Just in case you were wondering...

we did start school this year! I'm just a little late posting any pictures! It didn't help that sweet Walker came down with a horrible stomach bug the first week of school!

Everyone was up bright and early for a yummy back to school breakfast!

First day of first grade!

It wasn't quite Frances' first day, but she didn't want to be left out;)

Kathryn in her new classroom...

Walker with his new teacher...

 

A little welcome home party to celebrate a successful first day!

 



 

 

Skipped Trip

Way back in July, when we still had lots of hot summer left, we took a road trip to Birmingham!

First stop was an awesome overnight stay with the Dillon cousins. Aunt Cori kept us well fed and very well entertained! My favorite combination:) The kids enjoyed two local pools and lots of cousin time, and the mommies enjoyed catching up! Of course, when it came time for pictures, only silly faces would do!

The following evening, we of course had to get our La Paz fix!  We walked over the new Mt. Brook Municipal Center to see Uncle Brad's most recent building project. Because Uncle Brad is well known in these parts, the firemen were more than happy to let us explore the fire trucks.  Just another little bonus to our fun-filled trip!

The next morning the girls enjoyed breakfast in bed.  They absolutely love all of the "pampering" you get with a hotel stay.  Lotions and shampoos in the bathroom, hot chocolate and cookies in the lobby, and a full on breakfast bar. And this was just the Hampton Inn! Thanks to Pops, breakfast was delivered to our room, and the girls really thought they were something!

 

Of course, one of our main reasons for the trip was to celebrate this special boy's first birthday!! Is he a doll, or what!

Aunt Mak, as always, executed an awesome birthday party with so much attention to detail.  Don't you just love the bunting and the Aunt Mak original? Such a great backdrop for the food display. 

 

I only wish I had taken more pictures! 

 

 

 

To round out the trip, we had an awesome time visiting with Val and her boys and Carrie and her girls!  Don't think back in our college days that we could have imagined having 9 kids amongst us!  Val was kind enough to squeeze in a photo shoot too!  Am I lucky to have such a talented friend or what?

 

Val and the boys introduced us to AirWalk.  The kids were sold immediately.  Especially this little chickadee!



I love living in Mob-town.  It is most certainly home to me.  But I have to admit, I small part of my heart still belongs to the 'Ham. I'm so glad we've got family and friends there that make visiting even more special!

Summer, where did you go?

We've been trying to soak up every last bit of summer.  So hard to believe three months have almost come and gone.  Here's a little of what we've been up to...

Blowing bubbles after church...

Playing in the sprinkler...

Dreaming of Disney World (why else would anyone where a turtleneck in the hot summer:)

Practicing our cartwheels...

And our "splits";)...

Playing dress up...

Playing legos...

Posing for the camera...

And the most favorite of all summer activities--SWIMMING...

 

We've got one more full week of summer left, and I am so thankful!

Daddy's Newest Toy

Matt's newest "toy" is an underwater camera! Needless to say, we've had lots of fun at the pool this summer snapping pictures and recording diving board jumps and all sorts of silly things:) Here are just a few favs....

Time for Tea

Frances' love affair with Alice in Wonderland began earlier this year. So of course my birthday wheels started turning! Alice...tea...tea...three. A tea party to celebrate turning three! It was the perfect fit! Then I came across these adorable teacup sippies and my tea party theme was put into place!

It's hard to find Alice in Wonderland themed items, so we were challenged to use our imaginations.

A tea party invitation..."Tea party because Frances is turning three!"

From the Pastry Shop a teapot, cup and saucers for the cake...

The fun tea cups, doilies and flowers in tea pots decorated the tables!

The singing flowers from Alice in Wonderland...a Hobby Lobby score...planted in a flat of impatiens!

Flowers on the cheap, but plenty to fill lots of tea cups....hydrangeas from the back yard mixed with three bunches of inexpensive pink and white flowers totaling about $15!

Remember that artistic husband I told you about??? Yes, he did. Meet the Cheshire Cat!  Notice his missing his smile?  Why, yes, it's pin the smile on the Cheshire Cat!

Favors included Kool Aid drinks with "Drink Me" tags!

And yummy iced cookies from Pollman's with "Thank you for having TEA with ME" tags (glittered thanks to this tutorial from one of my favorite stationers)!

More seating! And more tissue pom poms! Incidentally, the plates and napkins came from the Dollar General.  One of the benefits to establishing party themes early on is that ability to shop around over a period of time instead buying all at once!

Croquet, anyone? The front lawn...

My favorite part of any party...THE FOOD!  Chick Fil A chicken nuggets (doorknobs), Annie's rabbit crackers (March Hare crackers), fruit with "caterpillar" grapes, and of course some Wonderland tea (or more correctly lemonade;) Had to keep the littles happy!

For the adults: chicken salad, pimento cheese, hummus and spinach and artichoke dip. 

My baby enjoying her hunk of cake!!

Frances received a stuffed Cheshire Cat for her birthday. He made an awesome party prop!

 

 

Loved these photo props I scored off of Etsy!

 

 

Once all the cake was eaten, the girls insisted on dressing up! Can you imagine all of these princesses in one room!

 

 

The Birthday Girl preferred her pajamas.  Oh my:)  And I would be telling a story if I didn't admit the present unwrapping was her favorite part of the day!

Thankfully, she had some help!

That wraps up our birthday palooza!!! Once again, I didn't list many sources here, but most everything can be found on my Birthday Parties Pinterest board!