Willow's 8th Birthday Party

Finally had Willow's friend-party yesterday

She once again decorated the cakes







I decorated a little, but didn't go too nuts (the pinwheels went home with the kids along with hibiscus-print tote bags, leis and hair clips, and shell necklaces)



Hubby printed off some coloring/activity sheets





Only two guests came (of the dozen invited), but they had a great time!

Goodbye O'Melays!

Yesterday, i saw my best friend before she and her family start their new life in California.  It was bittersweet, watching our children play together for the last time in what may well be as many years as some of them have been alive (but i hope it's much shorter!).  We both thought they'd grow up together, but it just wasn't meant to be at this point in time.  We will stay in touch, of course, and hope to find excuses to drive across the country and visit!

Me and my bestie



The big guys



Girls



I can't imagine how big this little guy will be the next time i see him--i'm sure he'll always be just as charming though









 They are all just the perfect friends.  What will we do?

This is Angel, favorite kitty of the daughter.  They can't take any of the cats with them, so we took this one home with us (so much for swearing not to take any more kittens!).  So far he's a little scared of the change, but i think he knows he's loved here.

HallowBirthdayPalooza

Today we celebrated two birthdays and Halloween, all at once!

My oldest is 9 now



And my youngest is 5.



They decorated their own cakes



Ryvre's



Ember's











This year's Trick-or-Treat lineup: Black Kitty (Rome), Percy Jackson (Ryvre), Prairie Girl (Willow), Ariel (Ember), Orange Kitty (Kassi), Prince Zuko (Tristan), and a Christmas Tree (Toly)



I loved how they ran to each house

Tristan's 8th Birthday

We had another fun-filled day with the O'Melays yesterday, as we celebrated the birthday of their oldest.

There was of course cake (created by Tabitha)

And swimming

Best Buddies

And a defeated Dalek

Fun with Friends

We spent some time this week with our best friends.

We played

 

A lot!

 

And explored 

 

  

And learned

 

Willow, of course, documented the whole thing.  I may have to just trade her the better camera--her pictures are lovely and artistic.  It's pretty amazing to see the world through her eyes, in the most literal way possible.  How lucky for her, to grow up at a time when the technology is available to capture images in the moment and at only negligible costs.  What i would have given for a digital camera at her age!  I hope i soon have the nerve to trust her with a piece of equipment better suited for a more serious pursuit of this hobby, because i do think she's ready for it.  But am i?  Here are some images that she captured herself with a very basic, cheap, old camera:

Willow's 7th Birthday

Willow finally had her party!

Here is the cake she decorated all by herself!

Balloon war!

And the completely unrelated after-party broken arm

Kassi's 6th Birthday

Today we celebrated the birthday of a dear friend.  Her mother made our birthday girls matching dresses!

Birthdaypalooza

Ryvre's Ben 10 Cake (Dale's artistic rendering of Diamond Head in the center)



Psychadellic Rainbow Cupcakes! 



Swimming!



Coloring!



Ryvre's favorite gift...



The Omnitrix!



Probably one of Ember's favorites...but hard to tell by the expression.  She was really tired.



Blowing out the candles!



Ryvre's turn




I am still tired.