Georgia's Ranch Birthday Party

Well I am really racing to get caught up with events that need documenting around here! Georgia turned seven at the beginning of May. I had been promising her a party, a real, planned out, lovely party for an entire year leading up to it. She reminded me often that her last friend party was when she was three.

Then her little sister decided that she would join our family. As I have already shared multiple times, sick is just the beginning when it comes to describing my early pregnancy. I told Georgia that the party was still on. But it had to be pushed back several weeks. We made her day special, then set our sights on the end of May for the big event.
Georgia was so inspired by our Spring Break trip to the Dude Ranch, that she wanted to continue the theme. So we set up a party at "Georgia's Ranch."

Our desert table.

Birthday girl!

We had horseshoe cookies made to go along with our theme. As Georgia and I carried the two boxes full of them to the table, she dropped her box, and all the cookies broke. I hope it is not bad luck to break a horseshoe, because that would mean we have an entire box full of bad luck headed our way.

Dressed in our duds.

The invite.

We had a new cake decorating business here in town do the baked goods. It is owned by a young woman, and it is always nice to support those shops. Our poor horse topper took a tumble halfway through the party, thanks to Walker's helpful hands.

Georgia really wanted her horse Brownie to greet her guests as they arrived. We also made sure they were ready to ride with the correct gear. A pink handkerchief, and a sequin cowgirl hat.

Our table set for "chow time" on the Ranch.

Hats and handkerchiefs ended up strewn all over the yard.

We sent the girls home with their hats and handkerchiefs, and a bag of salt water taffy.

Suddenly everything happened at the same time. My friend Michelle (a real life pioneer woman, with a farm, homeschool and all, plus Relief Society President calling… props, girl) pulled up with the horse trailer...

The guy we had come out to mark utility lines to put in a new basketball hoop came to spray...

And all  our little Ranch pardners arrived for the party!

Our ride for the day was named Amigo. He was the gentlest of the gentle. Some of the girls had been very hesitant to ride, and a couple moms called me to let me know that their daughters may sit out the horse ride portion of the party.

We put the girls at different stations, and I had the reluctant girls do their craft before going over to see the horse. By the time they got there, they had watched all their friends ride. We ended up having every girl not only eager to ride, but excited to try trotting! They all did really well with the loping, and it it was awesome to see them get past their initial fear!
Georgia was our first rider. She just loves it!

Our craft table had the girls decorating and painting a horseshoe to take home as a lucky charm.

Michelle brought her little guy who is Walker's age, and the two of them found plenty to entertain themselves. Overlook our sad, sad bush that needs to be pulled out. We had several trees and shrubs that did not make it through this past bitter cold Winter. It was brutal!

Wally taking a ride while the girls ate.

The cowboy of my dreams. Del was so helpful all day, even though I know he had a million things he needed to take care of.

Our "grub." We kept it simple, and seven year old friendly, with sandwiches, chips, fruit, and yogurt. Some of Georgia's favorites.

Again, look past the dead shrub backdrop. I need to get out there with a chain saw. I'm not afraid!

Handsomest ranch hand in the county.

So excited, and relieved to have pulled off another birthday around here! It was a good time with these cowgirls at the Ranch!

Will Turns Nine

This is a very late post about Will's birthday! It is a long over due update on this blog as well.

Will turned nine in mid April. I was just so glad that I was able to pull something together to celebrate because I was deep in the midst of pregnancy misery.

Will is a good boy. He is friendly and happy. I have told the story before about how when I was pregnant with Will I looked up the meaning of his name, and how most people polled would describe someone with that name. But I will tell it again!

The poll said that most people would describe a boy named Will as tall, blonde, friendly, outgoing, and cheerful. It suddenly struck me that I had found the right name! I could picture that boy in my head. It was my son! I could see him as a teenager in my mind, and I knew that I was reading a description of him.
Will lives up to that poll opinion.
He is a good friend, and he has lots of them. We have kids of all different ages call our house to play with Will. His group of friends includes kids two years younger than him, and two years older. Girls and boys. He has fun with everyone.

Will is our child who likes to take his time. Which can lead to some moments of frustration when we are trying to get out the door.
Will is happy playing with his brothers and sister, building something or other on Minecraft, practicing piano, so that he is DONE practicing piano, eating waffles, his favorite lately, and hanging out with his Dad.
We are so glad this super tall, gangly, handsome boy is ours! He came into this world as a tiny barely five pound baby, and made up for that fast by growing like a weed! Every time we put him in a sport to see if this is the one that clicks with him, we have parents come up to us and tell us that Will has the body for this sport! Wow that long torso, and arms! We just laugh, because with most of the sports, he could take it or leave it. But I am pretty sure one day something will ignite in him, and he will put that long body advantage to good use!

Will promised his class that he would bring Takis for his birthday treat. I had never heard of these things, but Will told me that we could find them at Walmart. I hate to disappoint the entire third grade class, so off we went to buy what turns out are really hot, really red, really gross twisted pieces of I don't know what in a bag. Ick. I will never buy them again! But the class was, apparently, thrilled.

Will is a tender heart and he feels things deeply. I love when Will tells me a story, because no matter what it is, he can't tell it without his eyes watering! It is so cute! He already has a testimony of the church he belongs to, and is eager to share it. He often comes home from a friends house, and I find out that he has been sharing a Gospel message while  he visited! He was even willing to share a spiritual thought and say a prayer at a league basketball game Del was playing in! In front of 25 grown men! He did a nice job, and his confidence in what he believes really helped him.

Happy Birthday Will! We love you!