Kristen's 1st Formal Dance

Kristen had her first formal dance on Friday. She looked so pretty, so of course I had to take pictures. :) Karen wanted to dress like her big sister for the pictures, even though she did not go to the dance. lol. They both had their formals from the cruise we took a few years ago. Karen's formal still fits her, because it was too big when I bought it for her. Kristen isn't wearing the one she wore on the cruise. I actually bought this one first, and it was too big. So I bought her the next size down in blue. She wore the blue one on the cruise, and I just saved this one figuring it would eventually get some use. Good thing I did, because she just told me on Saturday, May 2nd, that she was having a formal dance the following Friday. I didn't have the money then to go out and get her a new dress since we had just forked out several hundred for her birthday party. It all worked out though. :)

This is Kristen and Karen out in front of our house. So pretty:)

Kristen, my big girl!

Karen, pretty in pink :)

Billy went inside to take some pictures for me before the dance began. I don't know who was in charge of the decorating, but they shouldn't have been. lol:)

If you look really hard, you can see a strand of lights above the bleachers. I mean really, they think that looks good?

The lights go all the way down, and they aren't even put up well.

I'm not real sure what the plan here was. I did see someone carrying in some balloons, so I guess they did add a little more to the decor. And what is up with the grass skirt hanging on the door? lol. Like I said, I don't know who was in charge of this, but they shouldn't have been. :)

This is the school mascot mural. It's kinda cool.

Kristen getting out of the van.

Karen, just after getting out of the van.

My two Princesses posing out in front of the gym.

Kristen with her friend Ashley

Kristen, Ashley, and Karen

Kristen with her friends, Brittney, on the left, and Ashley, on the right. I may be a bit biased in my opinion, but I do believe my daughter is the prettiest. ;)

The girls walking up to the gym

Billy took this picture of Kristen when we went to pick her up. Apparently she did not want her picture to be taken. :)

She had a lot of fun, so I'm glad she got to go. So this pretty much sums up Friday's events. I may or may not wait til tomorrow to post what we did on Saturday and Sunday. We shall see. ;)

Kristen's Birthday Party

Kristen had her birthday party at Pump it Up, which is an inflatable jumping place. She had a ball. I didn't get very good pictures, but hey, I tried. My camera is just not a cooperative one, or maybe it's just the user. lol. I guess that's why when you buy a camera, they always come with a users manual. I never read that though. I don't think I should have to. It should just be that easy to use, right? Anyway, she did have a great time. The party even continued at home. Several kids, I don't even know how many, came over to the house after the party. So, she had some friends spend the night on Friday night, then on Saturday we had a few hours at the party place, then there were probably 10 kids, at least, partying it up downstairs afterward. They had the music going and were dancing in the dark. She just had a good ole time. That's always my objective, for my kids to have a great birthday each year. I'm glad she had a good one.

I don't want them to have the kind of childhood I did. I want them to enjoy every second possible. It goes by so fast, so it is really important for it to be just an absolutely wonderful time before it's all over. That girl of mine drives me nuts, but I love her more than she will ever know. She means so very much to me, and I just can't even imagine my life without her and her craziness. lol. Of course, I feel that way about all of my kids. They truly are a blessing to my life.