Back to school, back to school...

We had our annual back to school spaghetti dinner the night before school started.

Our Theme for this year is going to be...

"Do unto others as you would have done unto you"

We got home from our Michigan trip the night before so it wasn't quite as intensely decorated as last year... but it was every bit as fun!

I know, he is huge.

We giggled, set goals, and had father's back to school blessings. 

Then the next morning it was back to school!

Cole is in Mr. Lundquist's 3rd grade class.

and Ali is in Mrs. Roberts 1st grade class.

I have to admit, I am one of those mom's that is never quite ready to have them go back to school.

I actually miss their craziness!

Good thing I have Piper to keep me company!

...she frequently puts on their backpacks as soon as they get home and informs us all that she is now going to school.

Needless to say she misses them too.

Dinglehop-her she's 6!

Ali turned six!

and we invited her friends to dingle-hop on over for a swimmingly good time shell-ebrating!

Every sea worthy party needs some good eats!

so we had peanut butter and jelly fish sandwiches,

"seaweed"

 sea cucumbers

 & sand dollar cookies,

as well as clam shells

  

and pearls.

the little mermaids were each given a sand pale to hold their treasures and a flower lei to tropically accessorize.

after a land locked lunch, 

it was time to get fishy

(with sebastion says)

and bust out the water works!!!

which quickly turned into a gymnastics meet.

then the drenched party goers came in for some cake

and candles.

The mermaid of honor was showered with enough gifts to fill her trove with treasures.

by these fabulously wonderful water worthy friends!

Ali makes us smile from ear to ear!

She is gorgeous inside and out and we are absolutely obsessed with her cute little six year old self!

2-da-loo!

Alright, no judging...this cake is a little less than our normal all-out-go-at-things...

but she's two and it was just us hooligans, so we opted for simple.

So a popsicle for the pipe-sicle it was!

she didn't mind my ghetto cake one bit!

such dainty little two year old manners

she loved her some chocolate!

wouldn't you say?!

and what did her 2 year old heart desire?

a red radio flyer wagon.

which she rode around the neighborhood in style.

Piper is the most hilariously entertaining addition to our family that we could ever ask for. 

She keeps us smiling and we are completely obsessed with her!

Happy second kid, you make our world a fabulous place!!!

Calling all soldiers...Captain America here.

Cole tuned 8!

and a Captain America Party was in order.

Complete with  party favors. 

That had to be personalized of course!

Party goers were summoned by an urgent message from Captain America, requesting their presence at head quarters, where they were greeted by truly patriotic decor.

Justin worked his cake magic again this year.

he is awefully handy!

the recruits decorated Shields of the frisbee variety,

and immediately put them into action.

Ali adorned her self America style for the festivities, 

as did piper, who put herself to use stealing everyones shoes.

Next up was some cadet cookie decorating.

and eating...

Sgt. Cole was then bestowed with a bounty of gifts from his comrades. 

and finally the cake was devoured.

Cole asked for a sea food feast for his family birthday dinner..I would say daddy delivered!

Over all it was a fabulous day for a fabulous kid!

We sure love you Cole!