BIRTHDAY FUN!!

No matter how many times I tell myself that "next year I'm not going to do an all-out party for the kids" it always still happens.  I think I'm a sucker for cuteness.  And birthdays are just that.  Cute kids, cute invites, cute decor, cute, Cute, CUTE!!!  So, I love it and at least all the kids' birthdays are spaced far enough apart that I forget how much stress they are.  I have learned a few tricks to make them less stressful though and that makes it all the better.  Without further adieu I give you little A's most recent party and let the cuteness be shared:

BIG tray of delicious cupcakes for the big girl

A picnic/water party is SOOO perfect for a June birthday!!  These cupcakes were divine--watermelon flavored cupcakes with whipped cream frosting (the BEST frostings are with whipped cream) and sour watermelon candies.  The cake/ice cream part is one that I've dialed down on.  Now I go for cute and easy cupcakes rather than cut cakes & I only have ice cream if it's in cake form and it is the cake. 

Aren't the watermelons in the background adorable?!  These were the party favors and were filled with candy.  I love getting my kids a little involved in helping with their party so Little A painted them and I think she could have done at least a dozen more.  That's my girl!

I bought this slide at the beginning of summer because I always enjoy getting a new thing to keep the kids active and having fun at home.  They have a blast with this slide.  This is one of little A's best friends who moved but not before she came to the party.

B taking a turn

Little A splashes down!

This guy loved trying different positions of flying through the tunnel

J helped with this game.  The girls had to shoot the ping pong balls off this game he made quite a while ago.  Verdict is that all but little A need some aiming lessons....though looking at the guests none of them have brothers, at least old enough to play shooting games with.

B helped with this game of sponge filler.  Both teams were super competitive and the timing was tight. 

Jeff helped with this game--all of them helped with a game while I got A's requested picnic lunch the rest of the way ready and set up.

The picnic spread: Mac 'N Cheese, grape kabobs, watermelon popsicles, chips, veggie platter with ants on a log, cukes and carrots and juice boxes.  I think almost everything got eaten.

"Happy Birthday to you...."

And, of course, a water balloon fight!!  Check out the balloon that B just threw and is in the air headed for its target.

At one point the kids all attacked me so I had to retaliate.  After this we put a sprinkler on the trampoline until parents came.

This is after her actual bday by a week or so.  She's showing a considerable amount of self-discipline with those white chocolate Kit-Kats.

Her actual bday was while we were in Colorado so we had ice cream cones to celebrate

We also did a pinata filled with candy and it actually went through all 11 kids so little A got to do it again until it popped.  

We just celebrated her tons this birthday season and will be drawing it out until August for her baptism too.  She is such a joyful part of our lives and we just love her tons and bunches.  It's definitely worth the small amount of work to celebrate her with friends and family.

What, a 2nd post within days?  It must be important....

Science Fair!  

p.s.  there's no way I'm old enough to be helping my own kids with science fair.  Who's kid is this?!

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK!

These were all received different weeks but we just got the final one so figured I'd post them all together since really they've all been great students all year!  We started a tradition (that the kids adore) of a giant cookie for the recipient (to share) for getting this covetous prize.

This little has loved homework since Kindergarten.  This year in 2nd grade she adores Math.  She comes home and talks about "passing off her 7s".  That means she's done several worksheets with addition and subtraction of 7 and completed a page of addition and subtraction with 7s within a certain time limit.  She is so excited she has moved on from that and is now starting multiplication.  She also continues to advance up the reading chain.  She no longer needs to bring home "take home" books and is well above the reading level required for 2nd grade.  She loves art and definitely puts her own little unique stamp on her work.  She is friendly with everyone in class and I know she is a great student who follows rules, listens to her teacher and is a joy to teach.  Even though I miss her during the days the big hugs I get after school let me know I'm still #1 in her book.

This is my favorite little boy.  He is a great example of who I think would be the dream student.  Social and friendly yet takes his work seriously.  He learns super fast and if he went at his own pace he could be well into Jr. High stuff by now.  His favorite subject is math but I've also seen him reading a LOT more than usual this year.  He started the Harry Potter books but by the 5th one I think it was getting a bit intense and maybe a bit wordy for him.  I think he's saving the last two for this summer.  He loves funny books.  His writing seems to be improving this year; I think he has a hard time focusing on what to say and how to say it but I'm sure it will come along he is becoming a bit of a storyteller.  He loves for me to tell him stories from when I was little every night I put him to bed.  He shows that also in his reading choices--though he likes fiction he also really enjoys non-fiction stories of people from the past and present.  

This gal is also an excellent student.  It often takes a little while for new concepts to click but once they do she's got it down good.  She has really become responsible getting herself up and ready for orchestra before school 2-3 days a week and choir early Saturday mornings.  She really enjoys science, art, reading and writing.  She disappeared the other day and let us know quite a while later that she'd made a power point presentation just for fun.  It is all about her favorites and things she enjoys.  Today she made another one about beaches while Jeff & I were on a date and after she'd gotten her siblings to bed.  Adore!  She is getting into emailing too which makes me a tad nervous but I trust her judgement and hopefully she will talk to me if any issues arise.  She is also using google to find power point pictures.  A lot of me wants to look into blocking software to protect her but a lot of me also wants to teach her the dangers and let her make decisions because they are there to make--not blocked.  At any rate she is enjoying using technology for the craftier part of her brain.  We've also started a Spanish club with friends and it's fun to see her get so into it.  I often tell myself that in many schools she'd be a Jr. High kid.  I certainly do see her changing and maturing into an great gal.