Grandparents in Town

We were so glad to have a visit from Grandma and Grandpa.  

Heading to the bus stop to meet the kids.

Elsa was sick the next day and spent most of the morning on the couch with Grandpa.

She spent the other half of the day reading his book on the Kindle with him.

Elsa's Baptism

Elsa's baptism was on a beautiful day.  It started out cloudy but the sun came out in time for the afternoon baptism.  It felt like a miracle to have so much family there.  It was a beautiful meeting.

Elsa in her "photo shoot" for the program.  Wow, 8-year old girl!

With Brother and Sister McQuivey, her primary teacher who gives homework...and Elsa LOVES her!

Elsa and Meg...the other little girl who goes to her school from her primary class.

Elsa and Grandpa Hugh

With Brother Pocock her piano teacher.

How lucky that Grandma and Grandpa could come.

The West guests.

Is Elsa an official West Woman now?  How sweet to have Grandma, Emmy and Katie there. 

The birthday goes on...

Birthdays around our house tend to last days.  We let Elsa open a couple of things each day.

This was all Elsa really wanted.  Her own set of scriptures.  She was so happy with them.  Her baptism dress didn't mean much compared to these.

Even John hugged and thanked us he was so happy she got them.  She had been confiding in him for days about how much she wanted them.  He knew what a big deal it was.  It was so cute.

We had a family gathering as well to have her favorite mashed potatoes and another cake.  Why not?

Emmy came.

My Mom and Dad got into town as well as Katie which was an unexpected bonus!

Someone need a haircut?

Look at the beautiful cake Emmy made.

Elsa trying to stop John from blowing out the candles.  

This captures the scene.  John taunting and threatening to blow them out and Elsa upset about it.

Hugh has taken a liking to this nightcap and wears it, for real, lots of nights.

Groucho Glasses

These were one of the treats in the piñata and they are extra funny we think.  

Happy Birthday Leapling!

This is a big year for Elsa.  A real Leap Day and turning 8!  

Elsa opened a few presents first thing in the morning.  I think this one was a basketball.  She has been wanting one and oddly enough, we have never had one.  

All ready for the Leap Day Party!  It was a school day, but we couldn't pass up doing it on the real day.

Getting off the bus after school with her brownies for the class.

Freddie the Frog Cake.

Finding one of the clues in the Scavenger Hunt...in the mud.

We played a few games with these frog beach balls and had a leap-frog relay.

Here is the party group just before whacking the piñata.  John is doing his best Harpo impression.

The "treasure" at the end of the scavenger hunt was this cotton candy machine .  It actually works really well!

This piñata took a little bit of work to break open.  But the good news is that everyone got at least 3 turns!

Dinner was a little odd, but we had ravioli at Elsa's request, frog-eye salad and these little lily pads made from Engish muffins, blue cream cheese, cucumbers and a gummy frog.  We had blue "pond water" to drink.  It worried a few of the girls until one declared it tasted like lemonade...

The presents are always the best part, right?

Happy Birthday Sweet Elsa!!

Life Goes On

So after our 3 months of transition we are settling into life again.  It is fun to be home all day with the two younger  boys.  Funny how it never seemed to be so hard to get to the grocery store when I had other kids this age at home all day.  I find myself staying home whenever possible.  Not a bad life here in the woods.

Charlie takes a bath like a big boy now!  But the best news is that he is sleeping through the night...most of the time :)  Tooth #3 just poked through too.  Oh, and he finally has the hang of solid food!

Super Mickey is back in full force.  Whether it is Robin Hood, Peter Pan, a Guard, a Warrior, Superman, Clark Kent, Batman, Iron Man, Mickey Mouse, Wee Willy Winkie or any combination of these, Hugh has settled right back into his little imaginary world.  So good have him back.