Family Christmas Party

Family Party

-It was sixty degrees.

-Kiera is almost as tall as Aunt Sally.

-Last Christmas party, Michelle and Nick announced their

pregnancy and this year Baby Brooklyn was at the party!

-Our family donated to the Village Project.

-Jimmy said this is his last year to make his famous stuffed cabbage.

-Kiera won LRC! But she and Bay had a deal, and they split the winnings.

-We made decorative wreaths and raffled them off.

-Emmy and Paul were there in spirit, because Em had finals that week. 

Cousins

(Livi, AJ and Ava had to leave early because Ava had a basketball game)

Vase painting and card making for Village Project

Showing off some of the donations!

Girl Scout Bridging Ceremony

They started out as a group of eight Kindergarten girls in Daisies and are now a group of 13 second grade Brownies. To mark their change in rank, we had a Girl Scout Bridging Ceremony "bridging" the girls from Daisies to Brownies. They ceremony took place on a bride in Clague Park. It was symbolic, simple and sweet. I read an interactive story about a ungrateful little girl that changed into a kind, helpful and responsible girl after looking in the pond for a reflection of someone who could make a difference...that person is ME! Then the girls walked across the bridge one by one and received their new Brownie vest from Miss Lia. We ended the ceremony with a picnic at the park. 

Waiting for their turn to "bridge"

Kiera getting her new Brownie vest

Reciting the Girl Promise

"On my honor I will try: To serve God and my country,

To help people at all times and to live by the Girl Scout Law."

We ended with the Friendship Circle

Then the girls decided to put all of their hands in and cheer "Brownies!"

Summer Party

On our summer list this year, we put "Have a Summer Party." Time was ticking, so we squeezed it in on the last weekend before school started. I'm not going to lie, this summer was a trying one. Having an independent, "thinker" and determined daughter makes for some tough days when she wants her ideas heard and she doesn't always convey her point in a polite, respectful tone. Kiera worked hard to 

be a "good girl" so we were able to have our summer party as planned. We invited all of the neighborhood kids. We played water games (water limbo with leis and Drip, Drip, Drop...think Duck, Duck, Goose with a water ball), made beach themed sugar cookies, had a water ballon fight, played with color changing bubbles, had a silly face show complete with clown noses, ate snow cones and overall had a fun day in the sun! 

Softball Party

Kiera's first season of coach pitch softball is over. She was on the red team, sponsored by Romeo's Pizza. She loved it, not so much the sport itself, but the fact that a lot of her friends were on the team! It was a rainy spring, so quite a few games were cancelled. Last week was her last make up game. The coaches planned a little party after the game. The girls had the best time! The cake says it best...Way to go Romeos! 

 Coach Joe

 Coach Steve

How they really act...

Baby Bloom

Our family is growing by one...Michelle and Nick are having a baby! We celebrated Baby Bloom last weekend with a "Cute as a Button" Baby Shower. We used both my and Nicole's camera...but must have used Nicole's more, because these were all the pics I got. Michelle looked adorable and all belly! Baby Bloom is so loved already and we can't wait to meet him/her! 

Arriving at her shower

Christina explaining a game

Cousin Table

She's glowing!