Maisie is our big girl!!  She turned NINE on the fourth of March.  I can't believe it . . . at least we are not to double digits yet.  Then I will feel really old!  Here are some fun pictures from some of the birthday events.  Maisie ended up having three (and a half) birthday parties . . . one with Josh's family, one with my family and one with her friends . . . and the half-party was one she "shared" with my Mom.

Here is Maisie on her actual birthday heading off to school.  She really wanted to wear a "party dress" to school on her birthday.  Why not?  You only turn nine once, right?  And I have a feeling there will be a day when Maisie doesn't want to wear dresses . . .

Here she is with her chocolate cake, and then blowing out the candles.  This is the famous Allen-family recipe.  It is embellished, however, with pink and purple peanut m&ms (at Maisie's request).  This was the party on her actual birthday with our little family and my parents and my brother, Michael.




The Friday after her birthday, Maisie had a slumber party with three of her girlfriends.  The only "game" Maisie wanted me to prepare for her party was a treasure hunt . . . complete with rhyming riddle clues and a treasure (of Journals, pens and stuff like that -- was the request).

Here are the clues:

It started with a note . . .
This is a treasure hunt at Maisie's request.  She wanted tough clues, so do your best.  They might be tricky . . . hopefully not icky . . . Happy Birthday, Maisie.  I love you!  Love, Mom

Clue #1
When water sprays in the tub, I keep the floor from getting wet.
Step inside and look at me, and a clue is what you'll get!
[This led to a clue stuck to the inside of the kid's bathroom shower curtain]

Clue #2
Lift me up and look inside.  You might be in luck!
You could not only find a clue, but bounty from a cluck!
[This led to a clue inside the nesting box of the chicken coop]

Here are the girls reading the clue they found in the nesting box:


Clue #3
If you want to find the next clue,
here is what you must do:
Go play a game of some kind,
whose name is what you want to find!
[This led to a clue inside the CLUE game box]

Clue #4
Take Mom's key and go outside.
Look inside the box.
You will find another clue,
stuck to the door the key unlocks!
[This led to a clue inside the mailbox, stuck to the inside of the door]

Here is a photo of the girls reading the clue they found in the mail box:


Clue #5
You want another clue?
You don't have to say please . . .
Just open up the drawer,
that holds the cheese!
[This led to a clue in the cheese drawer of the refrigerator]

Clue #6
I spin round and round,
but never get dizzy!
I don't make things dry,
rather sudsy and fizzy.
If you know what I am,
look down below . . .
Pull something out,
and there you go!
[This led to the treasure that was wrapped in a gift box and hidden in the drawer beneath the washing machine]

Next are some photos of the dinner, strawberry shortcake and sleeping bag setup . . .

Here are Rain, Maisie, Meyah and Hannah . . .





Cole got to have a "friend" at the party too . . . he invited his cousin Kabb.