The week before her birthday, Tiller was a show dog in the Kindergarten Circus. She was v. cute, even though she had some trouble jumping through the hoop. She can be less than coordinated at times. I thought she might cry when she fell (twice), but she got up smiling and tried again. I was very proud of her. I also am very proud of the fact that I sewed ears and a tail, which is why i included it in the birthday post. This is my blog, after all, even if I've been neglecting it.
So, about Tiller’s birthday. She turned six on Saturday. SIX. Hard for me to fathom. Tiller wanted to have a scavenger hunt party, and we had just watched The Goonies as a family, so I made it a One-Eyed Willie’s Treasure Hunt.
Every kid got a copy of One Eyed Willie’s treasure map when they arrived. (We also had pirate cupcakes, Twinkies and Baby Ruths. I also bought Rocky Road, but totally forgot to pull it out, which is a good thing, because i was worried about angry mobs of parents attacking my house after they found out how much sugar I gave their kids.)
Love that some of the kiddos' moms took it upon themselves to dress them like pirates. Fun!
Margaret and Leelee accompanied their boys to the party. Um, they don't have boys together. They have their own boys. With their husbands.
The kids are waiting to hear the next clue. Todd wrote the clues and i wish I could copy them down here - they were awesome. They all rhymed.
Kate won the award for cutest pirate hat and sash.
Children are like sheep. One would think they had the answer and run off yelling, I know where the next clue is! and all the other sheep would follow, and Todd would still be standing there finishing the clue. And they would have the wrong location. Every time.
One of R's teachers does this thing in class where they have to decode an encrypted message to figure out what to do that day in class. So, Rollie helped us create one, and the older kids had to decode that clue for the younger ones. This is Rollie and Milo working with pencil and paper to decode the clue.
. . . with the help of the older twins, Leah and Sydney. Syd needs snack to help her think.
The girls use the map to figure out the next clue.
The girls (Matilda, Scarlett, Liliana - i think- Sydney, and Kate) working together!
Todd, the Cluemaster, about to be stampeded by children with the Ghoulish Garden clue.
The girls listen to clues intently. Boys mostly push each other and climb trees while they are being read.
Tiller blowing out her candle as Sydney and Chloe look on.
Me and the girl after she blew out her candles. Let's talk about the ponytail for a minute. Yeah, there's just one. That's her new thing. It cracks me up. It also reminds me of Natalie Wolfe and Elizabeth Wilcoxin wearing ponytails in middle school and putting their Swatches around them. That just kills me.
Not a great photo, but a rare moment where the kiddos are lovingly touching one another. Had to be captured.
Disappointed we didn't get Cousin Luci in there, but here are Tiller and R. with Baby Dash. He's not really a baby anymore.
Oh! There's cousin Luci!
Josie hearts cupcakes.
So does Chloe. I deduce.
Leah liked the rings from the treasure.
Syndey, wearing her beads from the treasure chest.
Sydney loves balloons!
Chuck and Cass helped us keep track of all the kiddos.
These two grew up together in Auburn. Always fun to have the 2nd generation at a party.
Okay, actually, Nathan listened closely to the clues. . . .
Treasure Hunters in a group by the tree. Surprisingly, the biggest hit from the pirate treasure? Balloons.
So, then we opened gifts. Tills got Ramona from Uncle Lyle and Aunt Denise!
My little nephew Dash, waiting to see the presents.
These three are crazy floor rolling laughers!
Normally, i wouldn't include such an unflattering picture of myself, but dang! I never think Tiller and I look much alike, but evidently, there is some resemblance. When we are flapping our gums.
She got pretty excited about Littlest Pet Shop. We have a LOT of Littlest Pet Shop. Like, nuclear levels.
And later that night, Tiller stayed up too late, and then fell asleep on my chest during the Georgia game. So sweet.
Happy birthday to my little girl. I love you very much, Tiller Badiller, Mac and chiller, Saspariller, Thriller from maniller!
– Your Loving Mama