James’s 5th Birthday Party

Treasure map invitation

Tony, Tripp, James, Camille Green, Mary Philips, and Charles

Camille Pace on a tricycle

Sweaty little pirate James

Mary Philips and Sidney

Pirates eating at the table

The birthday boy

Mary Kate, Camille, Murphy, and Mary Philips

Abigail and the boys building a fort

Hannah posing on the tricycle

The chocolate pirate Mickey Mouse cake that James requested

Pirates waiting on cake to be cut and served

James taking a whack at the pinata

Ainsley Kate trying to finish it off

Pirates scrambling to get candy

James and Hannah with their treat boxes

Hannah and Mimi at the party

     We celebrated James's 5th birthday with a pirate themed party in the gym at FUMC.  We invited his kindergarten class.  Upon entering the gym, each pirate was given an official pirate name and an eye patch and clip on earring to wear.  James's pirate name was Jolly Swashbuckler.  The gym was full of loud, crazy pirates having fun riding tricycles, playing basketball, and building forts with cardboard boxes.  When it was time to eat cake, a few pirates banged on the table and chanted, "We want cake, we want cake..." until all pirates joined in together.  After the pirates ate their pizza and chocolate cake, it was time to take on the treasure chest pinata.  All pirates took a turn, some even two turns, and then the candy let loose all over the floor.  The little pirates wasted no time retrieving the candy and filling their treasure boxes.  James and Hannah had a blast at the party.  It was a wild way to celebrate the 5 year old little boy that I am so wild about.  Happy Birthday, Jolly James!

James as the Kindergarten Chef of the Week

James ready to teach his class how to make waffles

Hannah posing in front of Daddy

Daddy and James watching the class come in

Waffles all lined up and ready for toppings

Mrs. Kathy Ferris helping James add whipped cream

James pulled up a seat to the table for his sister

Brother/sister best friends

James's friends enjoying his waffles

Hannah just happy to be there

     James was lucky to be chef of the week on the same day as his birthday party.  The day was kind of his special day from start to finish.  As chef of the week, James and his Daddy showed the kindergarten class how to make waffles and top them off with strawberries and whipped cream.  James, his classmates, and Hannah all enjoyed the strawberry waffles.  Hannah was so excited to get to be included in the fun.  James was so sweet to pull Hannah up a chair next to him at the table in the James's classroom when it was time to eat. 

James’s First Soccer Game

 

 

     Our brother James scored 3 goals the first time he took the field!  Way to go, Jamesey!! He must have learned how to celebrate from his older brothers, as seen in the picture above.  

Connor’s 8th Birthday at Orange Beach

Connor and Hannah sleeping together on the bunkbeds

Connor getting ready to blow out his birthday candle

Connor showing off what's left of his birthday breakfast

Connor at Flip Daddy's

Weston and Hannah playing together in the sand

Hannah loving on Connor

Hannah enjoying an ice cream treat at Fin and Fork

Connor-bug and Hannah Banana

Birthday celebration at Fin and Fork

James at Flip Daddy's

My beautiful beach baby

James found a painted rock at Fin and Fork

Weston and Hannah showing off their beach treasures

Mommy and the Hannah Doll

Hannah and her Mimi

Weston busy filling buckets with sand

A family sand castle project

     We celebrated Connor's 8th birthday last week at his favorite place--the beach!  We made eggs and chocolate chip muffins for breakfast on his birthday, complete with a candle to blow out.  We played on the beach, swam in the pools, and ate good meals with family and friends.  We ate at Fin and Fork with Mimi and Grandy for Connor's family birthday celebration.  We met the Dudley's at Flip Daddy's and the Cramblitt's at The Gulf.  It was a birthday week packed full of fun!  We did Connor and Weston's "let me live at the beach" chant when it was time to go home.

First Boat Outing of the Summer

Weston relaxing on the lake

James sporting his cool sunglasses

Connor driving the boat

James's first time on the ski trainer

Hannah riding with Daddy

James driving the boat with Daddy

All my boys having fun

Hannah eating a snack

What used to be the lake at Trace State Park

     Will and I took our boat, "Guilt Trip", out for the first time all summer.  At one point, we thought we might sell it, because we don't ever take it out.  Then, Will attended Eric's dad's funeral and everyone that spoke about Mr. Jimmy mentioned all the family time spent together at the lake.  Will came home and told me, "We are not selling the boat."  We took Guilt Trip out to Trace State Park for a quick outing today, only to find out that the lake had been drained 3 years ago!  We didn't want to let a dried-up lake discourage us, so we decided to drive to Fulton, MS, and put in on the Tombigbee Waterway.  This was Hannah's first boat ride, if I am remembering correctly.  We all had a fun day on the lake.  Will and I think we are going to rename Guilt Trip.  Double Play is a contender, since we are a baseball family, and our boat is getting a second go at being a part of our family's playtime.

Hannah’s First Day of 3 Year-Old Preschool

Hannah’s First Ballet Class

 

Mimi and I took Hannah to her first ballet class today.  Hannah has been looking forward to taking ballet all summer long.  I was nervous about her crying on the first day, but this girl walked in very confidently and said, "I'm here!"  She was very chatty with her teacher, Mrs. Mary Morgan, who encouraged Hannah to let others have a chance to talk.  After class, Hannah showed Mimi and me what she learned in class.