Talen & KiKi Family Birthday Party

We had Jay's family and Cathy's family come over on Saturday to celebrate both birthdays.  Kennedy requested ice cream cake as dessert, so we surprised her with a half Elmo for Talen, half Percy Jackson for Kennedy ice cream cake - she loved it!!  They were both spoiled with presents.  Kennedy got clothes, art supplies, pickles, salt & vinegar chips, jewelry, a new dress, money, and a phone.  Yes, we gave in and got her a cell phone.  After lots and lots of research, we decided it was best to get her this inexpensive little flip phone.  It doesn't have a contract, you have to buy the minutes (and no internet access).  Maybe not exactly what she was wanting, but it serves its purpose - the ability to get a hold of her if we need to.  No matter what kind of phone it was, she was thrilled to just be getting a phone!!  Talen got clothes and wet wipes.  Also, probably not what he wanted, but definitely something he will use.  All in all, it was a great birthday for these two!

Kennedy's friend birthday party

We let Kennedy have her "friend" party a couple days before her actual birthday.  Katelynn Leavitt and Taylor Fielding came over after school (Claire Adams had horseback riding lessons and couldn't come until later).  I took the girls to the movies to watch Hotel Transylvania 2 - cute show!  When we got home we played our version of Jeopardy - animated movie edition!  Every question was from a different animated movie and I think I might have had more fun coming up with the categories and questions than they had playing it.  They giggled and laughed and had a great time.  However, just as the game was finishing up, we realized that we hadn't seen Carter for a while.  Daxton found him - in the kitchen - eating the sugar cookies I had bought as dessert for the girls - off the floor!!  Apparently the counter wasn't high enough to keep him away.  But, thankfully I had just cleaned the floors and the girls decided that they wanted the cookies anyway, ughh!  After cookies, we send them outside for pizza (dessert first right?) and playing.  Their parents agreed and we turned her party into a late night.  So happy that Kennedy has such good friends!!

Talen turns 9!!

We are having a family party for Talen and Kennedy next week, so for today, Talen just had his school birthday party.  Can I just say that his teacher is awesome?!?!  She told me the week before that they were going to have his birthday around noon and that I was invited to come if I wanted.  I got some treats for the kids and went down to "celebrate."  I didn't realize that she was actually having a full blown birthday party for him.  She had brought cupcakes, cookies, and party favors.  She had birthday music playing.  All the kids in his class stopped their normal daily activities and partied with him.  She even got him a birthday present!  She is the best teacher ever!!  Talen also got a special surprise today - Brooke brought her kids to the school with balloons for Talen.  Talen sure got the royal treatement today and he deserved it!!  Love that boy!!

  

Shenandoah Ranch Grand Opening

Shenandoah Ranch had their big grand opening, and because Robin works there, we were all invited down to check it out.  We took the tour where we were able to see his airplane, cars, photos, memorabilia, million dollar horses, exotic animals, etc.  The whole time, all I kept thinking was, "Man, I wish Chris was still alive, he would have loved this!"  The funnest part was finding out that Boo (the monkey) had his own clothing line, hehe!  After the tour, we went back to Robin's where we had lunch and waited until the Ranch closed to the public.  That's when we got the private tour of the mansion by Mr. Wayne Newton himself.  It was pretty cool.  He was really nice to the little boys, talked very sweetly to Talen, and kissed Kennedy like a million times (I'm exaggerating.)  We took lots of pictures and as soon as it got dark, we headed back home.  What a fun experience.

Dax starts Preschool . . . again.

Daxton started preschool again (his second and final year).  I decided that they did so good last year that I would have him go to the same preschool.  Plus, it was so much easier on me to have him really close by.  I did, however, switch the time that he attends.  He now goes in the morning (same time that Talen goes), which cuts out one of my trips down and back to the school.  He also has a new teacher this year, Miss Christina.  It's funny because I have known her in passing for a really long time.  In fact, when I went in for his assessment, she asked how Talen was doing (she has been around the school since Talen went there.)  It's nice to know that Dax is being cared for by such good people.  The only downfall is that Daxton's friend Ben did not switch to the morning class, so they won't be together anymore, bummer!!