May 11th

Can it be??  Do I really have a TEENAGER???

Happy 13th Birthday Elijah!!

 Elijah chose to have one last family birthday celebration.  I told him this was his final year of making a huge ordeal out of his birthday.  Yes, we will still celebrate his birthday yearly, but will just do it a more simple style.  Maybe a friend or two, going out to eat, etc.

We had his party in the garage as we had 24 people and I don't have enough table seats indoors.  Jayla and Jackie were able to join us as well since my parents were babysitting them the weekend of the party.

 And THEN we had a huge interruption....a very large snake was slithering right outside of our garage door!!!  WHAT???  OH. MY. WORD.....I have seen a snake here and there in my yard when mowing but I have NEVER seen one this size!!!  I was in utter disgust.  Needless to say I still watch where I walk when walking in the grass.  You just never know........

 The kids had a water balloon fight, rode the zip line and enjoyed the go kart.  Then it was time for gifts....

Elijah wanted a gun cleaning set.  So this was his gift from Aunt Karis and Uncle Austin...money folded into a gun.

Elijah went shopping beforehand with Grandpa and Grandma Waibel so this was the gift of what he had picked out.

 Elijah didn't have a theme for his party except for the fact that his napkins had a 13th on them.  So he picked 2- 4 layered cakes for me to make and wanted Coffee ice cream and Vanilla ice cream to go with it:).

Pumpkin Pecan Cake with a Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting.

Chocolate Raspberry Torte