More Birthday Madness!

The end of August/beginning of September is our major birthday bash with 4 of our birthdays in just 2 weeks.  It's always fun but by the end we are caked out and only slightly sick of singing Happy Birthday (it's a good thing that mine is first when everyone is fresh and still excited!) But in all honesty it is just as fun to still sing to Clark who brings up the rear. 
A birthday celebration is a birthday celebration, after all.
Right in the middle we have two of the girls, and their requests never disappoint.

 Cinnamon rolls requested for breakfast, done.  I adore cinnamon rolls.

 All of my sleepy headed children in one bed.  I adore my sleepy headed children in the morning.

 She was most excited about her book and CD's of John Bytheway.  Haley is a special girl and very grown up sometimes.  Although, I am always taken back with her because she reminds me time and time again how time flies.  This little girl made me a Mom and in some ways it seems like yesterday.

 She tried her hand at levitating...I think her ginaormous pre-teen feet helped.

She requested PF Changs for dinner which we happily obliged.  Haley is our least picky eater.  She is willing to try just about anything.

 A little Ben & Jerry's for dessert also gave me a chance to rest up for other birthday-cake-making to come.

 And I love that after dinner she requested a picture with each of her siblings.

We are always reminding her that Heavenly Father sent her first for a reason.

She takes care of these siblings.  She feels protective of them and loves them.

After dinner Clark took the rest of the fam home and Haley and I went out to spend a little cash that she got for her birthday.  Haley loves shopping for clothes.  It turned out to be my favorite part of the evening.  Haley can sure give us a run for our money.  There is no rest trying to keep our parenting up to par.  Spending an evening with just Haley is just what I needed to be reminded (after a fun but long summer) why I love and appreciate her so much.  She was so careful to spend her money wisely and I was impressed with her.

I also love that when I came to find her in the dressing room, she had chosen room #11 in honor of her 11th birthday.

Two days after we celebrate Haley its time to switch our focus to Miss Mia on the 1st.

 This girl is so easy to please.  Her breakfast in bed request was toast.  Toast, people.

I'm glad she remembered to wear her Birthday Happy Hat.

I'm afraid that I may be to blame for their tendency to request their birthday dinner "out".  Not that I don't love to cook, I just love to eat out more.

 Someday Clark and I will learn our lesson about taking the kids out to eat.  No matter where we go,  3 of them will undoubtedly order buttered noodles.

 Since the 1st was the last Saturday to do the pool, and their favorite thing to do anyway, we obliged.

Clark has rallied all men at the pool to keep the kids entertained during adult swim.  The kids all sit along the side of the deep end and cheer on the men on the diving boards.  Clark does not disappoint.  On Monday he accomplished his pool goal for the summer, a double flip.  He also likes to walk off the board on his hands, and do can openers that soak everyone sitting on the side.

 Mia did request an actual birthday cake and I did my best (which is not all that impressive when it comes to birthday cakes...the ice cream on the side helped.)

Mia is sweet and kind and sensitive.  She fills a special place in our family with her fun loving personality and silly disposition.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLS!