Sydney's Birthday

I don't know how we missed posting Sydney's Birthday from July. So here they are. (in reverse order I think.)

Chocolate fondue for dessert. I like the chocolate around Kenneth's mouth. It means he was really enjoying it.
We dipped Angel food cake, marshmallows, bananas, and strawberries.
Sydney got some cool shades from her Grandparents.

Truman trying to whack the pig pinata that he made for Sydney.
Abby wearing the pinata nose that got whacked off.

Christian having a go at the pinata.

The mad scramble to pick up the candy.
Hazel of course cried because she didn't think she got the most.
Bekah tried on the nose for size.

Syd enjoying the pig that Truman made.

Hazel got to go first because she posed the least threat.

The angel food for dipping with candles.

12 Years. Where did they all go?

The pinata
The drippy eye, it was really crying because it didn't want to die.

Dinner fondue.

Bad manners are allowed when cheese is involved.

It was delicious!

Christian's Birthday

When my kids were little and we let them pick their birthday dinner, they would pick things like Mac and Cheese or pizza. As they have gotten older the requests have gotten more complicated, when Truman turned 8 he requested grilled salmon with couscous and asparagus. So when I asked Christian what he wanted he looked a bit sheepish. "I'm pretty sure this is a no.... Can I have mutton and ale?" What kind of cake? I already knew the answer because he has asked for the same thing 3 years in a row and I have denied him twice. I gave in because I am acutely aware of the fact that he will only be at home for 2 more birthdays.

So here are some great pictures from Christian's 15th birthday dinner at which we ate mutton, brie, "hunks" of fresh bread, green salad and we drank ale (the ginger kind). Dinner was followed by cookie dough in the form of a cake, with chocolate ice cream.

First day of the rest of my life...

11 years ago, I took Christian to his first day of Kindergarten. Hazel went to Kindergarten today. Years ago a friend of mine told me that the first day that all of her kids went to school, she sat and ate bonbons. I decided that it might be worth a try. I went to the mall, all by myself, intending to go to See's Candy. Since no one I was with was tired, or whiney, or needed a bathroom, I walked past See's and discovered Godiva Chocolatier. I took my time while all around me no children touched the glass or begged. I picked out 8 truffles and paid! I went home and used my ironing board. (to hold the truffles) The candy was good, it took me all day to eat half of each one. Kenneth was more than happy to clean the rest up when he got home from work. (It was a nice first day of school. I wonder what I will do tomorrow!

Toy Story Nightmare

Dr. Abigailstein performed a successful head transplant. Now Ken and Barbie cam see how it feels to walk a mile in each other's shoes.

Annual Underwater Photo Shoot

We pool-sat for some friends in August, and took the opportunity to teach Snug how to swim.

She was difficult to photograph, but we had a fun time doing it!

Hazel in a cloud of bubbles!

Nate doggie paddling...

Bekah on the Bottom! (of the pool)

Abigail is Awesome!

Sydney, ever graceful, even underwater!

Truman, ever silly. Even underwater!

Bubbles and Buffness? It's Christian!

Girls Camp ( a first person account in third person)

Audrey Clark (right) and Sydney (left) have been friends for a long while. They are on one of the benches along the perimeter of the mess hall balcony. They were waiting for dinner to start.
The picture above is Sydney at the podium, where the young women had church. Sydney is putting on a serious face for the picture. This picture was taken on the first day while Audrey Clark, Sydney ,and Jessica Bidwell were exploring the woods around the camp. There are benches in front of and by the podium. On Sunday The girls were only here for the first part of the meeting because of the weather the rest was held on the mess hall balcony.
Sydney (left), Audrey (middle) ,and Jessica (right) are ready for bedtime after a long first day at camp Lamia.
On the hike the next morning The young woman passed through a grove, that was full of ferns and butterflies like those above.
Here Sydney is hiking down the switchbacks at the start of the hike, most of hte group is already ahead.
Halfway down ,the girls all saw the view above. They all hiked through the valley to the far misty area you can barley see, far off in the distance.
This is at one of the only flat parts at the beginning of the hike they were all going pretty fast because they had not used much energy yet. The girls had all used a ton of their energy by the time they got back.
Every one had a great time at Camp!

Really?