U.S. Kids Golf - Fernandina Beach

The tournament this week was back at a familiar course, Fernandina Beach, playing the West course (9 holes). Alyzabeth scored very well on the last two holes. Most of the first seven holes were a struggle with the longer clubs (2 inches longer, taking them back to the original 45 inch size); we just got them back a few days ago so no practice with them. If she plays like she did the last two holes, they will be fine! She became used to them during the tournament.
Also, thank you to the Dietz', they handed down a set of orange U.S. Kids clubs to AA!! (51 inches, Ultras, not Tour series). She needs to grow a little before she uses them, so they are ready when she is!
We arrived at the course to find this:

There was a huge rain front that came through the day before, so most golf courses were soupy, muddy! AA practiced on the grass hitting a tee, no driver practice today.

At the ninth hole, I asked for a group photo, and happy hugs ensued, and around the pin flag! Since we were the last group out on the course, we could spend a little time on photos. Have to love these huggin' girls! The "seven and under" group is all fun after the tournament!

 A hug inside with their medals, AA with her second place medal:

 Goofy girls!

AA was blessed with two more birthday gifts from two great golfing families, the Clark's and Dunham's. They are so sweet to think of AA, She now has a new golf dice game (GoLo Golf Game in a Cup) and a Cra-Z-Loom Bracelet maker, just what all the other girls have! McKelvey and Bryn both have made these bracelets, and Mack gave one to AA. Thank you to our fun and generous families!
The girls all have fun after the tournament and they now know the boys well enough to play tag outside, lots of space to fun around the club house!

AA's Birthday Shopping Trip and Leaa's Birthday!

Today is Leaa's birthday. She celebrated by moving into their new home in St. Augustine. We drove over to visit, tour the home and lunch together.
Earlier in the morning, AA and I took a quick shopping trip. AA received a gift card from my sister and brother-in-law. Any money she has received, immediately goes into her piggy bank and then twice a year into her electronic bank account. Since this was a gift card, and she is old enough to know all about shopping, guess we had to go!
She had an hour to select what to buy. She decided two smaller gifts was better than one big toy! So a new little black poodle puppy joined her other stuffed bed friends and a Friends LEGO set to add to her collection. She loved shopping! (I bought the black hat for her from the clearance rack, thought it added some style to our otherwise predictable fashion sense!)

Friends LEGO set; AA has several now and all the Friends characters. She selected this set as it had a foal to go along with the horse she already had:

Thank you to Aunt-T and Uncle George for the Target gift card!

Loves LEGOs!

AA received birthday gifts of two LEGO sets, the High School set from Grandma Cathy and Werner and a set called "Emma" from Christa. She had a great afternoon putting them together and then playing with her other Friends sets, all together.The High School set had 487 pieces and she had it put together in about an hour. Really nice details with lockers, books, an arts/music room, a science classroom and a bathroom too! The Emma set:

Building the High School:

Playing with several sets:

She loves her LEGOs! Thank you family!

Sunday - Carolyn's Visit

Cousin "Aunt" Carolyn visited Saturday afternoon and stayed over night. AA loves having a pet dog for a day! She loved walking Fayah and petting her. They had a sleep over together on the living room sofa, just wish they had slept longer! We are all tired from the weekend activities.

After yesterday's birthday fun, today was all about church and a brunch with Children's Home friends. Loved talking to Dr. Charles and wife Sam; Charlie and Donna. Then AA opening her new Lego sets, chats on the phone, NASCAR and football. No swimming pool time due to the rain.
A great day!

More Friday and Saturday Family September Birthday Party!

We had a great two days for AA's birthday and preparing for the Family Saturday party for Justin, Leaa and Nicole (who was away on a business trip).
First, Friday evening was AA's time to open presents from us and sent to her, plus bakery cupcakes to celebrate:

Thank you to Ginny, Aunt Terri and Uncle George, Uncle Bill and Aunt Joan, Grandpa Bill and Nana Joy! Our gifts to her were related to her newest fun "Spy" theme. Aunt Carolyn bought her a set/combo of spy stuff, Nana Ann sent her nice L.L. Bean binoculars (the better to spy on far away things), a magnify glass and walkie-talkie's.

We found this easy chapter book series on horses at the library; AA loved them, so bought all of them for her to read:

Saturday morning, we didn't sleep well so took a few moments to rest on the sofa at 6 am! AA is reading one of her new books:

Saturday's party at noon set up: Food from Tijuana Flats, Rainbow cake from Edgewood Bakery (Nicole) and four types of my home baked cupcakes: Triple Lemon (Christa), Coconut Key Lime (Leaa), Chocolate (Alyzabeth) and Strawberry (Justin).

Plus the helium balloons and the homemade banner......

Lots of popcorn for those who "popped" over!

 Glad the Johnson Family came, AA's special school friend, Samuel with brothers Joey and Shawn:

The Forte's all came, so much fun to play with this family, almost every Sunday at golf too. Katie was so sweet and played jump rope on the deck.

Matt Forte and Ford:

Jordan brought lovely Mila:

 Lots of running around, exploring and eating too much sugar!

Doreen and Shawn relaxing while the boys played with AA:

 Grandma Cathy watching over Mila; best view in the house!

 The "older" girls hanging out with Ms. Kelly Powell, River House Manager:

 Dylan:

 Alivia seemed pleased with the craft choices:

Alivia with her balloon and Maddie with her mermaid balloon:

Daddy Ford being goofy with the birthday girl's balloon crown:

The Hulk!

Lots of balloons and a doggy one for AA:

We never could have imagined how nice it was to have this balloon lady: the kids were enthralled and kept them busy for an hour! Amazing. And this balloon lady was amazing, filling every child's request for a special character! Linda at Balloons R4 Twisting!

Back at home, AA opened a few remaining gifts; we had immediately stopped when the balloon lady appeared and didn't get back to finish until after the party. AA loved her binoculars from Nana Ann.

After the party, Auntie Carolyn arrived and we played with Fayah, went back to the River House for the Oktoberfest celebration dinner and then bed time!