Taylor's 11th Birthday

Taylor enjoyed celebrating her 11th birthday over the course of a week. On Friday the 13th we had a small celebration at the house with just the four of us. She opened presents (mostly Dr. Who, Webkinz, money from family, and some much anticipated books) and had cake after we ate dinner out at her favorite Chinese buffet - Panda Garden Buffet in Roseville. Later on that weekend we had the neighborhood kids over for a pinata.

Taylor had an earth day birthday party with some of her friends that following weekend on Saturday the 21st at the Harriet Alexander Nature Center, in Roseville. It worked out really well because the nature center also celebrates their birthday that day with a parade, tree planting ceremony and cake! Grandma was nice enough to come and help us out, too. Taylor says that her favorite part was when the girls, Ian and I all took a walking adventure on the floating platforms that wander through the marshes of central park. Some of the platforms didn't float so well and we ended up sinking in a couple of times! The girls thought it was hilarious! We also saw ducks, geese and many species of bugs. **A HUGE thank you to Debbie Cash and the volunteers at the nature center. You helped make Taylor's day wonderful and educational!** Please check out Taylor's birthday pics below:

Taylor's 11th Birthday

The trick with planning any kind of outdoor party in Minnesota this time of year is that the weather can go from snowing one day to 80 degrees the next. It was a little unnerving when it snowed just about a week before Taylor's party, but I did get a picture of the snow in Como Park. It was the wet, sticky spring time snow that really makes for fun photography. And better yet, it melted away within 48 hours after it had fallen.

Taylor and Ian both celebrated their school carnivals over the past week. They both had the usual cake walks, moon bounces, fishing ponds and the like. Nobody won any cake, but they both saw their friends at each one of their schools, and they each won some candy.