eight

It's official. She's eight. Our precious little girl - growing into a lovely young lady. She has such a wide range of interests and likes. Her birthday wish list included a Lego house set, a microscope, and an American Girl doll. She's as girlie as they come - but also loves to wrestle and play rough. She's smart and thoughtful, and silly and wild. Love her so much, this child of mine.

party time!

We celebrated Audrey's upcoming 8th birthday this weekend. She chose to have a "pre-slumber" party (do all the things you would do for a real slumber party except guests get picked up by parents right before the actual fall asleep time). Five of her friends came over and we had a ball. The night went something like this: dinner (tacos and pink lemonade), cake and ice cream, craft time, change into pj's and lay out sleeping bags, open presents, watch a movie (and snuggle up in one big pile during the "scary" parts), eat popcorn, paint toenails, have a gigantic pillow fight, go home wired and all hopped up on sugar.









Audrey had a great time. Several times during the night she would come up to me and whisper, "Mom, this is awesome! Thank you so much." Ahhhh - makes it all worthwhile.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had some special friends over today and celebrated Valentine's Day with them!

We decorated bags and exchanged valentine treats.



We did a fun craft and talked about what the Bible teaches us about LOVE.

We decorated cookies and ate way too much sugar!





Oh - and as a special Valentine's Day surprise from my hubby - we enjoyed our own quartet concert.

Happy Valentine's Day to you too!!

growing up...

Liam lost his first tooth this week!

call me paranoid

Ethan had his very first peanut butter and jelly sandwich today. I've been a little hesitant about giving him peanuts. With his asthma and eczema, and my nephew with a severe peanut allergy - I was nervous. I mentioned it to our asthma/allergy doctor last time we were in. He suggested that I come park in his parking lot one day and give him his first taste there. That way - if he has a reaction - I'm very close to help. So, that's what we did yesterday. I loaded up the dvd player and some yummy peanut butter treats and we all sat in that parking lot for 30 minutes until I was sure he was ok. He did fine so as of today he's on the PB&J train.

Call me paranoid - but in this case I'd rather be safe than sorry!

my girlie...

...making lasagna for dinner.