Scout's birthday--she's 8!

Any grown-up worth their salt knows that you don't have a birth-DAY, you have a birth-WEEK, maybe a birth-MONTH to celebrate in style.

So it goes with our girl! Hard to believe that this girl is now 8 years old.

In true Scout fashion, she said that she only wanted a little get-together with her cousins. Oh, and also a get-together with Charlotte & Rebecca. Oh, and could we invite Logan over?

We had Logan over the Saturday night before Scout's birthday, and Cory cooked a feast fit for the kiddos. The day before her birthday, Scout received an easel from Uncle Jake, and we set it up and took photos of her with a big smile in front of it (she has since also received a beret to perfectly complement her artistic side). On Monday night, a long awaited package from grandma & papa came from Sheboygan containing Shopkins (I didn't know what they were before... but I do now!). That was quite the hit. On Tuesday, her "actual" birthday, she was grumpy because I still made them both go to VBS (oh, the horror!). After that, we took in a picnic with Polly, Lorelei & Gerhardt, and we also went to the cute painting place downtown with Charlotte & Rebecca. That evening, Rob & Ginger and kids also joined us for a simple spaghetti dinner. On Thursday, Aunt Lacey took the girl out on the town for a bit of shopping and special time. (I love that she does this! My Auntie Jan used to do stuff like that with me, and it was so much fun!) That night Scout got another package in the mail--from Grandma and Papa in Sundance. (And I cannot be responsible for lack of photos because it was opened while I was at a meeting) It is a brand new camera much like her mom's! Look for fun photos of Hawaii coming soon! Last but not least, we had a sleepover with Ella & Addy on Friday to round out the week. I think that this girl has sufficiently celebrated her birthday!

A little pre-birthday dinner with Logan: Breakfast for dinner! Cory made waffles and whipping cream and it was delish!

With her new easel

With a package from Uncle Jake & Grandma & Papa

Videos of the girls saying thanks for the packages here and here.

A bit out of order, since the dinner with the Parks happened in the evening AFTER the painting at the painting studio downtown, but you get the gist. Here's the video of us singing to Scout with a platter of flaming cupcakes.

Late that night (the 2nd) we gave Scout a few items from Mom & Dad

Scout was pretty excited about her new guitar

Ruby was not

 Here's further proof that a 9:30 pm bedtime + copious amounts of sugar + 5-year-old jealousy don't mix

 Here's a vid of this: https://youtu.be/d7HK49SVoM8

Scout allowed Ruby the chance to hold the guitar

And then she excitedly took the guitar back

On Friday the 5th, the cousins came for a sleepover. It was such a fun time! Ella & Addy had school on that morning (their last day), and it was a fun night. We walked over to the playground, spent time eating yummies, had a late night with a movie, all the good stuff of sleepovers.

Ruby got a little blister from her flip flops so dad helped her home

Cory made Apple Swans for a bit of a snack

Looks like a party, right?