a small town style homecoming

we headed out one afternoon for our town's annual homecoming parade.  emma was so excited to use her kinder spelling skills...


and mama c. was with us for the big parade...


rob helped kill some time before the parade started...


it was called spin & get tickled :)


so fun.


school spirit isn't something that's taken lightly in this little town.  football is huge...


and homecoming is really huge!




the kids were so excited.  i think it was their first real parade...sigh...kind of sad, i know.


"we think we can see it!"


and oh my goodness was. it. small. town.  complete with tractors...


teenage girl sized mums...


and candy!


carson was trying to eat it all with. the paper. on.


there was an old fire truck that i loved too.  carson agreed.  it was a fun afternoon, and we can't wait to go back next year!

Under the Sea

for emma's 6th birthday party, we had been planning a swimming "ariel" party for about a year.  and then, we moved, so i decided to hold her party a couple of weeks so that she could meet a few friends.  mistake #1.

we checked the weather the thursday before her saturday party. it was 90% chance rain and a cold front was coming.  yipee.  i didn't have a clue what to do.  i panicked.

and after i did that, we made a judgement call and moved her party to friday afternoon, and boy, am i glad we did.  it was still a little cool and drizzling, but tolerable.  by saturday, we were in jeans and boots :)  so here are her party pics.  it turned out great, and i had a happy birthday girl :)

there were sea creature suckers for the table...


and i decorated with shells, pearls, and fish nets...


i made her cake, and she was thrilled.  i hope it always stays that way.  i love homemade cakes :)






we made our salt dough ornaments...together.  which is probably one of our favorite family traditions.  they are inexpensive.  little hands can help, and the possibilities are endless.


here's our birthday girl...


i quickly came up with this rhyme one night while sitting on the couch with my hubby.  it was for our favor table, otherwise known as "ariel's grotto."




the "pearls" were oreos dipped in white chocolate and then sprayed with pearl paint.  my good friend juli bailed me out and sent me a few printables that she used last year.  the pearls were her idea :)


there were bookmarks for the kids to take home.


and mermaid necklaces...


we had "fish food" (goldfish) and fruit strips too.


i didn't get a photo of the food table, but we had pb&j, pigs in a blanket, goldfish, chips, veggies & dip, clam cookies and fruit.  i used the same tags for the food as i did for the favors :)


despite the weather, she still enjoyed her party...


and so did he :)


they even swam a bit!


we had a penny toss "treasure hunt" too.


they were all wrapped up and ready for the pinata!


emma got the first swing..


we were so grateful for all who showed to make her day special...


even in the weather :)


it was time for cake.




and we finally managed to light enough for some wish making.


i used the same recipe for this cake as i did when emma had a rainbow cake....just different colors :)  and i always make real buttercream frosting.












mama c. made it in for the big day...


i just love these two...




later on that weekend, aunt ash, aunt lindy, uncle dill, grand-dad, and nana stopped by.  her big birthday gift was a new bike from both sets of grandparents.  to grand-dad, nana, mama c. and papa...she loved it!

REACH for the stars

i feel like buzz lightyear with a title like that.  emma received the REACH award at school, and we were so proud of her!


bro was there to cheer her on.  and mama c. was too.  we lucked out on that one :)


i think as parents, we both smiled pretty big that day.  REACH stands for respect, encourage, appreciate, communicate, and honor, and it's always nice to hear that your child is doing the right thing.  three cheers for miss emma!

now to race out the door...her birthday party is in one hour!