Cody is SIX! ... finally

“Is it my birthday yet?!”

Can you guess how many times I heard that throughout the year?! Ugh...

One again, Cody wanted a HUGE party with all his friends. We did another water-game theme with a slightly dangerous Star Wars twist. It was so much fun. I love having his cute friends over! And they all had so much fun.... okay a few boo-boos, but mostly fun!!!

Thanks everyone for helping me! I can't imagine hosting 20 (or thereabout) kids for two hours. Thanks Eric, Autumn, Heidi, Ruth, Joey, and Shawn. LOVE YOU!

Happy Birthday Rollie!

Brennan and Marshy came over for a birthday dinner. We had so much fun eating Brennan's menu choice, lasagna and salad ("the kind with lots of stuff in it"). Then we played Lightning (basketball game), Duck-Duck-Goose (hilarious with old people), and Pass-The-Shoe (a Dowdle game Eric introduced to the Thompsons). It was so much fun. What a remarkable and wonderful family we have. I'm so thankful for a wonderful husband who has welcomed our extended family into our home. I sure married well. 

Love you Brennan!!! Happy Birthday Rollie!

Sweet Seventeen

A four course meal, one girl and gobs of boys .... Autumn's Sweet Seventeen Party. Just for the record, lots of girls were invited. But they didn't come 'till later. Ryan said it looked like the Bachelorette.... funny.

Noelle and I worked together to throw Autumn a very special dinner party. It really turned out well.

We started the evening with shrimp cocktail and spinach dip appetizers. They were as good or better then the rest of the meal... grilled chicken and broiled salmon YUM.

The boys at the party ... and Autumn

The girls at the party ... all the "Mom's" in Autumn's life

Pretty cake!

Presents and a perma-grin

From Mom ... what could it be?

Big blonde brothers

Shawnie!

No way a quilt!!! WAY.

It took three months to make, but I'm so pleased to give our little girl a special gift that I hope she'll cherish forever. Quilts are like that, right?

Seventeen candles

Look at that hair!

And for the final entertainment ... stuff kids into a bag that reads, keep this and all plastic away from children. "But there's holes in it!" "You guys, take the bag off the kids!" What!?