Magee Girls' Birthday Party 2011

Yesterday was the girls' yearly birthday party. This year we decided to have it away from home - WONDERFUL idea!  We usually have it at our home and have to rent chairs and borrow tables and tents.  Then it usually takes 2-3 hours to set up and another 2 hours to tear down! 

This year we showed up at the Mill Creek Park Chestnut Hill pavilion, set out food and a few decorations and we were ready to go.  Each pavilion has it's own playground, sandbox and field for baseball etc.  And, it was only $50 to rent (not much more than renting chairs etc)!!

The weather wasn't great - grey and stormy in the morning, then clearing in the afternoon.  By party time it was sprinkling or misting (THANKFUL for the pavilion)!  We chose not to grill hamburgers and hotdogs this year, and instead got fried chicken and Italian sausage.  This too was a wonderful decision!  Awesome food (From Charley's on Kirk) and the price was almost to the dollar of what it costs when we grill the food ourselves (actually $5 cheaper)!

We had about 55 people show despite the wet weather.  Everyone brought a side dish and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner.  The kids loved the woods, and dirt and playground!  Most were filthy messes before going home!  The trees kept them from getting entirely soaked thankfully.  And the guys were able to get in a few rounds of cornhole!

We also enjoyed a wonderful cake made by Tami (again this year!).  She enjoys making and decorating cakes occasionally for fun.  We are blessed that she has been willing to do it for our girls! 

Kaelin had to have Abby help blow out her candles.

The mirowave that Hailey got was a big hit :)

After opening presents the kids got to open the pinata.  In years past we have had trouble actually breaking the pinata open (an adult has to rip it by the end), so this year I got a string pinata!  It worked fairly well, though we did shake the pinata to help some candy out.  

Jecca designed and ordered some magnets for us for favors that turned out adorable as usual!  

Overall - it was a huge success!  All the kids had fun, and our kids said it was the best day ever!  They loved their presents (a lot of craft kits and hands on learning!).

The next hurdle in our lives is a dr. appt for both girls tomorrow to get yearly shots :(.  Then we are looking forward to the Lawrence County Fair on Thursday and we have a family pool party Sunday! Next week is the beginning of kindergarten for Kaelin!

Haircuts

Last week I took the girls for haircuts, for several reasons: 1 - their hair was in the face and badly needed cut!, 2 - to get ready for their upcoming party, and 3 - so Kaelin would be ready for Kindergarten!

Here are some pictures.  Hailey really likes her hair to be blow dried 'straight' with a round brush, she says it makes it soft.  :)  However, it NEVER stays straight for long.

Note: Kaelin's kindergarten orientation is Tuesday (8/23).  Then her first day is Thursday (8/25) for screening.  Friday we are supposed to get a call telling us who her teacher will be this year.  Then, her first day of school is Monday (8/29).  She is riding the bus with her best friend, Abby, from next door.  Abby will be in 2nd grade this year, so she is going to be Kaelin's guide :).  

Kaelin's 5th birthday...

On Saturday, Aug 6, Kaelin turned 5.  What?! Seriously?!  Yep!  I can't believe it.  I cannot explain how fast the last 5 years went, and I am having a very hard time belieivng she is starting school in 2 weeks!  Kaelin is a very smart, outgoing little girl.  She loves any kind of imaginary play or craft.  She also is a big helper and loves to help her sister (usually in public, not so much at home :) ).  She helps me with small chores around the house and is very good at following precise directions.

For her birthday we had a very busy day planned!  The next day was the Magee reunion, so we had a bit of baking to do with a dish for that and K's cake.  K helped me back (and tasted) during the morning.  Along with getting her nails painted.  Then we took a trip to Build A Bear, courtesy of Grandma Jan, followed by a brief stop at a friend's birthday party.  We finished the day with a family dinner at Red Lobster and then cake and presents at our house.

Her new ladybug from Miss Kathy (and Mr. Peter, and Claire).  Hailey got a blue one of course.

 Crafts!  She got 6 different craft kits from Grandma Barb, Papa Tom and Uncle Jasey

Getting ready for school - Mommy and Daddy got her the Fancy Nancy backpack and Hello Kitty lunchbox she wanted.  

 Uncle Ray got her an Easy Bake Oven!

Cake time:  Flavors picked by K - funfetti with chocolate funfetti icing.  It was actually pretty good.

Not sure who had more fun baking - Uncle Ray, Uncle Jasey or K?!

But she LOVES to decorate!

Sunday we then had the Magee Reunion at the farm - with food and fun.  The girls love Papa and Grandma's new baby donkey Jazmine.  (She completes the family of 3 donkeys).

We also got to spend the evening at Papa Keith and Grandma Cindy's.  We headed over to wind down after the warm afternoon at the reunion.  We did a bit of that, had some dinner and then had a bunch of fun - four wheeling, playing with Daddy's old transformers, and taking a bath in the giant tub :).

All in all a fun bday weekend for K!  She can't wait for her ladybug party next week! 

Hailey's 3rd Birthday!

Hailey's birthday is July 30. She turned 3 this year.  In the last 3 years she has changed SO much.  Gone is the shy, quiet girl.  Now she is a talkative, adventurous, and crazy little girl.  She is usually a little hesitant about trying new things, but the moment she does, she always has fun.  She is still a Mommy's girl, doesn't like to be left in nursery (though she only cries for a few minutes now).  She loves her big sister, though not being told what to do by her :).

Her birthday turned out to be a 2 day celebration.  On Friday we went to Wedgewood Pizza and Handel's. Then on Saturday we stayed busy painting nails and baking cupcakes, along with a visit to Austintown Bounce Around, and Build A Bear!

Pretending to be an Elephant with Papa Tom

Cupcakes made by Mommy, K and H.  Blue of course, chosen by H

Gifts....A bunny dollhouse from Papa Tom and Grandma Barb 

A set of 5 dress up dresses with shoes, accessories and fairy wings in just her size from Uncle Ray.

Our fun at Austintown Bounce:

All the kids had fun :)....Ray is a good sport going through the obstacles to help them.

Too much excitement for the old men.  They needed a rest.

Hailey has received a few Build A Bears in the past, but this was her first time to pick one out, make the choices and be very involved.  She loves her Blue Bear.  Thank you Grandma Jan!

 Uncle Jasey got her a paint/art spinner. As you can see she liked it :)

We got her a pair of learning roller skates, no pictures though, because we need 2 hands to help her :)  Continuing the celebration the girls' big summer bday party is next weekend at the park.  They are looking forward to it.

Also - the day after Hailey's bday is my dad's birthday - who turned 50 this year!  Hailey said, wow he is bigger than me :).

Random Bits...

It has been an adventure here the last few weeks.  We had our first 3D ultrasound, our first week of VBS, and my last day of work during the end of July!  Justin's Dad also built several sets of regulation corn hole boards.  Justin and Ray painted ours in the last two weeks, not an easy job with the humidity!

 3D Ultrasound of baby boy on 7/21

VBS was centered around a trip to the Big Apple.  Kaelin was old enough to attend, but Hailey wasn't.  I volunteered to help in the volunteer's nursery so Hailey was able to be with me and 6 other 2 year olds all week :)

VBS makes us sleepy :)

The Sunday after VBS the students sang during service.

319 students, Can you spot K? She is on the front left - a spot of green in a sea of yellow.  The kids raised almost $1200 in change for wells in Africa that week!

Justin's new boards.