Witches Tea Party 2009

So, this is one of my favorite things, dressing up like a witch and eating yummy food! It's sooo fun to see everyone and have a girls night out! My friend Melissa (thanks Melissa) inspired me several years ago to do this, and now this is my 3rd year doing it. I didn't get as many pictures as I would've liked, so maybe I'll be stealing some from other people that were taking them!!

This is our sexy pose, I love it. How do you do sexy? I don't really know anymore, that's why it's so funny!! And it's even better that Dave was taking the picture!

I made a spell book for the table, which was really cool, and I found some sweet sayings and chants that I put in it. I also made these antique witches tea cookies, which were dipped in wax and then there was crushed cinnamon and cloves on top. Just for decoration obviously, but they were pretty cool I thought! And they smelled really good too.

You gotta love those Martha Stewart chandeliers! So fun. And I hung ornaments with fish wire from the ceiling, that was a cool effect I thought. Anyway, thanks to all of you who helped and gave me ideas and inspire me in so many ways! This was sooo much fun to do, and not so fun to clean up... ; )

A jumble of things...

The flash didn't work in this first picture, but I loved her smile, so I had to post it.

This is a new dress she got from her Aunt, and I just love it for this time of year! So adorable.

We had a fun potluck/volleyball game for an end-of-summer celebration at our house. It was way fun, and LOVED the food. I couldn't get too many girls to play v-ball though...

Here are some of the boys, getting ready. It was a close game.

On a hike by Pallisades. It was a magical place.

The girlies eating their snacks.

Stopping for pictures.

How nice to hang out on your Daddy's back.

Dave's favorite thing to do--squish the cheeks.

Sadie's first day of preschool (Sammi there for moral support).

Sadie and Mrs. Keyes.

Sammi riding her bike without training wheels!!! Well, stopping to celebrate, really.

Sadie fell asleep coloring. Dave even took the picture. I love it. Well, there's a few fun pictures, but hopefully someday maybe I'll keep up on this. Right now, I'll just enjoy the moments in between.

Bear Lake

Mama and Sammi.

On some tubes. Sadie seriously sat on this tube all day, she loved it.

Sophie chillin in her very own boat.

Josh pulled Sophie around in the water. She was laughing at first.

That's Tessa out there, but I thought it was cute of Jared taking a pic of her.

So, because Dave wasn't there, I decided to sleep in our van, because of the hassle of having to put our tent up for one night, and take it down. So luckily that little boat was perfect for a bed for Sophie.

I watched the sunrise, and there really is nothing like a sunrise at Bear Lake. One of my favorite places in the whole world.

Some of us around the campfire.

Uncle Ben and Sadie.

Sammi, Uncle Josh, and Mason.

Okay, here we have little girls laughing hysterically at their Uncle Jared's story. All you have to say is, "Poopy, poopy, poopy!" to get them to think you're the coolest and funniest.

Grandpa and Sophie. She sure is a serious one, but so sweet!

The first day all Sadie did was collect shells, and only the 'flat ones', because 'they're prettier'. She really got a good collection.

Sophie putting her feet in Bear Lake sand for the first time. So many more to come.

If any of you know Dave, you will know that Sammi gets this from her Dad. Hardly ever a normal face when the camera's around.

Sammi pulling her Aunt/cousin's around on tubes.

Sam found a ladybug. He was a friendly little guy.

More silly faces.

Yes, this is my Dad. And it's the best picture ever.

Sophie asleep in her little boat. That was the best thing to have. She took naps while we were at the lake, so nice!!!

Here's a little photo shoot I had with Sophie around 6 months. I had to get some Chubba Bubba pictures. So here are a few.

This is her favorite panda. And she gets so excited to squeeze it she even shakes.

"Are you really making me do this, Mom?"

M&M's Cabin

So, I'm going to go backwards, just because I don't want to rearrange the pics, since there's so many. But we really had so much fun, I had to post lots of 'em. Sadie, Sammi, and Kenna on the swing, such a great place to spot wildlife, although Kenna just wanted to dance around instead of take another picture.

The girlies watching a movie, although Lydia, the babies, and the boys were already asleep. There really is nothing like being in a sleeping bag with your good friends watching a movie.

I love this pic of Dave and Sophie on a walk.

Look how cute Melissa is. She's so much fun!

Okay, so Melissa and I love to take pictures, so Leah, and whoever else is there has to put up with us. Here's one of our many shots. We always try to take sexy pictures, but they just turn out hilarious. So I'll save us all the embarressment by not posting any... Although the next few still make me laugh every time I see them.

We thought it was cool we could lift this branch up, so we summoned the idea that we should take a picture of all three of us holding it up. Meanwhile, Leah is holding it herself while I set up the camera, and Melissa's on her way over. Leah's strength weakens; the branch swings back and knocks Melissa over. I had already set the timer on my camera, so what do we do? We pose for the picture, at least Leah and I do. I think Melissa may have passed out for a second.

Poor Melissa what were we thinking? She ended up walking away from it all. But later on after I showed her the pictures we seriously laughed for 30 minutes. She couldn't believe we posed for the picture. I just love that you can see her legs at the bottom of the pic with Leah and I holding the branch up. What a great memory, hopefully for all of us???

Sadie and Shayden had a fun time getting to know each other, although they kept their distance as you can see. If any of our kids got married, it would sure be fun, with all of the S names. Although I think Shayden's already taken, right MaKenna?

The best way to swing, on your tummy.

Leah and Ray roasting a mallow.

There's no way to eat smores without getting it all over, although I think Sadie did a pretty good job this time.

The girls going on a ride with their Papa. Sophie actually went for a ride too, but I forgot that picture.

Okay, so this scenario made us Mom's hold our breath for about 30 minutes or so. Five little kids on a four wheeler with Ray, aka the Accident-Prone Fearless Rodeo Ray. Sadie was too scared to go, which I was fine with. Needless to say, they returned safely, and thought it was pretty cool that they all got to ride together.

Maisy and Sophie are just a few weeks apart. It was so cute seeing them talk to each other. If we could only understand what they might be communicating to each other.

Brian and Shayden roasting marshmallows, I thought it was so sweet, I had to post this for ya, Jaime (somehow you snuck out of most of the pictures). You can tell how he looks up to his Dad.

Oh, the campire.

Sammi and Sadie got it down pretty good.

Cute Carter and the Sam and Sadsters.

Mike and Dave went on a ride. Dave loves to play in the mud, and get as dirty as possible. Kinda like a mud bath, with your clothes on.

The girlies going for a walk, and I love this new pose of Sammi's. Ever since she had her dance recital, she poses like this. All I gotta say is, 'You go girl!' Or 'Power Rangers!'

Sadie is in pure bliss when she is on the swings. She just loves it.

And here's Sammi in her element taking care of everyone, being in charge, she was so happy.

I had to post this picture too of my little brother Ben graduating from Skyline. He's got straight A's since 8th grade. I'm so proud of him.