The family got together the day before school started to say some prayers for Reilly, and encourage him for his upcoming school year. It is such a blessing to have a family that is so supportive of everything our children do. I really can't say thank you enough.

We celebrated with a school bus cake, just like last year.

Uncle Mike gave him his very own hockey stick!

Turns out, school buses are yummy.

Avery is demonstrating the proper way to eat it.

This year for her birthday, Nana decided to have a "dance party" to break in her new hardwood floors. It was a lot of fun to see everyone cut loose and have such a great time on the "dance floor"!

Avery set the bar really high for the rest of us when she performed her beautiful ballet.

This was Avery's first time to go to the Circus, and Reilly's second... and it was simply magical.


The looks on both their faces when the elephants came out was like Christmas Morning. Actually, the entire audience gasped simultaneously. It seems those giant wrinkly pachyderms have a special place in everyone's heart.


We really enjoyed the crazy acrobats, trapeze artists, motorcycles, tiny horses, and especially the tigers !!






And these "people", who I'm sure are made of rubber.

Reilly's souvenir of choice was a light-up sword. (And he enjoyed the hat that came with the cotton candy- which is mandatory when you go to the Circus, of course.)

Avery had never tried cotton candy before, and she was hooked from bite one.

We chose to surprise Avery with her souvenir... a light-up tiara. There absolutely couldn't be a more perfect gift for her!!!

this picture is blurry, but you can see that it lights up !

The big finale !!
I think I was just about as happy as they were!!


Can't wait for the next time the Circus comes to town !!