Happy 9th birthday!

Happy 9th birthday my sweet daughter! 

You are an incredible, amazing, beautiful little girl inside and out.
XOXO

Plan B

As I had hinted on Friday, Emma's Hunger Games themed bday party was dependent on the outdoors.

Mother nature didn't want to cooperate on Saturday so we used our backup plan...the gym at one of Chris's elementary schools.

 Each girl also got a special t-shirt memorializing the event.

Josie was happy to model it for us.

 Our local bakery came through with the most amazing cake.

Emma has such a nice group of girlfriends. 

 It was a very busy and full weekend.

The end of the school year is upon us.  Yippee!  Have a great week, friends.
 

Party on!!

Tomorrow is my birthday.

 I'm exactly one week and thirty years apart from Emma.  

I'll let you do the math.  

Have a great holiday weekend, friends.  

Bday adventures at the lake and a few vintage finds...

Thank you for wishing Emma a happy 17th birthday!  

We did a quick over night and celebrated Emma's birthday at the lake.  

We found these vintage looking signs at our local $ store.

The arrows weren't exactly pointing in the right direction, so I did a little duck tape magic.

Back on Mother's day, we attended the Grand Rapids Vintage Street Market and I came home with a couple of woodland themed items.

Mr.  Bear now resides inside the A-frame and my sister has already informed me that he might end up visiting her home in the near future.

It's another busy work week, but I'm looking forward to the long holiday weekend and my own birthday on Sunday.  Emma and I are exactly 7 days apart in our birthdays.  May is an expensive month for Chris.  Smile.

Take time and smell the flowers this week. XOXO  

  

Mid-week check-in...

I know I've been missing-in-action. MAY is my crazy time with organizing and teaching faculty development workshops and with the addition of Josie's evening softball league and "life-in-general", the blog updating or blog visiting hasn't been as frequent.  I'll catch up.  I promise.

The biggest event this week is that Emma will be celebrating a very important birthday on Sunday.

 My baby is going to be 17 on the 17th!   How did that happen?

We're hosting a "Hunger Games" themed birthday party for a bunch of her friends at the end of the month. The party details haven't quite been worked out yet.  I've never read any of the books, or watched the movie series, so this should be interesting, but I'm up for the party challenge!    

Happy Wednesday.
   

Another celebration!

Happy Birthday to my favorite personal estate sale shopper and construction manager. 

Without your amazing expertise and summer schedule, we would have NEVER EVER been able to make our lake house (a-frame) dream a reality this summer.

Thank you for being such a creative and hands-on Dad (I don't know many fathers who mind maintaining outdoor ice skating rinks for nearly six months).

 The girls and I can't wait to celebrate today, and many more birthdays and wonderful moments with you.

 We love you bunches!

 Happy Birthday, sweetie!!! Fingers crossed that you and your Dad catch lots of bass this weekend!

Celebrations and Surgery!

It was a busy weekend filled with Josie's zoo party and her family party. 

We couldn't have asked for better weather at the zoo. 

Well...maybe it could have been a bit cooler, but it was definitely a gorgeous summer Saturday.

On Sunday, Grandma spoiled Josie with one of her infamous cakes.  Thank you, Mom!

Early this morning, we went to the Helen Devos Children's Hospital for minor exploratory surgery on Josie's left ear.

We've been working with a specialist to try and determine why Josie has hearing loss in her left ear.

She was allowed to put cotton candy chapstack in her sleeping mask. Cool.  She was very brave and now she's home and resting on the couch. We have a follow-up appointment in a few weeks to talk about the next set of procedures and/or a possible hearing aid.

We love you, brave birthday girl!

8 is going to be GREAT!

It's party central at our house!

 Josie's birthday celebrations are happening Saturday and Sunday.

 Last year's cowgirl/western theme is still one of my favorites but I frankly didn't have the energy to do a big party at our house (especially after Emma's Sweet 16 party a few weeks ago).  

So the party festivities are taking place away from our house at our local zoo!!

Fingers crossed the weather cooperates.  What is it with me and outdoor party venues?

We love you Josie!  

Eight is definitely going to be GREAT!