Haley Turns 8

Somehow, our big girl decided to turn 8.  We celebrated with her friends the day before her actual day with a Make Your Own Pizza Party.

Everyone was so excited to make some pizza!

First came the dough.

Then the sauce and toppings.

Everyone's pizzas looked so yummy!

Then they got cooked and I think the kids enjoyed every bite!

After all the pizza was devoured, it was time for birthday cake.

I think our sweet girl enjoyed her party!

The next morning was the big day.

She celebrated with a birthday breakfast of her choosing.

We then spent the day at Cadbury World, eating lots and lots of chocolate!

We ended the day with presents,

and a birthday cheesecake.

Happy 8th birthday to my wonderful, sassy, sweet, joke-telling, silly girl.  I am so proud to be your momma!

London, Buckingham Palace Tour

While Zach was back in the States for a class, the girls and I planned a London Girls Day with some of our friends.

We started the day off at the Museum of London, a beautiful museum!

We even got to see Cleopatra!

And Dum Dum!

After the museum, we did a tour of Buckingham Palace.  It was so grand and amazing inside!  We got to see the State Rooms and there was even a showcase of the HRH the Queen's fashion through the years (that even included her wedding and coronation dresses!).  

It was fun being at the Palace during the summer because there was a neat BFG wall to celebrate "her magister".

After the Palace tour we were able to walk through the Royal Mews.  We got to see several of the Queen's carriages.

Even the Diamond Jubilee carriage.  It was stunning!

Someone was very excited to be in the Royal Stables.

This girls sure does love horses!

In the stable was the Gold State Coach, the grandest of them all!

At the end of our day we walked down the Diana Princess of Whales Memorial Walk.

Such a fabulous girls day out!

First Day of School

With a fabulous summer behind us, the girls were so excited to start school again. 

Big girl started Year 3 (2nd grade).

Little Miss started Year 2 (1st grade).

This is going to be an interesting year because they are both in the same class.  Wish us luck!

London

Towards the end of July, we went down to London and played tourist.  We did the Hop On Hop Off bus and got to see a bit more of the city.

Horse drinking water statue.

Big girl loved watching everything go by.

Trafalgar Square

Elizabeth Tower

Tower Bridge.

The London Eye and Elizabeth Tower.

Parliament.

Westminster Abbey.

As part of the experience, we got to do a river cruise on the Thames.

We got to go under London Bridge.

See the Shard.

Another reason for heading to London was to see Dream Jars.  The BFG had just released and there were several Dream Jar trails to incorporate the movie.  We hoped off the bus where jars were and enjoyed seeing what was inside each one.  I think we ended up finding 8!

Our last stop of the day was Buckingham Palace.  Our last trip there wasn't too thrilling, so we tried to make up for it today and I think it was a bit more enjoyable.

You know it's be a fun filled, long day when Daddy gets to carry both girls back to the train station.