Party Time!!

     Yesterday we had a birthday party!  Mackenzie was supposed to have a party on her 7th birthday but because we were in the middle of moving this time last year, we decided to wait until she turned 8.  It was hard to do because we had already collected so many teacups and saucers for the tea party she wanted to have.  We just kept them safe in a box for one more year.  Luckily she was still excited to have a tea party this year so we finally pulled them all out.

This was our party schedule:

1. We painted terra cotta flower pots then set them aside to dry.
2. We had a lovely "tea" with some finger foods and orange soda and apple juice for drinks.
3. We played a game of "pass the parcel." This is an English tea party game that I found online.  We wrapped a small prize about 21 times and on each piece of wrapping paper we wrote a silly action that the person who unwrapped that time had to act out.  The last one to unwrap got to keep the prize.
4. We played another English tea party game called "find the farthing." This wasn't nearly as popular with the kids but luckily pass the parcel had taken extra time. :)
5. We opened presents and had cupcakes and ice cream.
6. We planted flowers in the pots and the kids got to take them home with them.

     A huge treat was that cousins Audrey and Allison drove 2 hours to come to the party.  It was great to have them there.
     I think everyone had a great time.  I know Mackenzie did!

It's Great To Be Eight!

     Mackenzie Rae Hardy turned 8 years old on March 10, 2013.  She is SO excited to finally get baptized!  Mackenzie has developed an interest in rocks so one of the things we got her for her birthday was a bag of polished rocks from the Maturango Museum. Grandma and Grandpa Moffitt got her a couple of different rocks from a rock store, an open geode, an unbroken geode to crack open herself, and a book about rocks.  Jeff and Amber gave her a really cool ring shaped like a swan but made out of rock.  We also got her an mp3 player and some mini Barbies from the Barbie Princess and the Pop Star movie.  Her sisters also spoiled her rotten.  They all wanted to get her something.  So Haylee bought her a miniature "Belle" doll, Kelsey got her glow in the dark stars to stick on her ceiling, and Natalee gave her a Rapunzel Barbie that she could play with in the bathtub.  Grandma Bobbi also got her a Rapunzel Barbie but it doesn't go in the tub and its hair changes color when you get it wet.  She was a pretty happy girl and I think she had a great birthday!
     Mackenzie's favorite dinner is hotdogs split open and topped with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese.  Instead of cake, she wanted a turtle pie for dessert.  Mackenzie is such a loving girl and I can't imagine our family without her.  We are so grateful to have her forever!  Happy Birthday Mackenzie Rae!