8 is Great!

Kate turned 8 and boy did she party it up! The week before her birthday we had family over for dinner and blew out candles on her(by request) Oreo Cookie Blizzard Cake.  We are so lucky to have family live so close that when a special day comes along, we can make a whole 'To-do" about it within a few days notice.

On her actual birthday I took her to the American Girl Doll Store up in Seattle for a little shopping spree and afternoon lunch. Zach had a soccer tourament up in Seattle that weekend as well, so we got to celebrate with the Heiser and Merrill girls too, who also had birthdays within the month. It worked out perfect, the boys were at rainy soccer while the girls shopped and dined. Kate picked out Grace, the doll of the year and a few other things, and then was spoiled again with doll garb and a three course meal in the cafe, with another cake to boot!  What a great way to spend a birthday! It really was cute eating lunch with their dolls.  

First Day of School...

School started a week later than usual and these kids still weren't ready for school to start. The day and night before they were complaining about having to go, but by morning I didn't even have to wake them up.  They were ready for 5th and 2nd grade.  I am still in shock that this will be Zach's last year at Bonny Slope.  How did he grow up so fast?! Kate's teacher is Mrs. Bergerson-Allen and Zach's teacher is Mr. Basham, and they both came home very excited about them.  

After a long summer with having his brother and sister at home I decided that Ryan would be bored without them, so I signed him up for Pre-school.  He barely makes the cut off for the Early 3's program at Oak Hills, but they had space for one more child so I snagged it and he couldn't be happier.  He wakes up every day asking to go to pre-school.  His backpack is as big as he is, but that's what you get being the third child with a mom who is too cheap to buy a backpack that's the right size. He has no idea its massive on him and he insists on carrying it every time!