Birthday Preparations and Celebrations!

Jewel opened a package from Papa and Nana. She was excited to receiving a talking raccoon (similar to Jane's talking teddy bear that she received on her birthday). The raccoon responds to words read in a book that comes along with it. She really loves it a lot!

After our Tallahassee Memories Treasure Hunt, we came home. Jimmy quickly encouraged me to make meal preparations and begin making Jewel's cake...I was wondering why he didn't let me take a nap first!!! :)

He had planned a surprise birthday celebration over at our friends' house the McCords! Jewel's batteries had died on her camera and I didn't know that I needed to bring our camera along because we were just "going to get out to pick up something to eat so we wouldn't mess up the kitchen again."
Michael had TWO beautiful and delicious cakes for us along with a dinner of Bradley's sausage (our traditional bonfire meal). I have no pictures, but Jewel and I each received beautiful gifts from the McCords....Jewel a pretty dress with accessories and I received a lovely oval locket with a cross on it. Both gifts will definitely be treasured! Jimmy also packed along some cards from he and the girls for me and also some kitchen utensils....he is good about stocking our kitchen with nice utensils on birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas, etc. :)

Sunday after church we had our friends the Prathers and the McCords. Jewel planned her menu: ham, homemade macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, watermelon, and a vegetable salad (chopped up green peppers, avocados, tomatoes, and cucumbers with salt and pepper....her choices!)
This was my year NOT to make any of the girls birthday cakes. Jane had no problem picking a cake out at Publix, however, Jewel did not find one she liked! :) So I told her she could pick out a cake mix (she chose Devil's food cake) and I would make some white buttercream frosting and she could have ONE color to decorate with along with blueberries and raspberries. She wanted an American flag theme! She helped me bake her cake. I frosted it with white, mixed up her red color, wrote her name (by her request), and she did EVERYTHING else. She did a wonderful job!
Happy 7th Birthday, SWEET Little Jewel! :)

Treasure Hunt continued...

Clues 5 -11

Clue #5

With our drinks in hand, we are ready to find

A park that is definitely one of a kind.

With buildings and costumes to explore and to see

Our next stop is special, it’s Mission San __ __ __ __!

**Answer** L U I S

We used to come to this mission all the time when we first moved to Tallahassee. It has actually been a couple years since we had been.

After we watched the little video, Jewel opened her gift from Jane...a nightgown and some panties.

Clue # 6:

The preacher and monks lived in this nice little place.

But because of the fire and the limited space.

Right next to the garden, which one must mention,

Their meals were prepared in this nice little __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

**Answer** K I T CH E N

The little kitchen behind to church was closed due to some necessary roof repair. We could only look through the window, but the room was empty since they didn't want things to be ruined through the leaky roof.

Clue #7

The Spanish lived quite differently from their Indian brothers.

Their houses were built by the men but kept up by the mothers.

There were chores to be done by the young and the old.

The young emptied the __ __ __ __ __ bowl; quite stinky, we’re told!

**Answer** P O T T Y

The Spanish House

Clue # 8

The Indians gathered in this large open place.

Around the walls were “hotels,” for each his own space.

The roof and walls are open for the air to be pulled

By the fire to keep the space heated and __ __ __ __-ed.

**Answer** C O O L

The Indian Meeting House

Clue # 9

Enjoy the rest of the great sites to see;

It may be the very last time here to be. L

When it’s time to go on to our next destination;

A note in the v __ __ will reveal the location.

**Answer** V A N


Clue # 10

We now go where your first home in Tallahassee was spent.

One month we lived here in an upstairs __ __ __ __ __ -ment!

**Answer** A P A R T

Clue #11

At this point, we’re sure you must be quite famished.

So the next spot is a place you will fill your own dish.

Hope you’ve had fun! Now, ready or not!

We are now headed to a “ __ __ __ __ - out” restaurant!

**Answer** P I C K (When Jewel was younger she used to refer to Chinese buffets as "Pick-out" restaurants!)