Gymnastics Party with Friends

Gymnastics Party!!!

Abigail was a little shy about greeting her friends, but you could tell she really enjoyed having them all there for her!

They jumped. (Abigail's favorite,...just straight jumping :)

They climbed and dropped into a pit.

Parachute games... my favorite...while in the tent, we all screamed "Happy Birthday" and the parachute magically flew away!

They tired themselves out going through the obstacle course 8 times!

(Even Ben and I couldn't resist the chance do it and swim through the foam pit once.)

Lydia's favorite: bucket rides!

Giant cookie and ice cream and presents with: Ainslee, Autumn, Coleton, Logan, Marissa, Ayla (Abby just went to her party-Abby's 1st drop-off-and had a blast), Lydia.

What a fun way to have a party! Easy going for the parents!

Family Party

On Saturday we had family over to celebrate Abigail's birthday!

Will and Aubrey came and had fun with balls and balloons.

We did 5 parachute games with a big sheet downstairs, ending with a birthday girl hammock :)

Grandpa Pulley was our mad scientist and did some cool experiments. The birthday girls is helping with the lava lamp!

Then there was slime and a dry ice bubble...

Look at those reactions! This was the fan favorite!!

Outside, he even did a Coke & Mentos explosion!

Aubrey at 7 months is sitting up and eating sweet potatoes-so adorable!

And this here is so Abby!

Little ones eyeing those m&m's.

Can you see me over my BIG chocolate cake?

Abigail is 5!

Time to Celebrate! Abigail is 5!!!!!

I love to see the confidence she's gained this year at school. She's a hard worker and loves to read. I love to see her assemble her outfits from headbands to shoes. 

She can keep calm; "Tickle me. I won't laugh." But her giggle is stinkin' cute!

She's also at an age when she will say or do at least 3 hilarious things a day! Are you kidding me?!

She could have had a Paczki with her birthday falling on Fat Tuesday, but she'd rather have a plain pink-frosted donut from Dunkin Donuts

 I love to see her take care of her troop of babies, what she does with nearly all of her waking hours! She still sees Mickeys wherever there are three circles. She still enjoys lullabies and being rocked at night.

We love our Big 5 Year Old!

Meeting at McD's for lunch with the birthday girl!

"Maybruary"

Dressed up as a 100 year old (in celebration of the 100th day of school), Lydia gave Winter a stern look, and we got an amazing reprieve with May-like weather: sunny and temps in the 60's,

 just in time for Sarah's baby shower. Guests who were coming "weather permitting," absolutely came! 

Lydia and Aaliyah making encouraging or funny notes on Late Night Diapers.

 Mary, Aunt Sue, Sarah, Stacy, Aaliyah, Julie, Lydia

Oh Boy, another Baby on the Way...can't wait! ;)

The Sprecher Beer Garden opened up special for this warm weekend at Whitnall Park, and everybody came out. (Line was an hour long, but it was just great to be outside with people about.)

 On Monday, I even took Rio to the beach. He's getting used to the sound of waves.

 We enjoyed the outdoors, and indoors too. It's good to have Abigail work on her tong skills and help in the kitchen at the same time!

Lydia got an extra recess on one of the days. She was so happy when I picked her up. The singing continued all the way into the doctor's office. This is the waned enthusiasm version. Enjoy...

Lydia's Spa-tastic Party

If ever there was a book series that mirrored Lydia and her family, it would be Fancy Nancy!

For this year's friend party, we went with a spa theme using Fancy Nancy Ooh La La! It's Beauty Day (and Pinterest) as our guide.

The girls started on some FN activity sheets at the dining room table. Once all of our guests arrived, we traveled downstairs to the spa where relaxing music was playing and nail polish was set out.

"Welcome to Fancy Lydia's relaxing foot spa! We will pick out nail polish first. Have fun..."

Ben and I filled the bowls with water, marbles, salts, flower petals while they picked out a color.

 I read a FN story for the first 5 minutes of their soothing soak.

Then I began painting nails. My assistant, Ben, was there to clear the bowls and make sure the girls had spa water and magazines.

 I had spa flip flops decorated with glitter for them. They wondered where I got them (Amazon! :)) Voila! Once they were finished with their perfectly posh pedicure (and they all held wonderfully still for me!), they could go to the refreshment table for Yum Yum Yogurt Parfaits and a colorful array of vegetables.

 I must not have set up adequate seating, because they wound up all huddled in the secret hideout.

Back to front: Katelyn, Danielle, Anastasia, Amber, Natalia, Kinsey, Elizabeth, Lydia, Abigail, Lilli & Violet

 "SPA!"

They all looked and felt beautiful, so we headed upstairs to open gifts.

Gifts galore: jewelry, headbands, LPS, Legos, YoFresh, crafts, friendship pencil, coloring book, body sprays...

Then..."Cupcake Time!" 

Ooh la la! The girls did a spectacular job of decorating their own cupcakes and topping them with tiaras.

It was a marvelous party with friends!

One of those good friends, Danielle, rode with us to Disney on Ice Friday night with the Girl Scout Troop 31602. That rounded it out to be one fabulous weekend!

A year later...(November 2017 in 2nd Grade) she wrote her personal narrative about going to Disney on Ice!

Happy Birthday, Lydia! Family Party!

Grandma Jan showed up early with outfits for these four girls ;)

Grandpa Pulley came and did some magic tricks...so fun!

Opening girly gifts.

Ice cream cake with a "7" on top, wow!

What I love about her is she's kind to everyone. She's smart, brave, and excels at cheering people up! She's a great classmate, an awesome big sister, a joy of a daughter, and has lots of love from family:

Grandpa Pulley

Grandpa Pulley & Abigail

Aunt Stacy & Uncle Greg

Goofy cousins!

Grandma Linda

Aunt Sarah & Uncle Matt

The much-anticipated donut for breakfast!

As big and independent as she is, she still loves hanging out with her Momma. :) Her birthday landed on Monday this year, so I got to have lunch with my birthday girl at school!! (The kids eat lunch in their jackets and hats because they go directly out to recess after lunch! And they only get 15 minutes for lunch!)