Happy Birthday, Dear Olivia ...

Olivia celebrated her 8th birthday with a combination family celebration/friend sleepover party that included Grandparents & Godparents, Aunts & Uncles, cousins & friends !

It was extra-special this year since her cousins from Texas were in PA visiting their grandmother, so they were able to come for the day and celebrate with us!  Although they had to leave far too quickly, it was really wonderful to visit with them.  Even though we only see the "Texas Verners" once or twice a year, the kids have a close bond and play very well together.

Not sure how there is a family resemblance, but there sure is one!

BCBF ... Best Cousin Buds Forever! 

We had some good old-fashioned party fun with pin the horn on the unicorn ... 

a little to the right ...

up just a little ...

keep going forward ...

a little to the left ...

you are almost there ...

you got it Charlie!

Hey! No feeling around for other "horns"!

 ... fabulous prizes were available for winners, losers and cheaters!

Somehow we managed to fit over 25 people around our dining room table for the official birthday song, and candle-blowing-out tradition -- cha cha cha!!

Cake and ice cream on the deck ... yummmmmy

 After an impromptu congo line through the house, Olivia opened her presents.

Thanks for the Monster High Girl, Riley!!

Thanks for the totally cool Olivia doll, Abby!!

Thanks for the bling, and the secret diary, Olivia!! 

Thanks for the gumball machine Aunt Leigh Ann (please read with LOTS of parental sarcasm)!!

Thanks for the cool nail polish, Alyssa!!

Thanks for the awesome scrapbook about ME, Skyy!!

Since we were not sure if cake and ice cream provided enough sugar for everyone, we roasted some marshmallows to ensure they would have enough energy for the sleepover!!

Uh, Riley ... I think it is done!

A little "Just Dance 3" on the Wii, and some gambling on the slot machine provided some more entertainment...

 ...before snacks and movies, and ...

 BED?!?!?!

I am not sure when this

turned into this

or when this

turned into this

since I am pretty sure that this

was just yesterday, and not eight years ago!   

I do know that Olivia will always be this

no matter what her age (or mine!)

Happy, happy birthday my dear Olivia Caroline -- I love you so very much!

XOXOXOXOX, Mommy

Vacation's-almost-over-itis

It starts to set in around Tuesday, and is usually in full force by Thursday ... that sinking feeling that this year's beach vacation is almost over.  There is no known cure.  Instead of wallowing in a bleak prognosis, we made sure to enjoy every last minute until the minivan headed north!

 enjoying a little refreshment until a rogue wave surprised them!

Our beach house overlooked the bay from a second floor deck --  we watched some beautiful sunsets,  read some books before the sun got too hot, and sipped our cocktails while enjoying the tranquility (OK, the last one was in my dreams!)

For our last night on the boardwalk, we had many things to accomplish.  Even the torrential rains did not stop us.  We first stopped to get Olivia a hair wrap for her upcoming 8th birthday.

Next up was water ice and Kohr Bros custard,

then a ride on the ferris wheel for some of us,

and a ride on the choo-choo for others!

We filled our buckets to the brim with caramel popcorn,

and agonized over which flavors of salt water taffy to buy.

To end the night, we got our toes in the sand one last time while the rain was taking a short break.

As I put the finishing touches on this last post, Joy is packing up the car and making sure that everything is in order for our impending check-out -- I am already counting down the days until we are back sunbathing on the beach in 2013!