Molly's birthday cake

Molly had a beach theme for her birthday and the cake went along.

Me making the water and the sand

Almost done, sea life secured....
Finished, but I later added the palm trees and a crab.....note the sand bar. Very authentic!!

Party at school, fun with Elizabeth, cake with family

After the crazy fun on Molly's birthday at home, Molly continued the fun the rest of her day. I went to her classroom that afternoon and brought (was else) Pinkalicious cupcakes. Her friends all sang happy birthday and scarfed down a ton of frosting!! That afternoon, we headed over to her monkey friend Elizabeth's house for a little more present opening. Elizabeth couldn't make it to the party, but wanted to celebrate anyway, so sweet!! Finally, we capped the day off with a SMALL cake from Wegman's, just to make sure we completed our sugar allotment for the day. What a fun 24 hours that was!!!!

Molly with her table friends, listening to the singing....

Molly and Miss Dischinger, both eating cupcakes!!
At Elizabeth's house, looking at the card that comes with stickers!!

Opening a new doll, perfect for the Barbie bus!!!

Singing again, more cupcakes from Wegman's, what a lucky girl
Molly and Elizabeth :)
Mini Wegman's cake - these are fabulous!!
Molly and Mommy - blowin' out the candle!

Molly turns 6!!

Wednesday, Molly turned 6 years old, something hard for me to believe!! The morning was a flurry of unwrapping presents and having breakfast, all before school. Here is some of what happened....

Molly gets new Fancy Nancy books

One of her FAVORITE presents - a veterinarian dress up outfit, complete with dog sporting a bandage!

Dave wonders if purple makes him look fat.....

Second most favorite present.....night vision goggles

See what I mean??
Not knowing what this is......oh, it's coming!!!!
The Barbie bus and all of it's furniture and accessories....this was mine when I was a kid, so you know it's old!!!
My favorite birthday photo :) I love my girl!!!

How to build a gingerbread house

1) Have three enthusiastic children

2) Buy kit from craft store

3) Use lots of frosting glue

4) Have hoards of candy to stick on

5) Tell children not to eat candy that has no doubt been in box since the Cold War

6) Display and enjoy!!!!

Potter's last piano recital - at the mall

The video is almost a minute long, so I am not posting it, but Potter performed at his last piano recital this past weekend at the mall (center court, no less, right next to the Santa display) and did a fantastic job! The decorations were beautiful, so I got a couple pictures of the kids.

Reading Pinkalicious!!

At the library last week, we checked out Pinkalicious, Purplicious, and Goldilicious - the trifecta!! Had to read with the kids by the fire!!

Cookie Exchange 2010

The sixth annual Wendy and Lin cookie exchange was held this past Sunday afternoon. As Wendy and I had planned, it snowed a lovely white layer of fluff during the early morning to set the holiday mood!! Dave and I also put up the tree, with decorating courtesy of Caleb, Molly and Potter. The outside lights were up, the reindeer firmly planted in the front yard - truly festive!! This year we had 10 wonderful women mix, chop, melt a variety of ingredients to bake dozens of different cookies, all amazingly tastiful beyond belief! Spending a few hours eating snacks, sampling cookies, having a glass of wine and hosting a holiday trivia throwdown makes for a nice segue into the Christmas holiday. Enjoy the pics, try not to drool on the keyboard!

Mary Ann Beukema (Cathy's mom), Cathy, Lin

Mary Ann, Cathy, Wendy

This, dear friends, is what 90 (NINETY) dozen cookies looks like. Remember, stop slobbering.

For those of you who would like to know, these are the cookies that are represented this year:

French Waffles, Cherry Almond Chews, Double Dark Chocolate Thumbprints, Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pecan Butter Balls, Cranberry Orange Cookies, Pizzelles, Pecan Shortbread, Chocolate Cashew Teacakes, Double Chocolate and Caramel Bars. OMG!!!

Molly and Steph

Our table of snacks and cookies for sampling. It seems some interlopers were caught in the picture....

Another shot of us eating, but Molly finding the right angle for the camera

Lin, trying to stump everyone with holiday trivia, especially Steph, who apparently had been studying up for the challenge!! It worked, she did win a prize again this year.....

THANKSGIVING!!

Thanksgiving 2010: Tuesday, Emma and Wendy arrive at a reasonable hour; Philip arrives around 9 pm; Jeff, Laura, and Alex arrive around midnight; Kate and Rob arrive around 1 am. There is much laughing and talking, all of our out of towners arrived on the same night, Wednesday promises to be wonderful!!! Wednesday, busy with dinner preparation, drinking and eating, errands and fun; Emma leaves for her Mom's, the rest of us remain. Thursday, tons and tons of people arrive for the pre-party party, all the final prep is done on the meal, then hoards of guests arrive to eat a spectacular feast!!! Friday, Philip leaves at 4 am (stupde Yankee Candle job) everyone else rolls out of bed, too full to stand upright, a group leaves to watch Harry Potter, then another group leaves to go on the annual pub crawl, more eating done that night, maybe some gin is consumed too. Saturday, the Trippes leave back for Maine, the Bushman-Smiths leave for New Jersey. We are left a bit sad, but with amazing memories of the past 4 days. I LOVE Thanksgiving week!!!!

Wendy and Emma on Tuesday night.

Molly, Kate and Caleb reading on the sofa, giving us the foots-up!!

Kate was amazing, helping me make 6 (six) recipes of roll dough. She is appropriately covered with flour. Evidence of her skill and dedication.

Dinner on Wednesday night, homemade macaroni and cheese with ham, some salad. I love these people!!!

Thursday morning, working on the turkey craft, having hot chocolate, watching the parade.

Oh no!!! Apparently, the roll dough tried to take over the garage refrigerator. At least we didn't have the problem of it NOT rising this year.

Dave's pie pumpkin, gruyere, and baguette appetizer, always amazing, always a hit!!

Rob in my apron, displaying his domestic capabilities.

The Thanksgiving spread.
Our Thanksgiving craft/activity. Many thankful people for many things.
Saturday morning, Kate and Rob have to leave. Group shot with the kids. They will miss them!!! (that goes both ways!!!)

Caleb's UPK goes to the Fire Station

Wednesday, November 10th (yes I am very behind) Caleb's class went to the Endicott Fire Station on a field trip. We watched a movie on fire safety, took a tour of the entire fire station, and got to see all the fire trucks and fireman equipment and suits. This is sooooo up Caleb's alley; we drive past the fire station every day on the way to and from school. I was shocked that he didn't take the chance to sit in the driver's seat of the fire truck. Who woulda thunk it??

In the family room/dining room/kitchen of the fire station, watching our fire safety video

All the children are in awe of the pole the firemen slide down and seeing all the beds where they sleep

The kids from the entire suite in front of one of the fire trucks. Caleb is right in front of the ginormous tire.

Looking at the fireman, dressed in all his gear. Caleb would not go and even touch the helmet.

Potter's piano recital

Potter playing 'The Happy Farmer'

Molly is Kindergarten Citizen of the Month - October 2010

MY DAUGHTER WAS CITIZEN OF THE MONTH!!!! She was recognized at Tiger Time yesterday at the all school assembly. Each teacher selects one student from their class and Molly was chosen for October. I cannot be more proud of my little (oops) big girl. She was the very first one up on the stage and didn't flinch one bit!!!

Molly on stage with her original kindergarten teacher, Mr. Flint, handing out her certificate.

Molly with the other kindergarten Citizens of the Month - YAY CFJ!!!!
Molly at home for a close up with her certificate. Did I saw that I was proud yet????