Katie’s Family Party

Since Ryan and Dad were gone on Katie’s real birthday, July 6th… we just waited and had Katie’s family party right after her friend party.  It was one great  day of parties and presents.  She mostly got clothes… a bunch of things from PS that she had been wanting… but that was still a surprise… including a full box of undershirts which she wears every day to layer under her clothes.  She was thrilled.  She also LOVED her iPod speakers for her room, an iTunes gift card from Ryan and a super cute Journal picked out and paid for by Emily and Megan.    Her grandparents spoiled her as well with cute clothes, more iTunes gift cards, and money.  Also she got a super cute flower purse (from Florence, Italy) from her Aunts… Nikole, Ashlyn and Lindsey. 

    

We LOVE Katie!

Ryan’s home

You’d think Ryan had been gone longer than just 6 days by the way his sisters ran to greet him with squeals and hugs the minute he walked in the door.  Boy do these pictures make me happy.  We missed our ‘men’ of the house.  Pictures of scout camp coming to Ryan’s blog soon.

Katie’s Art Party

Katie and I had a great time planning for Katie’s 11th Birthday ‘friend party’.  She chose an ART party and we spent the week that Chris and Ryan were gone at scout camp putting the whole thing together… making invitations, planning menus, making tissue paper balls, making snacks, designing and putting together portfolios and getting everything ready.  It was really fun to do together.

Cake, fruit and candy bar…

When the girls got here, they got right to work…

 

I found cute colorful frames and easels from Ikea for the girls finished watercolor pictures and Katie and I put together lots of different colors of portfolios… (on the right). They had four clear page protectors stapled inside to hold all their additional ‘works of art’. 

The girls did self portraits using chalk pastels.  Then we played pictionary right on the paper covering the table and then we painted with water colors.

Above: Amanda, Emily and Hanna.  Below: Katie with her twin friends, Emily and Rebecca

Lindsey and Kai

  Tie-dye cake!  Perfect for a colorful art party… and about as gourmet as I get.    Kates thought it was pretty great.

  

Katie’s friends… top: Amanda, Emily, Hanna and Kai     bottom: Emily, Lindsay, Katie, Rebecca and Megan

Katie’s friends spoiled her with homemade cards, a scarf, jewelry, journals, playmobil, art supplies and all kinds of things.  She just couldn’t stop smiling.  Fun party!

Happy 4th

We missed Chris and Ryan for our 4th of July celebrations… they woke up at 3:00am to head down to Switzerland for Scout Camp.   The rest of us headed to the Petersons 4th of July BBQ at the park.

Marshmallow cream and peanut butter chip brownies Katie and I made together…

Katie, Ally and Emily on the girls blanket…

Matthew boy… 2 years and 2 months old

Megan… 6 years old

Luke, 3 and a half,  and his classic ‘thumbs up’ pose.  Now he has Matthew following suit…

Emily, 8 1/2 years old…. Katie, 2 days away from eleven years old…

I love these girls… 

After the BBQ we walked over to the big park to watch fireworks.  Luke said, “WOW!” after every explosion and Matthew didn’t move a muscle through the whole show.  The girls enjoyed walking around with their friends and spent most of the night in line for chocolate crepes.  Fun night!