Ella's 8th Birthday and School Started

Ella had our traditional pancake breakfast with #8 pancakes

The birthday girl requested Chickfila for lunch 

Water balloons that afternoon 

They had fun throwing water balloons at each other in the driveway and got soaking wet 

She requested lasagna for dinner and after dinner she opened presents 

I can't believe my girl is 8 years old! 

Our birthday card 

She got a watch from Mammy 

More ice cream cake 

Starbucks one afternoon  

Catherine came and played one day before school started 

Ready for Open House at school 

Ella was thrilled to have Mrs. Hunt 

For the lake party, Ella requested a cheesecake so the kids helped me make it 

Lake party with all the cousins 

We celebrated Jules turning 5, Jodi turning 7, Ella turning 8 and Lena turning 9!  

Ella's cheesecake 

Ready to open presents 

The chaos of 4 girls opening presents at the same time! 

Playing in their bathing suits in the bath tub 

Ella loves to cook - helping me make a dirt cake for our dinner at the Wetheringtons 

1st day of school 

My girl has gotten so big! 

Caleb's 1st day of school 

Can't believe it is his last year in elementary school 

With their signs 

Ella's teacher sent a picture of her table on their first day of school 

Milkshakes and doing HW in the car before after school activities begin

It's been a busy week but we are getting back into the routine!

August Birthdays, Baby Shower and Other Life Lately

We are trying to make the most out of the last little bit of summer.

Chick fila for lunch 

We finally took the kids to Chuck E Cheese! 

Caleb has been wanting to go all summer - they love arcade games. 

Mammy and Owen playing Skee Ball 

Caleb decided to play flag football in the fall so we had to go for evaluations. 

Caleb lost two teeth in a week. 

Both on the same side so he has a big hole in his mouth. 

We celebrated my 38th birthday with family.  Mom made my favorite, ribs, and we had a strawberry cake from Something Different.   

Ella got a gown from Mammy like she used to have and she loves it. 

We hosted a baby shower for Melanie at my house. 

Table decorations 

She got a lot of nice stuff. 

We can't wait to spoil baby Raynor and find out if its a boy or girl! 

We celebrated my birthday with Josh and Kelly by going out to eat in Raleigh at Seasons 52 and got Goodberrys for dessert. 

We also celebrated Ethan and Carters birthday with a pool party 

We had a church trip to Little Washington one day 

Boys eating pizza 

We played Putt Putt and visited the NC Estuarium. 

I got to do another birthday celebration with Staci and Claire. 

They treated me to Mexican - and I got the royal treatment with a song. 

Hank stayed with us!  He was Ella's buddy 

Our garden had a lot of tomatoes and green peppers. 

We celebrated Ella's 8th birthday with a trip to Defy Gravity with friends. 

The whole crew 

Just the girls 

Defy Gravity Fun 

Ready to swing and jump 

With some of her sweet friends 

Climbing up the rope wall 

Ready to swing out in the foam 

Caleb and Corey helped with Yard Day at New Hope 

Back to our house for presents 

She loved reading the cards from all her friends 

Happy Birthday Ella - she requested an Oreo cake from Dairy Queen 

Blowing out the candles 

Ella and her friends enjoying the snacks 

They had fun playing at our house 

We also celebrated Micah's 1st birthday 

Taylor Cousins 

Just the girls 

Playing with her craft kit - snow and slime 

These two have enjoyed playing in the bath tub lately with all their toys.