Ahoy Mates!
Captain Joshua is Officially 9 Years Old!!!
Ship Sails at Sunset...
So for Joshua's 9th Birthday we invited all want-to-be pirates on a treasure hunt around the shiprecked "Crismon Creek" vessel. Did you know that we were once covered with water and that a pirate ship crashed into our family friendly grass retention? Who knew? 
Luckily, Captain Ben and first lady Lori knew.....Joshua and the gang went on a fun filled pirate adventure! 
All pirates had to have an eye-patch and of course a pirate tatoo.....(poor Logan tried to scrape his off with a pumice stone in the shower...too bad it was ON HIS FACE!!) Logan is right at home in full pirate character....
Thanks to Grandma Janet for applying all of the tatoos...
We started with a few pirate skills...like bobbing for apples,
digging for buried treasure
and walking the plank! 
This is a great picture of First Mate Brockie bobbing for apples...
Second Mate Jess also got in on the apple bobbing fun..
Ben started the whole treasure hunt off with explaining about Captain Cutlass and his shipwrecked boat - 
and then they were off all over the neighborhood picking up clues that eventually led them right back to Joshua's backyard - where the treasure was buried about 2 feet underground!!! Lots of digging.... 
We even had a surprise visit from a REAL pirate - who had the "ugliest teeth" you ever did see!
He told all the kids a very "pirate-y" story...."Give Me Back My Bones.."
Of course no pirate party is complete without presents and cake!
Joshua loved having all of his friends over and has said several times to me..."This has been the best birthday ever.....thanks Mom." So worth it.
We Love Captain Joshua!
Luckily, Captain Ben and first lady Lori knew.....Joshua and the gang went on a fun filled pirate adventure! All pirates had to have an eye-patch and of course a pirate tatoo.....(poor Logan tried to scrape his off with a pumice stone in the shower...too bad it was ON HIS FACE!!) Logan is right at home in full pirate character.... Thanks to Grandma Janet for applying all of the tatoos...We started with a few pirate skills...like bobbing for apples, digging for buried treasure and walking the plank! This is a great picture of First Mate Brockie bobbing for apples... Second Mate Jess also got in on the apple bobbing fun.. Ben started the whole treasure hunt off with explaining about Captain Cutlass and his shipwrecked boat - and then they were off all over the neighborhood picking up clues that eventually led them right back to Joshua's backyard - where the treasure was buried about 2 feet underground!!! Lots of digging.... We even had a surprise visit from a REAL pirate - who had the "ugliest teeth" you ever did see! He told all the kids a very "pirate-y" story...."Give Me Back My Bones.." Of course no pirate party is complete without presents and cake! Joshua loved having all of his friends over and has said several times to me..."This has been the best birthday ever.....thanks Mom." So worth it. We Love Captain Joshua! 
and I stuffed and sealed the jars. Here come the apple pies......my pantry is stocked with pie filling. Now if I just would have canned a few jars of applesauce.....
She celebrated her birthday in flip flop fashion.....she invited all of her friends to "flip flop" on over to her home for a birthday brunch bash. Emma was so excited for her party...
...She loved setting up for her party...
Daddy made the best Hello Kitty & Mickey Mouse waffles around....Lexi gave them a thumbs up! 
The rest of the crowd loved them too.... 
The kids all decorated their own flip flops and got their toes painted by Emma's dad and Aunt Kim....aren't they gorgeous!!!
Then is was off to school (all sugared up). I wish I could tape record them traveling in the car - they sing the whole way. 
Emma loves her friends. She told me that night.."I have so many friends..." 
Grandma Janet came over with a few surprises for Emma....she loves her new baby doll. 
It is 
