Scooby Doo Fun

On Saturday we celebrated Emma's birthday with family... and since I was barely functioning thanks to the night before.... thank you to Grammie Debbie (mom) for saving me and taking on all the duties that my body was no longer able to perform in the party-planning arena! :)

In the tradition of the Gross family, Aunt Kara took Emma to get her ears pierced at Claires... she got a little nervous right before they actually did it, but she was a champ! Her little "diamonds" look adorable.

Then we had a nice, QUIET party celebrating our sweet little girl.

She's 7!

The big Scooby Doo day finally arrived! Emma woke up to the royal treatment with a decorated kitchen, cinnamon rolls before school... Daddy eating lunch at school (while Emma ate her imitation crab and butter...haha!) Then pizza for dinner... and the big party! It was our first time trying out a friend party and I let Emma invite all the girls from her class and a few neighbors. We had 12 little girls under 7 here for what I can only describe as the NOISIEST night I have experienced in a great while. I don't EVER remember being a part of so much squealing and balled-up energy being released. It was deafening at points... needless to say, the girls were pumped playing "musical bones," "doggy, doggy, where's your bone?" and "mummy wrap" and eating Scooby snacks... phew. Now on to the family party tomorrow... and then giving birth in 5 days. I can do this! :)

counter minus 7 days

So that little baby counter over to the right is not quite accurate. In case you're counting... subtract 7 days. I'm being induced on October 1st, so unless this little guy decides to come early, we have 18 days! Whoa.

First day of preschool!

We have been pumping up the idea of preschool for some weeks now, unsure of how Reese would do with being left by himself. He's been really excited... new dinosaur backpack, lunchbox, and shoes... met his super sweet teacher... got to check out the school, see his class and cubby and meet all his other teachers at open house...

And then last night he totally freaked out and did NOT want to be left at school by himself. Emma was so sweet and slept in his room and prayed for him to be brave. And after talking to him a bit and reminding him about all the fun things he already knew about his school, he got RE-excited and did an awesome job today when we dropped him off. He went straight to the Dinosaur ABC book he'd seen there...

Update: Picked him up at 1:30 and he'd had a GREAT DAY! His favorite thing- the dinosaur book. Shocker. :)

What are we thinking?

Upon sharing our fish dilemma at the bus stop, my neighbor was telling me about this cool thing they're selling at Hallmark. It's 2 frogs and a snail and it's nearly self-sufficient. The "living rocks" and plant provide oxygen and other nutrients, the snail cleans the gunk and we only have to feed the frogs twice a week! They have now been alive in our house for 9 DAYS- it's a miracle!!!!