Nine

Yesterday was

Sydney's big day.

9 years old.

And she got some royal treatment.

She got taken to lunch

at McDonald's.
Where she ordered an adult meal

so she could have the parfait on the side.

They are good.

Dinner was spent

at the bowling alley.

They even decorated the lane for her. I didn't know you could decorate lanes.
But, apparently, you can.
It was nice.

The girl of honor
got to bowl first.

London got to use

one of those things

you roll the ball off of.

She rocked it.

She pretty much had the

leading score

the whole game.

We came home and Syd

blew out her candle

and opened her presents.

She got several

cute homemade cards

from family members.

She received new

bedding and accessories

for her room.

Now, she says, she will

sleep like a princess.

The new me

Well, guys, I

took the plunge.

What do you think?

It's actually brown,

though it looks kind of reddish in the picture.

Now, I suppose, there should be a new

wardrobe to match, right? :)

Partying

The kids have

already

had a chance to

break in their costumes.

Last Friday was our

ward Halloween party.

Just for fun,
we thought we'd
make a
coffin cake
for the cake walk.
Got the idea from
Jen last year,
and have been waiting
to try it.



There were
lots of fun
games and
activities
for kids.










A table
for craft-
making.









And some
fabulous
costumes!



But, oh, this is
only the beginning
of the Halloween
fun that awaits us
during the coming
week.

Canning

On Thursday,

the canner was borrowed,

and some

family canning

was done.

We had a great time!
And got dirty, too.

What a mess!











We also got some
shelves put up in our house
to store our
food on.
Yea!!
We have a ways to go,
but it's nice to finally have a place
to keep what we get.

It always feels great
to get a little more organized!
And more prepared.

Three

On this day

in 2005,

a little girl

was born.

She has been

a ray of sunshine

to our family

and everyone she meets

ever since.

She sings her own made-up songs.

She dances.

She makes me laugh.

She gives great hugs and kisses.

When I come home, she runs to me

with a big smile and says,

"Mom, I missed you!!"

She "reads" me stories.

She loves catching bugs

and playing with the dogs.

She asks me daily

to play 3 games with her:

Hide and seek,

Tag,

and No Bears Out Tonight.

She loves to tease.

She can't wait till preschool.

But she asks if I'll stay with her

there, for awhile,

because she'll miss me.

She has long conversations

with strangers.

She makes them happy, too.

We are so grateful for you,

sweet London.

Happy birthday!!

Waiting

Checking out

the presents.

It's soooo hard to wait.

"London, no peeking."

"Mom, I'm not peeking,

I'm just looking!"

"London,

no looking, either.

We'll open them

at dinnertime."

Mean old mom.

Celebrations

The
birthday
girl
sampled
the cake,
just
to see
if it was
to
her liking.

Austin gets to

do the honors.

Birthday wishes.

Now

(finally!)

she gets

a real

piece.

A fairy tale

I think she

likes it.