Julia's Birthday Party

Today we had a little birthday party for sweet Julia.  Her birthday isn't this week, but our April is so busy we realized this was the only Saturday available to do something.  She didn't have a party last year, so I was happy she could celebrate.  We went to a trampoline park and they had the best time!  Tucker and Charlie got to tag along.  :)

Everyone loved jousting!

And just FYI- four of these girls are a year or two older than Sissy- she's just tall.  :)

After the party all the girls but one came back to our house to play for a few hours.  We just redid the playroom to make it more "tween friendly" with a big sectional and white board.  The girls had the best time playing Pictionary, karaoke, a talent contest, and other games.  They also hiked through the woods to the creek.  Such a fun day.  Here is the playroom now-

I still love our Mary Engelbreit posters-

And this Playmobil castle is over 10 years old and still beloved-

Tonight the Children's Schola sang for Palm Sunday vigil Mass.  Five of the party guests and Julia are in the Schola so they got dressed at our home and we met their families at church.  The schola sang beautifully!

Such a wonderful day to celebrate Julia!  And such a beautiful Mass tonight.  We sang one of my favorite hymns, "O Sacred Head Surrounded."

O Sacred Head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding Head, so wounded,
reviled and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of Thy most Holy Face,
yet angel hosts adore Thee
and tremble as they gaze

I see Thy strength and vigor
all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor,
bereaving Thee of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn Thy face on me.

In this Thy bitter passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
with Thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath Thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in Thy dear love confiding,
and with Thy presence blest.

But death too is my ending;
In that dread hour of need,
My friendless cause befriending,
Lord, to my rescue speed:
Thyself, O Jesus, trace me,
Right passage to the grave,
And from Thy cross embrace me, With arms outstretched to save.