Cookie Party

The girls hosted their annual cookie party with their friends. We had grown by a few friends and needed to move to the empty dining room. Amanda loaned me her folding tables and some plastic chairs. It was a tight fit, but it worked out well.Madison helped Jensyn decorate hers.I think.Then they moved on to colored sugar. I think it is their favorite. They ask for a color and I make it. They think I am magic.Carly intent, as always.She is very proud of her masterpieces.
Leighton would't stay still long enough for anyone to take a picture of her.

Halloween

A couple of years ago, I vowed to NOT make the girls' Halloween costumes. Yes, they could be anything they wanted. Yes, it was fun to make them all costumes that followed a theme. Yes, it was nice to have everyone comment on their cute costumes and know that I had made them. But, it took forever and the kids never seemed to appreciate all the time (I don't know what I was expecting they are kids.) After that I have happily taken the girls to Party City and let them pick from the gigantic wall of costumes. I paid for them and that was that. Well, this year a horrible thing happened. This:came in the mail and the girls saw it and insisted on me making their costumes. They even insisted on wigs!!!!

Well, what is a mother to say? So, I did it. Luckily a friend of ours had a Dorothy costume complete with a basket and Toto. All I had to make was the wig. Leighton was thrilled.Her favorite part....the ruby red slippers, of course. I bought them early in October and made her wait until Halloween to wear them. She was dying!

Carly loves Pippi Longstocking and was so excited to see her costume and wig. She was a little upset, because the 'real' Pippi wears a very short overall dress and Carly thought hers was a little too long (it covered her underwear).

She was looking a little more Raggedy Ann than Pippi and we gave her bangs a little hair cut.

Jensyn wanted to be El-O and we found the perfect costume for her.

She couldn't have been happier.

Until the neighbor dogs came over to give El-O a little love. She is running for her life.

We headed to Skyler's for our trick or treating.

The girls had a blast, as usual. Looking forward to next year. But, don't think I won't hide all magazines that come in September!

Butterfly Museum

Leighton's first grade went on their first field trip to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, more popularly known as the Butterfly Museum. They have an entire house of butterflies. Miss Potts gave me the best kids in Leighton's entire class. That is Angie on the left and Adaliz on the right. Jensyn got to come along because Carly had a field trip to Historic Oakwood the same day. She wanted Grandma Young to go with her.

About ten steps into the museum I walked past a little girl who looked just like Adaliz but had on a different colored shirt. I then found out that she is a identical triplet and that they have a sister who is also in the first grade and looks exactly like them. I got a small sampling of how annoying it is when EVERYONE comes up to you and asks if she is a twin or says that they've just seen her over there. I will never again make a comment to a mother of multiples. I just started stopping people mid-sentence and saying 'Yes, she is an identical triplet and they have a sister who looks just like them.'

The girls loved the train ride. Even Jensyn loved the train. She even participated in the required screaming through the tunnel.

We headed off to the dinosaur walk and found the excavation site.

The girls got to dig for fossils.

I look over and Jensyn is just posing like this watching the kids.She was cracking me up.
I took about 20 of these pictures.

We had lunch and it was time to go home. I really like to drive to the field trips so that my kids can stay longer if they want. Of course Leighton wanted to. Another mom had come with me and wanted to stay too.

We headed off to see the animals. This bear was so funny. If you called him he would come to the fence, but as soon as you would pull out your camera he would turn his back on you and walk away. Apparently he doesn't care for paparazzi.

We headed back to the playground and Jensyn enjoyed having the sandbox all to herself.

Dalton and Leighton got to play all the loud instruments with no one waiting for their turn.

Jensyn even got to play too.

Bathing Beauty

My friend's mom invited us to come swim in her neighborhood pool. She even made us special order sandwiches for lunch. Who would turn down that invite? We sure didn't!

Leighton, Carly and, I think, Jordan playing dive rings. Jensyn loved Ms. Mary, or just call her Grandma everyone does, pulling her all around the pool on this float. Jensyn posed for a picture and Mary jumped out of the way. She is sneaky like that.

The Fairy Party

Leighton decided that she wanted a fairy party. She wanted everyone to dress like a fairy, have fairy wands, play pin the wand on the fairy, have a fairy treasure hunt, and have fairy berries, pixie sticks, and cake. I decided to hit up invite our friends to join the fun. Riley's birthday is the day after Leighton's. We decided to have a double party. Riley's actual response was, 'Ms. Leslie, I want to DO it.' Jessica rented a bowery (pavilion for those of you not in Utah) at the local park and away we went. I made most of the decorations and Jessica picked up last minute things. She was going to order the cakes, but Leighton couldn't make up her mind. Hence, Riley had an awesome fairy cake and Leighton had a plain homemade cake.

But, on to the preparations... Leighton insisted on picking fresh strawberries to make her fairy berries. Can you see her in the picture? She had to pick the best ones for her friends. This is her haul.




On to the day of the party....

It all started at 10 a.m. and was scheduled to be over at 11:30.
(Thanks for the advice, Megan 'The Birthday Guru")
I had made a tulle canopy to hang above the table, but it fell and was taped up on the side. The girls loved it! The flowers in the canopy were actually hair clips. The fairies got to pick two of their favorites as a party favor.

These flowers were attached to "pixie" sticks and served as a centerpiece until the end.

On to our fairy treasure hunt. Leighton and Riley had hidden little gemstone rings in the woods and the fairies went searching. They didn't want to give up when there was only one left. This took way longer than I thought it would. This was also where I stopped taking pictures. I misplaced my camera and Super-Jess took over. Thanks!

Now on to Pin the Wand on the Fairy. I used the school's overhead to trace this fairy onto poster board. The girls each had a star with their initial in **GLITTER** on it. I forgot a blindfold, so we used a pair of Jensyn's pants.

When they were done, they wanted to play it again.

Now on to cake....I do want to mention that I brought my luncheon sets that I have been collecting for several years. The girls were great and I didn't lose one piece.

Also, the fairy berries--ARRGGHH! My thought was strawberries dipped in melted white chocolate that was tinted pink with food coloring. Well, adding food coloring to the melted chocolate changed the consistency and we had scooped berries, not dipped. If you closed your eyes and ate them, they were fine. And since they were all eaten, I guess it wasn't a total failure.

The whole clan of fairies.

Blowing out the candle. No, her face isn't dirty she got poison ivy, AGAIN!

Next, decorating the edible fairy wands.

So good (SUGAR!) that it made her eyes roll back in her head.

Riley decorating her wand and showing her blue tongue.

We didn't have enough time to open presents, so each girl picked her two flower clips, her pixie sticks and that was that. We were cleaned up and cars repacked by 12:02. That is how you do a party. Thanks, Jess!

We have decided to follow the crowd and only do a friend party every other year, so Jess and Riley you are on your own next year.

Trash to...

well, it's still trash, but it kept them entertained for a couple hours.

Today was a teacher work day- no school, so we had Makenna and Riley over for some fun. (Well, their mom is the school nurse and she had to work, but it is still fun for us.)
This is Makenna's snowman made from a breath mint case.

and a close up of her painting skills.

These are their bling rings. (Carly didn't want a picture taken of her rings, she was still working on them.)

These are Riley's jewels. Riley and Leighton made necklaces and bracelets.

Leighton's bling.

That's Riley in the background, just being Riley.

Isn't she adorable?

We made the rings from the little tab you pull off......

yep, the orange juice.

So, an apology to Jessica, sorry for the trash, you can throw them away after they go to sleep. That is what I do. But, I keep them forever.