The City Park Disco Slumber Birthday Party!

The big party started with decorating the cakes.  We went to Rouse's and bought plain white cakes so the girls could do their own decorating this year...

Katie decorating her cake...  It is a disco floor with two girls dancing.

Ta-DA!

Ella decorating her cake... working on her disco floor...

Looks GREAT!! 

 

The next part of the party was a day at City Park riding the rides.

First up, the train....

then bumper cars... lots and lots of bumper cars!

and the carousel! 

 

Then it was time to go home for dinner, cake, and the Disco Party!

Ella blowing out her candles...

Katie blowing out hers....

Happy Birthday Katie and Ella!!!!

 

Upstairs at GiGi's became a disco for the evening...

the girls played disco music and danced the night away! 

Disco Girls posing for the camera!!!

 

 

Doughnuts and milk the next morning...

Overall, it was a great party and the girls had a blast!!

1st Day of 3rd Grade!

Ready for your first day of 3rd grade -- with excited smiles! 

Puppy had to stay home and take a nap.

Hello

 

 
Hello, New House!

Hello, New Job!



Hello, cute bracelet Ella made for me that I wore to my first day at work!

 

Hello, New School!

 

 

 

 

Hello, New School Uniforms!

Hello, Barbie!

Goodbye...

 

Goodbye, Old House...

messy play room...

awesome play house...

wonderful back porch...

fabulous back yard...

 Goodbye, crazy sculpture on campus....

 

Having sandwiches outside of the student union...

 

dinner at the "fairy garden"...

 

 

 

 

Goodbye, ECU!  We will miss you!!!

Beaver's Bend Family Vacation

We took a family trip to Beaver's Bend... What a fabulous way to start summer vacation!!

This was the view from our cabin...

 

Our first hike...

Our second hike, IN THE RAIN!

While waiting for the rain to clear, Ella had little pow-wow...

Sweeping the floor at the 100 year old post office!

And, making a leg for the table...

Another hike...

THROUGH the river...

 



 

Roasting marshmallows...

Fishing...

 



 

 

 

And, drawing pictures in the morning....

What a GREAT vacation!!

First Communion

Today was your First Communion at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ada, Oklahoma.  You have been preparing for this day since last August when we began classes for your First Reconciliation.  We learned about ways of showing love for others, how to follow our conscience, and about forgiveness when we make mistakes.  We ended our class by participating in the Right of Reconciliation.  You each had your own idea about which priest you were going to talk to and it caused me much anxiety because I did not know which child to stay with!  I ended up taking care of myself and you each took care of yourselves and it ended up being a wonderful celebration of love and forgiveness... and, independence!  

 

In January, we started First  Communion classes, where we were reminded of Jesus' love for us.  We learned many things about the Catholic Church and how we celebrate His love in our religious faith.  Although there were many Wednesday nights we did NOT want to spend an evening at church, we did it!  In the end, it was another wonderful experience.  We became closer as a family, and you tried wine (and decided you did NOT like it)!

 

I am so proud of you, my girls, and looking forward to watching you grow in your faith and spirituality. 

 

 

Lighting a candle...

Waiting for mass to begin...

 

Outside, ready to walk in and for the service to begin...

 

Photo ops with the family....

 

Granddadd and Grandma were both there to celebrate, but some how Grandma managed to NOT get in the picture!

 

 

 

 

Afterwards, the church held a very nice luncheon in your honor...

 

 

 

 

 

Little Notes

I was sorting through some papers and found this little note in Katie's journal.... made me smile...