Tales from the birthday girls…..

Sunday,  my family gathered at my house to help Emme celebrate being 8 and Caiti, 16.   Emme got some fun new games, wrapped neatly  in brown packing paper with her name written right on the paper.   I do this at Christmas time with a little fancier writing.    It’s fun and different and saves having to buy  the little name taggy things which I do not enjoy.
Caiti shows off her new undies and not shown,  her new UGGs (the gray short ones…they are so cute)…..
Daddy helps Emme with her new bike….
Cousins Corey and Hope entertain Scooter……
I hustle to finish Caiti’s cake which turned out pretty cute…..
Let me explain the black high-heeled shoes…..and I need to stand on my soapbox to do so.   Ahem.   In our particular town,  many folks give their newly turned 16 yo’s new cars…..very, very nice new cars.   I’m not bitter but my sister and I shared a rough-riding, oil-guzzling,  black camaro all through high school……and felt thankful to have that.   Kids these days have way too much,  way too fast,  with little to no level or maturity or gratitude required.    I didn’t have a new car until I was 30 years old and graduated from medical school…..and I bought it myself.    Now, my sweet Caiti is no different than any other teenager.   She’s wonderful and funny and bright and self-centered and irrational and at this very moment is probably stealing my mascara.   She is actually a pretty good driver,  but do I think she is ready for the responsibility of a car?  No,  I get a little nervous when she borrows my hair dryer.    I know she will get there.  She will soon enough drive a car, vote, date, go to college and I am none to anxious for any of it.   But who is that started dictating to us that kids should get cars at all, let alone new cars for their 16th birthday?   It’s insanity.   She seems to be a pretty good sport about the fact that there won’t be a new red convertible with a big bow on it in the driveway on her birthday.   So, to add humor the situation,  we attached a note to her cake that said,  “At least you’ll look cute walking”……hence the cute black high-heeled shoes. 
Back down off soap box,   Elea and Marlea enjoy some games and art in the school room.
Corey,  Taylor and Emme pose for pictures after a game of Blokus.
Taylor and his super-sweet girlfriend Morgan…..playing games in the schoolroom with the kids.