eliza's going away party...

eliza's going away party was at one of her favorite places in town-color me mine.

eliza's friends were as eager to paint as she was!

she was, quite surprisingly, an amazing little party host.

this typically would not be eliza's thing, 

as she likes to stay on the sidelines as a quiet observer, much like her mother!

she was ready to pose with anyone at anytime, another shocker!

molly & lexie

mackenzie & audrey

lillian & lilah

ashlyn & nell

 the party was so cute, and of course cathy g. got so teary at the end and then i did as well...she was our next door neighbor for many years.  we just adore their little family and we have done "taco nights" for years with them.  we will miss them so much!

sutton & brayden

aimee & i...lots of moms hung around and it was so much fun!

delicious cupcakes, rainbow goldfish & chocolate covered pretzel rods...

all of eliza's favorites!  

 the cute little doll from rudolph (in the background) were the party favors, 

along with a calico critters coloring book 

and of course, eliza's new address stickers!

 eliza would go to color me mine every single day if i let her.  

all of my girls LOVE this place. 

we have spent many hours and many dollars here.

and we have way too many items from here-

that i have to sneak away in a black garbage bag.

because while they are cute, 

how many little porcelain statues does one need in their room?

especially the ones done as a four or five year old!eliza & ella, one of her best friends.

kira's going away party

kira's going away party was given by jennifer and stacie.

so cute.

so perfect for kira.

a cookie decorating party.

what could be more "kira" than that?

ellie, alexa & anna kate

kira's sweet friends.

they all signed a book and wrote the cutest things to kira.

there was A LOT of candy & frosting sampling!

michelle & I.

caroline & kira.

caroline & anna claire-the two party hostesses-gave the cutest little speeches about kira leaving.

sweetest little girls.

alexa's surprise going away/birthday party!

 as soon as our friends knew we were moving, they so kindly asked to throw alexa a going-away party.  we pretended to be having one of our mother/daughter book club meetings-our final one before we left.  alexa has always wanted a surprise party, and she truly had NO idea this was in the works...

we walked into the house and there was complete silence, and out jumped 25 SCREAMING 6th grade girls!  alexa was stunned to say the least.

 such a cute candy bar

our sweet friends soomi, danielle & betsy threw the party

alaine, josie's mom, did the adorable cake

the girls made a video for alexa...lots of tears and laughter!  it was such a fun party and the girls all had a ball.  alexa will miss them all so much but knows she will stay in touch!  so sweet.

kira turns 8!

this little doll got baptized.  it was schedule for the last weekend in august, and then hurricane irene decided to descend upon the east coast.  although church was cancelled, we decided we just had to go ahead with kira's baptism.  we had everyone in town and she couldn't wait!  

kira did so much to prepare for her baptism...we filled out her baptism book, she asked tons of questions, we had numerous family home evenings about baptism, read baptism scriptures and talked about the importance of now being accountable and gaining a testimony.

she was glowing!

 uncle jake and aunt emily.  uncle jake baptized alexa and we were so lucky to have him baptize kira as well.  i spoke during the little program, as did scott.  alexa gave a great talk and aunt emily gave the sweetest talk as well!

 our awesome cousin josh flew in for the special day....
little did he know he would possibly get to brave a hurricane!

grandma and grandpa reynolds

 kira's baptism program

 all of the family that was in town...in addition to us, our cute friends 

the doffermyres and the ures were there.    

they are the best for coming to support kira.

i think everyone else was too afraid to come out in the storm!

kira & makenzie

 friends      

 the after-party at our house...lots of food for not a lot of people!  in the end, hurricane irene was the storm that never really happened where we lived.  we taped our windows and stocked up on water though, and waited and waited.  nothing.  oh well.  we had a fabulous baptism weekend anyways!

taylor swift

seriously.

 yep.  these are my girls with taylor swift.  

 and she was real.

and so adorable, sweet, beautiful and GENUINE.  everything you hope she would be, because your daughters love and adore her.  


she is all of that and more.  


we were in a room waiting to meet her, still not believing our luck (while meanwhile our 5 year old was being sassy and saying OUT LOUD, "i don't like taylor swift.  taylor swift is mean" as i am covering her mouth as quickly as i can get over to her, as taylor swifts crew of people is looking on....but this is the same little gal who said to nhl commissioner gary bettman, after he asked her if she was having fun at the nhl all star game and she said "no, this is so boring").  


she just appeared from behind a red curtain and came right up our girls and gave them the biggest hugs, asked their names and talked to them for about five minutes.  she then asked what she could sign for them, and asked if SHE could get her picture with THEM.  she is so cute and i, too, am an even bigger fan than i was before.  


alexa had such a star-struck moment (similar to the reaction i had when i came face-to-face with john stockton in secaucus, nj many years ago...)


she was just completely overwhelmed that THE taylor swift was standing in front of her, hugging her and talking to her.  scott said in all of his moments with his job-meeting athletes, etc.-that alexa's reaction was by far his greatest moment.  cute.

the moms (and mother-in-law)                 posing by the stage before the show

curran, ellie, alexa & emma....they were beside themselves.  i swear i have NEVER heard screams like i did coming from these girls in the suite that night.  this was the highlight of their year!   

the concert was the week of thanksgiving...

so close to when we were moving, 

and it was such a perfect last hurrah!