Happy Birthday, Marley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Marley had a birthday!  I can't believe it.  I feel so old.  Here's the rundown.

We started with the birthday tradition of streamers.  Don't mind the paint swatches on the wall.  We're still deciding what color to paint the upstairs.

I'm not sure why she's making it look so strenuous.  

This is what Marley chose to do for her birthday.  We went here a long time ago with a friend.  I can't remember how old the kids were.  Maybe I have it on the blog?

This is Marley in peril in the gorilla's hand.

Logan's turn.

Rory doesn't seem very damsel in distress like.

This is a Velociraptor.  The kids had just watched Jurassic World 2, and the main dinosaur is this kind.  The kids had fun making a run for it like the people in the movie.  It was funny because this is all Marley wanted to do, but people started getting there, so they were rushed.  We were the first ones there by the way in true Bucy style.  

On our way out, we saw this nifty huge spider.  The guy who runs the place said that it was a bean spider.  He used to pick beans on his farm growing up, and his sisters wouldn't pick with him because of these spiders.  I don't blame them!

Marley loves these coin flattener machines.  She did a penny.

One of Marley's gifts from Nana, Papa, Uncle Brian, and Aunt Paula was money for a shopping spree.  Here's her loot.  This is her best buy because it was on clearance for $8!  That's crazy to me!

We just got her a piece of cake from the store because it was birthday at Grandma's next, and we were having the cake she wanted there.

Grandma's.  Marley wanted a swirl pound cake, but they didn't have any whole.  They only had ones already cut unto pieces.  I did my best putting candles into two pieces, but it didn't work.

K'lyn and Adam traveled out for the birthday celebration.  Marley wanted Olive Garden.  

K'lyn's birthday present that she did all on her own! MOSTLY

For her birthday party with her friends, a friend's mom volunteered her house.  It was wonderful.  This friend went all out with arranging tables for distancing and then had a dinner afterwards with a fire pit and a couple other families, so Logan and Rory could see their old friends too.  The whole thing was amazing, and I'm so grateful to my friend for making it all happen.

We got everyone pumpkins to paint for an activity.

Presents

Cake

The Fernandezes came out the next day to see the new place.  The boys helped us move in, but the girls hadn't seen it yet.  We celebrate Marley's birthday and their two sons' birthdays too.  The youngest being my godchild.  It was a busy weekend and weeks of Marley birthday celebrations.  While it was great to see lots of friends, it was exhausting.  I'm looking forward to hanging around the house and getting some work done on the house this weekend.  It might even be cold enough to try the fire place.  

Happy Birthday, Marley!  I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Confirmed & School Daze

Logan finally received his Confirmation.  We were going to wait until the other church had their ceremony back where we used to live, but our new church was so welcoming and open that we did it there.  It's been a long time coming.  At the other church, I had a rental suit and everything picked out, but our new church provides red robes for the Confirmandi, so that was nice.  We still made sure he had dress slacks, dress shirt, and a tie.  I didn't buy the jacket because it was expensive, and I don't know when he'll need a suit again.

Rory was his Confirmation sponsor which was lovely.  It's been so nice watching these two and their relationship with one another.  It used to be Rory on her own because K'lyn was so much older, and Logan and Marley would normally hang out together.  Since teenager-dom Logan and Rory have forged an alliance.  Here are some pics.

I like how Jesus is photo-bombing this pic.  :)

Red Lobster for the celebratory meal!

In other news we're back at school.  It's been a while, and we're actually meeting in person. You can wear masks if you want, but most don't.  We've decided as a family not to wear masks.  I'm teaching 1st-3rd this year which is a BIG change from kindergarten.  Most of my guys can read, so that opens up a lot of work I've never done before.  Our first classes went well.  Today was supposed to be when only Rory and Logan go (with Rory driving), but she's sick, so I took Logan in.  Hopefully we'll have a normal full week next week, so we can gauge what this is really going to be like.  

Here's to a great year for all of us!