This week started out with Mariah leaving us for Shadow Mountain!!  Shadow Mountain is a three-day, two-night camp for kids in our school district who are entering sixth grade.  The girls and boys attend at different times so there were only girls there when Mariah went and boy did she have a good time!  It's held at a ranch up Hobble Creek Canyon where there are a couple of A-frame cabins with lots and lots of bunk beds.  While there, Mariah got to go on a hike up to a lake.  Those who take the dare and jump in, call it the "Polar Plunge!"  I guess the water is pretty cold.  They also get to go on a gigantic, multi-person slip and slide -- at night -- with mist and laser lights.  !!!  They play games and hear stories and make crafts, too.  She says she missed us, but I don't think she missed us at all!

Sorry this is horizontal.  I will fix later!

We, on the other hand, missed her a lot!  Megan, who is our events organizer, made Mariah a welcome-home cake and had everyone hide in her room, so that when I brought her home, they all jumped out and yelled, "Surprise!!"  Then hugged her a lot.  It was fun.  We were glad to get her back!

The other big event of the week happened on Friday and Bethany has been talking about it since probably February.  It was Bethany's birthday!!!  She is FINALLY four!!  Not that she cared about that  much except that it meant she got to have cake and presents and got to be the special person.  (Which position she never really relinquishes, anyway . . .)

She told me she wanted a strawberry cake.  I said, "So you want a pink cake?"  And she said, "NO!  Strawberries are RED!"  Duh, mom!   So we had red velvet cake with pink frosting.  She did want pink frosting.  I am happy to report that none of us were pink in the morning a la pinkalicious.  :)  I can't remember the whole story she wanted depicted on top of the cake.  It was something with fairies and ballerinas (or was it princesses?) and a lost baby.  We settled for silver sprinkles and magic wand candles.  She was still happy!  I love four-year-olds.

She was singing and clapping while she waited for us to
gather for presents.  She didn't care that I wanted her to
be still and smile.  She was too excited!

She got this adorable dress from Grandma and Grandpa Gazdik.
She is holding her slumber buddy that shows stars on the ceiling!
Sorry the picture is horizontal!  I will fix later.

I made Beth three nightgowns for her birthday.  I got the directions from the internet and used fabric I had at home (except for one that I got at WalMart for $2.50/yd!).  They were so easy and turned out so cute.  I even used elastic thread and did shirring for the first time ever and it was so easy! And fun!  The best part of all is that she loves them and feels like a princess in them.  Happy days for us both!  I will send the link to whoever is interested!

Beth also got a cool play-doh set and a plastic trike.  It was a great day!

Kevin helped reroof a house in our neighborhood this weekend starting Thursday night.  The older girls even helped with the deroofing on Thursday.  Anyway, that is tough work and the temperatures were in the high 90s.  Poor Kevin was worn out!  He is sore and stiff and blistered.  He is a good man.  I am glad that he is the kind of man who always wants to help.  I love him lots!  And I am very glad that he didn't fall off the roof this weekend.  Blessing upon blessing!  :)