And a Mississippi River Cruise....

Ever since we moved to the Midwest, we have always wanted to boat ride on a Mississippi River Cruise. So this fall was the time for our family to go for it!
The girls each earned a free river cruise on the Celebration Belle through a summer reading program, so that was an extra sweet things for our family.

Our family heading out for a couple hours on the Mississippi River!
Rachel-in the hat 7 yrs, Emma- 5 yrs, Sarah- 9 yrs

Emma just chillin!

Sarah and Rachel chattin' away!

Rachel and Sarah watching the paddle on the boat

Dad and Emma watching out the front

The girls watching at the beginning of the tour...

and at the END of the tour...

The girls with our river boat!
We love being able to spend time as a family.
It was a really fun afternoon on the Celebration Belle on the Mississippi River!

Happy Birthday to our Sarah

Last week was Sarah's 9th birthday and it was a great one!!!!!
It seems like it was just yesterday that she was being baptized.
Time flies so fast!
Here are just a few highlights!

Sarah in her new birthday outfit, ready for a wonderful day at school!!!


BOOKS! Nothing better out there! (don't you love Emma's face?)


Silly tiny cupcakes with 9 candles on them.


For Sarah's birthday party, she wanted to do a Stay-Late (since we don't do sleepovers) Space-y Birthday party. She wanted to wear jammies, look at the stars with Richard's telescope, watch "The Cat from Outer Space", eat pizza, and play with hula hoops! What a blast!!


Sparkly Saturn invites!

Let the games begin...

Who can hula hoop the longest?!?!?!?


GO RACHEL, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sarah running and hula hooping down the hill. Totally crazy game!


Sarah rockin' the hula hoop!!!


Gotta have some treats! Pizza, chips, mini sodas and a candy bar!


The new "Phineas and Ferb Movie"!
Best gift EVER!

Then we headed outside to look at the stars and the rings of Saturn. AMAZING!

Good thing the girls had glow bracelets because it was SO DARK!
They were playing night games and running all over and we just kept seeing streaks of light fly by!


So , my Sarah...
We love you so much!
We are so proud of the girl you are growing into!
You are smart and funny and sweet and beautiful and kind.
You are an amazing daughter and a wonderful friend!

Sarah and her new beautiful locket she got from Dad & Mom for her birthday. She wanted one to put a picture of her family in it. LOVE IT!!!