Happy Birthday Aaron

This picture showed up at my front door. It was found in Jerry Labenetz's things after she died. I thought it captured Aaron very well. Hope you had a great day. Happy Birthday.

Riley Turns 10 Part 2

February is Riley's official birthday. But, because he shares it with a friend from school, who alway has her party the weekend closest to theitr birthday Riley has to have his later. This year Riley got to have a swimming party. He also got the big cake like everyone else gets. He wanted a castle with a dragon and his playmobil knight. The cake even had a gate, drawbridge and mot. They had a blast and he and his friends loved the cake. Again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY RILEY!!

Valentine's Day 2011

The kids came over to the house after school today to celebrate Valentine's with me. They start asking about this party right after Christmas. It has become a tradition with them.They shared with me what they got at school and from friends for Valentines and then began the party. I made cookies, brownies, chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate candy. There was a special table setting with decorations waiting for them when they got home. They got to drink their punch from crystal stemware which they think is special. Each of them got a small gift from Papa and me. They had blast. Hope everyone's day was great and full of LOVE!! Happy Valentine's Day.

Riley is 10

Riley has reached the double didgets. He turned 10 today. He and Aiden came over to the house this morning and we went shopping at Amazing Toys for his birthday present and then we had lunch together. Tonight we celebrated with a birthday dinner at Boston Pizza and then went home to cake and presents. Riley's best gift was a new bike. Next week we will celebrate with a fancy cake that Riley picked out and will help make and a swim party with friends. Happy Birthday Riley.

Sabrina Graduates

Today Sabrina graduated from MSU-Northern with her RN degree. Way to go Sabrina!!! We are so proud of you and your accomplishment.

BANANA SNOWMAN

Aiden had his Christmas party at school Thursday and I was in charge of a healthy snack.

I wanted it to be not only healthy but fun. So I made banana snowmen.

The ingredients:

bananas, carrot, mini chocolate chips, apple, grapes, pretzel sticks, bamboo skewers (or just assemble on a plate, this way the kids can build their own.)

For each snowman, cut the banana into 3 3inch pieces.

Put on skewers or plate and decorate with mini chips (eyes and buttons).

Cut small piece of carrot and add for nose. To make this easy, put hole in banana with skewer. Then place carrot into hole.

Cut apple into small wedge and cut off top to form hat.

Place hat on top of banana head.

Put grape on top of apple wedge to finish hat.and place pretzels (one pretzel broken in half) into sides of center banana for arms.
Now you have a snowman that's ready to eat.

This was fun to make and the kids at school loved them. Even the little boy who is a picky eater eat all of his and asked for another.

To make this even more fun, add a pile of white yogurt to the bottom to resemble snow.

Hope you and your kids have fun with this project.

Happy Birthday Taylor

Taylor turned 16 today. She ordered her cake a month ago. She wanted a cake that matched her homecoming dress.

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Aiden got into the act by lighting the candles on Taylor's cake.

Taylor blew out all her candles.

Aiden was a big help when it came time to open presents.

Happy 16th Birthday Taylor.

Happy Halloween

The house is decorated inside with cobwebs, spiders, and mice all over the house.

And outside with all the lights, scarecrow, bats, spiderwebs, and pumpkins.

The kids arrive for our traditional Halloween Party. The party begins with games and crafts. Riley won the doughnut eating contest as well as the apple dunking contest. Aiden gave the apple dunking a try but decided that he didn't want to get his nose wet. Then we made punch and of course it had to have dry ice in it so they could blow the smoke. Then on to making all the goodies.

They made chocolate ghosts and pumpkin suckers, Carmel apples, cupcakes, spiders and witches hats. Aiden made a puppy on his cupcake all by himself. My cake decorating techniques must be rubbing off on him.

Then we sat down for our traditional dinner together. The kids choose worms with eyeballs (spaghetti and meat balls) fingers (carrot sticks with almond for fingernails) garden greens, mud pie with worms(pudding and gummy worms and Oreo cookies) and bats blood to drink (cranberry punch). It was a great meal and a great party. We had lots of fun. Aiden had so much fun that he wanted to start all over.

WISHING EVERYONE

A

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Papa even joined us for this photo. He is the sheet in the back wearing the witches hat.

The end of a great Halloween.

Look Who Is Famous

Our Tanealya got to attend a reception at the Vice President and Dr Biden's home October 22, 2010. Who would of dreamed out girl would be hobnobing with these people.

Invitation

Again Tanealya is headed to D.C. on Wednesday. Yesterday Tanealya received an invitation to the Vice President's house for a reception on Friday night. She and another young man will be representing Special Olympics Youth Activation Committee. They will be escorted by Tim Shriver and his assistant. This is such a neat opportunity for her. She will get to meet Maria Shriver and her husband Arnold Swartzenager, Governer of California, along with lots of other dignitaries. Did you ever think this could happen?
Way to go girl. You rock.