Birthday Party Saturday

Saturday we had our annual Marc/Julia birthday bash.  :)  We've always done their birthdays together and they love it that way.  

 

We've done pizza and hot dogs before, but we have learned the Chick Fil A nuggets are the biggest hit.  Everybody loves Chick Fil A.  

Sissy, of course, found a salamander to play with.  

Charlie loves the big boys toy guns-

Saying the blessing-

BB spent her day keeping up with Sharshee- who kept hurting himself on jump castles.  :)

The boys did a football pinata too, but my camera was frozen up during that.

It was a great day with our great friends.  Birthday party 2014- a success!

She's eight!

Well, the sweetest little girl I ever met turns eight today!   My little angel, we love you so much it hurts.  You are so precious and humble and kind.  You never demand attention or boss anybody around.  How you came to us is a mystery.  You are sweeter than any of us.  

I think of all these stories of how sweet you are.  Once Tucker had a brand new toy and you asked to look at it.  I said, "Sissy!  How would you feel if you had a brand new toy and Tucker wanted it?" and you said, "well I would give it to him."  Marc looked at me and we said, "that's true- she actually would give up a new toy for someone who wanted it."  :)  

 At school this year I got you a new monogrammed lunchbox and when you took it to school another girl had the same one.  You thought that was really neat.  She had a fit and said she was going home to get another lunchbox, and you didn't even notice.  You came home and told me the story with the sweetest smile.  You just do not get into "girl drama".  You are not competitive or jealous at all.  You don't ask to be first in line or first to do anything.  You are so patient and humble.  

You were the only girl in your school class to wear your hair pulled back in a bow.   You have never cared what you wear or tried to be cool.  And even though you still don't know who Taylor Swift is or any Disney actors, other children still love being with you.  I think you are a breath of fresh air.    

Just this Wednesday you were getting dropped off at horseback riding and said, "can you walk me in?"  BB said, "Sissy I've got babies in the car- can't you go by yourself?"   You said, "Oh, I'm sorry- I don't want to be a bother."  BB threw the car in park and walked you right in telling you that you are absolutely no bother!

The loves in your life are God, your family and animals.  You still, every day, play with all critters you can find.  Even yesterday I saw you on the ground inspecting a roach.  You aren't scared of any animal, and if I see a lizard in the house I call YOU- not the boys!  You love, love, love birds and have read a million bird books so you can tell me the different ones we see.  Yesterday I was trying to read a story to you on the porch, but you kept getting up and looking in the trees to identify the birds.

You are super snuggly and remind me of a big lab dog that doesn't know how big it is.  You are the only one of our children that gets scared and comes to our bed during thunderstorms.  You play with your brothers all day long.  You and Tucker are still best friends.  You two can be happy and play with almost nothing at all- just some leaves can turn into "momma leaf and baby leaf" and their adventures.  You have taken to drawing things you see on the easel.   You are doing well in your piano lessons that you started in January. 

All these sweet things said, you do get in trouble many days.  However it's almost always because of something "ditsy" you've done like forgotten to shut the van door or leaving your shoes all over the place.  You definitely process information a little different than the rest of us.  Teaching you is very different from teaching Marky.  I think you are a visual learner and need to actually see what you are being taught.   I'm so glad you are home again where we can go at your pace, and learn the way you learn best.  

You are really hoping for a baby sister, and I hope, for your sake, that you get one.  :)  Truthfully though I can't imagine what another girl would look like for our family.  You are such a unique girl- totally different than what I imagined my little girl would be.  You bring so much peace to these rowdy boys.  I'm so, so grateful to God for giving me this precious sunshine who brings nothing but sweetness and light to everything she touches.  

Happy birthday Sissybug.  We don't deserve you, but oh how grateful we are for our angel girl!

1, 2, 3, 4,

FIVE!

We are happy, thrilled, and humbled to announce that the Lord has seen fit to send another precious soul our way!  We saw our beloved baby today squirming and kicking and full of life.

I have been a good bit tired and nauseous this time (much more than I was with Charlie) so that's why blogging has slowed down significantly.  :)  We thank you, dear Lord, for answering our prayer for another child.  My cup runneth over.

And He took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”  Matthew 9:37-7