Eight is Great!

This little princess is turning EIGHT!!

We celebrated today at school! Tomorrow is her friend's party

Getting flexy

Wordless Wednesday: {Sibling Love}

Begging

For the first time, we didn't ToT with Tyler. He went off with his friend in a completely different neighborhood.

That was kind of different.

Instead, I stuck with Ashlee and her buddy, Molly, and we went around our neighborhood (Justin seemed to spend the evening walking around with our neighbors without us?!)

Tyler got like twice as much candy as Ashlee, but she didn't seem to mind too much. Tyler doesn't mind until we switch out all of the gluten-filled candy and he ends up with mounds of Kit Kats, Crunch and Twizzler's.

Although, I must say, the whole "Teal Pumpkin" movement, which started last year is making great strides. While I didn't see many teal pumpkins, many people were handing out things other than candy - and that's worth more than seeing the teal pumpkin!

Paradin'

Carving Tales

Black Dynamite Finale

The first season of volleyball has come to an end. And the girls grew so much and got so much better as the season went on!

Ashlee loved it and wants to play again in the spring - when we plan to start our own school team.

We can't wait to start teaching a new group of girls how to hit a volleyball over the net (since that's all that matters at this age).

I never knew Ashlee would love sports! We can't get her in enough sports, it seems! Thanks for the memories HCA!

{Late} Scenes from Summer Camp

White Trash, A Queen of Hearts and a ?

TWO Halloween parties in ONE night.

Look at us being all social! 

Lindsay had her annual Halloween party the same night as Evie and Griffin's so we were able to stop by for a little bit. Tyler, of course, didn't feel good, so we weren't able to stay too long.

NOTE: Tyler has ongoing stomach aches and headaches and becomes dehydrated easily. We do not know what is going on with him. He has been tested for Celiac Disease - as have I twice - but he doesn't have it. He may have my history of headaches, which is not a good thing. We watch him regularly to see what steps we should take to avoid this. The worst he's ever been was on the road trip this past year when he got altitude sickness and all of his "reoccurring" systems came out at once.

I hung with Mona, the queen of hearts, and the mullet-trash-bag-wearing Violeta, half of white trash.

The costumes people come up with are hilarious. Of course, I had my face painted at the last party and came as whatever they wanted to call me - a clown? A joker? A scary white thing?

Tyler ditched his costume; Justin didn't dress up, and Ashlee was still a kitty.

Ashlee spent her time hanging with Evalina and Cali in the basement. They had an absolute blast as the only "big" kids and the only girls. And let's be honest, they don't need entertainment to have an amazing time!

When Mom Gets Involved...

When Kitties and Jokers Attack

Evie and Griffin's Halloween party is always a "scary" good time!
Sports and dance friends a plenty!

Tried & Approved {or Not} - Part 30

These days, Facebook is morphing into more of a support-and-seek-out-new-gluten-free-finds type of place. And one of the places I've been scoping out for awhile is Morgana's, a gluten-free bakery.

Now, Morgana's is in Raytown, and Raytown is fairly far away from our house, so just driving there to get donuts isn't in the cards unless we have a lot of time ... but today, we finally had some time.

So we made the trek for the donut holes and apple fritters we had heard so much about (they have cinnamon rolls too, but Ashlee didn't want one for some reason?!)

And let's say Ashlee was NOT disappointed. She was yelling out in pleasure from the backseat!

I tried them and didn't find them nearly as good as the donuts from Mama Resch's, but then again, I eat both of these types of donuts filled with gluten from QT - and let's be honest, nothing can beat that!

If I had to eat them gluten-free, I bet these are great. Ashlee did, and she now wants to go back every weekend.

We did pick up some Halloween cupcakes while we were there - and Mama Resch's doesn't have anything on these decorated cakes that look just like something I'd pick up at the grocery store!! Kudos!

Just Add Pads

When you forget your Halloween costume for dance...

Ashlee's Room

I finally finished the gallery wall in Ashlee's "bigger" girl room.

A few months ago, I decided, on a whim, to redecorate her room. The plan was to do it using the furniture she had - and to not have to repaint the room.

I'm trying to get as much time out of the paint as I can!

I moved the furniture around; brought a book case out of the closet (to hold her trophies and growing book collection); moved my desk into her room; gave her a reading corner and fun girly gold lighting, and voila, a "bigger" girl room fit for a pink, brown AND gold princess.

All of the movement opened up a room, perfect for a gallery wall. She picked out everything that is on the wall. 

 

The two hanging items that look like "junk" are her Girl Scout SWAPS (one from each year of camp). The square photos are from Mixtiles. The unicorn is from etsy. And she drew the square photo, and painted the owl at a birthday party!