....

and throwing a party for eleven 5 year olds, can sure take you away from your computer. Noah had his Pirate party yesterday and boy was it loud and a shipload full of fun. Each of the boys was given an eye patch and bandana to wear when they came in and then sent off to play until everyone arrived. Then we played pin the X on the map, which I am sure some of the boys could see thru, because we had about 5 that hit it dead on. Then we went on a treasure hunt. Now it is the middle of winter and yesterday was cold, so we had to move the treasure hunt indoors. The funniest part of the whole day was when one little boy who we will call "mad dog wiggins" shouted out "holy ship!" and then everytime a present he liked was opened he would shout it again. Laughed so hard I could barely stop. Almost forgot that Santa came by yesterday as well and handed out candy canes to all the pirates on hand. (that just took a little call to the Keizer Fire Dept to make sure they stopped by during the party). Of course no pirate party would be complete without a treasure chest full of loot, each kid received a loot bag full of gold coins, an eraser sword, pop ring, skull straw, pirate tatoos and more candy. Noah had a great time, but once those presents were opened, he did not even want to eat cake. He was super excited about his star wars transformers and his spring action light saber. Alas, the pirate went to sleep with his new toys in hand. Good times, mom and dad are very tired, house is in chaos, but would do it all again. Sleep well little pirate.