Wesley's 11 1/2 birthday

Wesley's 1/2 Birthday!

Since Wesley's birthday is exactly one week before Christmas, he always has a small indoor party. Now, he's had fun in the past, mind you, but this year he really wanted to do something fun and adventurous . . . OUTDOORS. So, on December 18, we had a quiet celebration at home and started planning for a half birthday in June. Below are some of the results of those plans. Wesley had a couple of his friends join him for a ropes course adventure at Lake Lanier. Wesley was concerned that it might not be challenging enough. I'll let you be the judge.

Wesley and Jacob Dickinson were the first to begin the rope climb to the top.

About 100 feet in the air

Looking good so far . . .

Everyone at the top with the course instructor.

Mike D. and Chuck leading the way for the first challenge.

Here they are crossing the rocking boards.

They were required to hold their partners hand the entire time.

Hey, Drew!

Will and Graham

Chuck, braving the criss-crossing rope challenge at station #3.

Now, doesn't this look like fun to you?

Jacob and Ethan working together.

They made it!

All that's left is to slowly lean back and drop to the the bottom. HA!

Exhausted, relieved, hot, sweaty, proud, and very glad that's over with.

After the ropes course was finished, we hung around at the water park for some extra fun. Here is my brave girl headed down the big scary blue waterslide. I can't remember the official name, but that's what I called it.

Way to go, Riley!

We finished out the evening with dinner at La Cazuela's with the Dickinsons. Our waitress was great! They brought out our cookie cake with a candle in it, sang "Feliz Cumpleanos", and even presented Wesley with a birthday sombrero. It was the perfect end to a perfect party day!

Happy 11 1/2 birthday, Wesley.

Happy 4th Birthday, Ty!

For Ty's 4th birthday, we had a Carnival Party celebration in his honor, and it was a BLAST!!

Here Ty is showing off his new birthday chair. (Thank you to the Dickinson's for the idea and to the Papa and Mimi for finding another one of Grandmother's chairs.)

When the guests arrived they received 10 tickets, a goody bag to color, and of course, a clown nose.

While Wesley was busy inside with Go-Fish and the Jumpy room, Will and Riley were manning the outside booths. They were wonderful helpers.

Will at the Bulls-Eye bean bag toss.

Riley Catherine hosting the Penny Toss table.

Meanwhile, Aunt Hannah was putting her artistic talents to work with some face-painting.

. . . Until, Riley Catherine decided to take over and add a few extra creative touches.

Pretty impressive . . . .

Time for Presents.

And Birthday Cake.

And there is always time for a ride in the 3-wheeler with Mr. Chuck.

Unless, of course, the 3-wheeler loses a tire in the middle of the ride, in the middle of the woods.

Uh, Oh . . .

All's well that ends well, though, and the kids ended the party by making a wish and letting their balloons go.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

To celebrate Chuck's 39th birthday, the kids decided to come up with a list of 39 things to buy for Daddy and then send him on a scavenger hunt to find them all. This took a little bit of planning and lot of adding and subtracting and refiguring on numbers to reach the magic 39. The items they finally decided on are as follows:

14 sticks of chewing gum
3 pairs of socks (Mommy's suggestion - Daddy appreciates practicality.)
4 Uniball pens
8 chocolate fudge poptarts with icing (They insisted. I gave in . . . reluctantly.)
3 new tennis balls (Ty's idea.)
1 roll of Necco Wafers (Daddy's absolute favorite candy - why, we're not sure?)
1 new pair of "slipper shoes" (His only request.)
5 gallons of gas in a new red plastic gas tank (My boys are practical too. They knew he needed some to keep their dirtbikes revved and ready to ride!)

I am proud to say that the kids wrote every single one of the clues themselves, and it was so much fun watching Chuck try and decipher them and uncover each of his treasures.

Way to go, Kids! Happy 39th Birthday, Chuck!