The Moodys' Musings: September 2014

**I wrote this on Saturday night, but ran out of energy to caption the pictures and proofread.**

Cooper's party was today. I should be cleaning up right now, but I'm exhausted and my feet are killing me. I was running around ALL. DAY. LONG. and I'm done. So, here I am. :)

Today was HOT (the high was around 100). Thankfully we had the perfect activity planned, courtesy of Morgan and Anna. We get a pretty good breeze at our house, too, so we survived. (Our AC stopped working about a week ago, but it hadn't been too hot, so we were doing okay. Yesterday was in the 90s and our house was unbearable last night. It was the first night ever that I put a baby to bed in only a diaper. Nate called a repairman this morning and he was here by 10:15. He instantly recognized the problem and even had a part in his van. He was gone in under an hour and our AC was working. Thank you, Lord!)

Becky and Mandy each took a big kid last night, which was such a blessing. I don't know how I would have gotten everything done otherwise. I just can't stay up all night. So, Nate and I worked until 10 or so last night and all morning. My parents came early to help up set up "Alligator Island" and do a bunch of other things as well. We were ready just in the nick of time.

Cooper was tired, but held up pretty well. There was a total of four girls and twelve boys (four of whom were babies). Cooper, Madi, and Macy just went off and did their own thing most of the time. I wouldn't let the boys inside to play, but the girls played house and dress-up inside so nicely without any adult supervision needed. (Bottom line: I could have just had Macy and Madi over and gone to a lot less trouble. Note to self for next year. ;)

Anna made the BEAUTIFUL (and delicious!) cake and cute butterfly balloons. She also found some other decorations for me and took pictures and cleaned up. Her help was such a blessing, and I couldn't have done it without her! I couldn't have done it without my mom either. This party was definitely a team effort (BIG team at that...Nate, my dad, Becky, and Mandy, too).

One side note: Cooper got a LOT of "Frozen" gifts and they were all very different. Amazing!

And now for the pictures...

Can you tell it's a butterfly?!

Balloon art by Anna

I cut watermelon with a butterfly cookie cutter. My idea. Take that, Pinterest.

The spread: sandwich makings, fruits and veggies, "pizza pasta salad" (super easy and SO good), chips and salsa.

Cooper got home right as the party was starting. Look how tired she already was. :(

Anna's beautiful creation. She did such a fantastic job!

Not cooperating for pictures, but notice the butterfly outfit. :)

Nathan Michael (Krista's baby), who is exactly five weeks younger than Porter.

Krista, Nathan, Macy, Rowland, Cooper

Judson and Emmitt at the top of "Alligator Island"

Showing off their party favors (crazy straw cups)

The girls got to paint butterfly and flower suncatchers. I bought some different ones for the boys, but the thought of having eight boys (one was six and the rest were four and under) painting was just too much for me.

Twinsies. I don't feel like Porter looks this much bigger in real life, but maybe he does. :)

Waiting for cake

Look at the inside! Didn't she do a fabulous job?!

JuliAnn with baby Ezekiel and Bridgett with one of their new foster boys. (Bridgett and Phil got two new foster boys the day before the kids' party last year. They still have them and Kristen, and once again got two new foster boys the day before this party. Imagine my surprise when they showed up with five kids under five!)