Taylor's 8th Birthday Party

 Taylor selected a SPA theme for her party.  These cookies were supposed to look like cucumbers.  At least they tasted good!

 Her "fancy finger-food" dinner. 

 Punch and lemonade.

 Outdoor dining option.

 Spa fun begins.  They have "mud masks" on their faces but it was clear gel?!?!  That was a bummer!

Emmy.  They all kept giggling and the cucumbers kept falling off!

 Kathryn.

 Kenley.  Clearly giggling!

 Looks quiet and peaceful.  LOOKS....

 Time for fingers and toes.  Shout out to Shawna for the assistance!

 Pretty toes.  I am not a fan of touching that many toes, really.

 And pretty fingers.

 Happy girls!

Party success!

A Birthday Field Trip

 Taylor's grade had a field trip to the science museum on her birthday.  She got to wear her birthday sticker and her teacher told her happy birthday every time she saw her!

 Racing Sydney.

 Each class could take two chaperones.  I was a lucky winner!!! THEN, the day of the trip the other chaperone had to cancel because of a sick kid.  Our class was split as well so the teacher took half the class on one bus and I ended up chasing all of these clowns around the museum all day.

 Luckily, they were really good.  Unless you have 10 eyes that can see around corners, you can't keep tabs on all those kids!!

 They thought we took a lot of pictures for fun but it was really for head-counts to make sure everyone was there!

 If only I could have kept them here all day!

 Kids will watch themselves for a long time on a screen!

It was a fun trip and we got back to school about 30 minutes early so we picked Chase up and made an early departure for the day!

Trunk or Treat

 Every year for Halloween we head to church for trunk or treat.  This year's costumes - a cupcake, crash test dummy and a PBJ sandwich. (Dave's purchase, not mine!)

 All those pumpkins we got at the pumpkin patch I carved to light the path from the parking lot to the trunks. 

 Taylor and Kathryn living it up!

 Our "lunch box" trunk.

 Cousins.

We had a short list of trunks as time was getting close so everyone had to get in on the action!  They were good sports! Pun intended.

Even Grandma and Vickie took one for the team.  Grandma was not a fan of her selected headwear!

Pumpkins & A Birthday

 We made a quick trip to the pumpkin patch!  We'd never been to this place before.  It's less than a mile from our house and we were there and back with a  hayride and pumpkins in less than an hour!

 Determined not to pick the smallest one in the patch!

 A more appropriate size!

 While the kids were at school that day and while Grandma and Grandpa Edwards were driving to town, I did a speed redecorating of Taylor's room as a birthday surprise!

 Before.  It was HARD for me to take down the alphabet.... :(

 After.  Shout out to Jamie for helping me paint!

 Before....

After...

 I was almost finished and needed a small table for under the window. I had 25 minutes before I had to pick the kids up.  I made it to the antique store down the street, made a purchase, dropped it off in place at home and still got the kids on time.  The next day I was t.i.r.e.d.!!

 But it was worth it because she LOVED it!!

 And was excited to go to bed that night! Win, win!

 Her birthday celebrations lasted a full week.  This was brunch after church at the Boathouse.  They gave her a special birthday drink!

 Back at home but before changing clothes, obviously, it was time to carve pumpkins!

 Presents! An easy-bake oven - clearly a surprise - from Grandma and Grandpa Edwards!

 Love.   Her first creation was pretzel sticks - not too shabby!

 The presents kept rolling in from all over!  These were from Megan, Carl and Etta.

 Cupcake earrings and bracelet from Kerry!

 PJs from Grandma and Grandpa Caddell and...

 some fashionable clothes!  Allie looks jealous.

She is this close to me all.the.time!