Steve's Birthday!

Saturday was Steve's 36th birthday.


We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast---his favorite! Then we took him out to eat at Chili's for lunch---with a chocolate molten for dessert (of course). We stopped by Academy so he could spend some birthday money. Then we came home to open presents---and watch football. We ended the night with dinner at a friend's house. A very full birthday!


The girls had fun making and buying him birthday gifts and decorations. Here's a birthday banner they made together---Hannah drew the letters and punched the holes, and Chloe threaded the ribbon.
I took the girls to the Dollar Tree to let them "shop" for daddy. They came up with a "birthday boy" ribbon for him to wear, a "Happy Birthday" Sign for the yard, helium balloons, a thermometer (for the back porch), and an ice cream scoop. Kind of funny!

We designed a scavenger hunt for him. He had to follow the clues around the house to find his presents. The girls got a kick out of this one---we hid one of his presents under the kitchen table!

The day before his birthday, his favorite morning hang-out place closed---his beloved Starbucks. The manager pulled him aside and told him to take home two boxes worth of merchandise. Here's what all he found in one of the boxes (this is only HALF of what they gave him!) He was definitely a happy camper! We've donated an entire box of mugs to the college cafe at the church---they have the Starbucks look going on in there. We gave away a few of the other mugs---and plan to use the rest as presents for Christmas---to hold Starbucks coffee or gift cards to give to all of the church staff and secretaries (and the girls' teachers too).
Definitely random---but fun!

First Haircut!

We put it off long enough...Chloe finally got her first haircut last week!
Here she is sitting in Mrs. Ashley's chair. She was such a big girl.

Here's the new 'do! The back looks thicker (it's not straggly anymore) AND
it still curls up when it's wet! Yay, we didn't lose the curl!!

Fall means Pep Rallys!

Each Friday, Chloe and I (and sometimes Daddy, too) go to Hannah's school for the weekly Pep Rally! Here's a picture of Hannah and her "big sis" Mary (and Elise, a pre-k "lil sis"). Each elementary girl is assigned to a "big sis" in the middle school or high school cheer/dance squad. They get to see each other each week at the pep rally. This particular pep rally was "western" themed.

A picture of the "sisters" smiling together at the pep rally! Too cute...

At this pep rally, Hannah was chosen (along with Grant sitting beside her) to present a picture they drew for the Homecoming Queen. They had to dress up---and hold hands down the red carpet---to present their pictures to the Queen! Hannah was so excited.