Happy Birthday Mackenzie! (a little late...)

Wow has summer started off with a bang! I've enjoyed this afternoon because it's been the first time in quite a while that I've just been able to sit and spend a little time hanging out on my computer. :-) So I thought I'd spend a few minutes catching up on some of the 'events' of the last couple of weeks.

OK - I thought I was going to do this all in one post, but I'm realizing that I don't have time to do all that -- SO, I'll start with Mackenzie's birthday party and then try to add the other stuff that's been going on before I get too behind again. I wanted to start out by putting a baby picture of Mackenzie on here, but at the moment, we're in the midst of some computer upgrading around here and I have no access to my scanner... not that I'm complaining, because I'm also sitting out on my back porch writing this on a new laptop, :-) but that's getting off the subject... So, anyways, Kenzie will probably be happy to avoid some of the embarassing pictures from the past. ;-) (but she was such a cute baby!) Anyways, I'll just put a couple of pictures from her 'Sweet 16' party here:

We had the teens over after church for a big cook-out and had a good time with that. Then, most of the girls stayed for a sleepover and then we surprised Mackenzie with a Limosine ride around town. She was totally shocked. :-) This is the girls ready to get on their way...

And here they are inside the Limo - this is a pretty cool ride! If you notice, Mackenzie has a paper in her hand -- that was the first 'clue' of a scavenger hunt that we sent them on. At each location where we stopped, they had to get out and decipher the 'riddle' that helped them figure out where to go and what pictures to take. The girls had fun with that...

The first stop was at the church where the 'bride' had to throw her 'bouquet.'

Next, we took a little ride down to Big Spring Park where the girls had to do their best interpretation of a fountain. Very silly.

A nice close-up of everybody. Michelle, Brenna, Morgan, Jessica, Kim, Amanda, Mackenzie, Anna, Becca and Jessie. Just after we took this picture, I noticed a young man following us around. We took a picture on the bridge, and at that point, he asked if he could take a picture with the girls! Uh... NO, I don't think so! ha I politely told him no and said that we were leaving... at which point he said, "Well, then, can I go with you?"
Hmmmm..... guess you can't blame a guy for trying! haha

Our next stop was Bridge Street - where we happened to run into Sio'bhan on the bridge! So we took a picture with her and then the girls had to follow the 'clues' down to Brighton, where Mackenzie's birthday gift was waiting for her. She got a new 'charm' keychain for the key to the car that her grandmother graciously gave to her a little while back. (Thanks Grandma!!!) We went on from there to Maggie Moos and had dessert, then back to the limo.

The last stop was Huntsville High School. I'm not sure they really WANTED to be there since school is out!!

Showing a little at-ti-tude... Happy Sweet 16 Mackenzie!! :-)

Hopefully we made some fun memories that will last a lifetime. But most important of all, I'm so proud of the beautiful young lady, both inside and out, that Mackenzie has become. She loves God with all of her heart and her friends and family as well. She's a joy to be around and a blessing to her mom and dad (and sister!) :-) And all of the credit and all of my gratitude goes to God for that!