The BIG date...final SKG date!

For our final date, Tim and I took Annie out to dinner in the big city on her birthday as a surprise! Thanks Houghs for watching the boys!

We found a great Italian restaurant to eat at. Then we gave Annie a little box. I put a bracelet I got from Tim 10 years ago in there. It has little amethyst gemstones in it. 

 So many good choices...what to choose??

 While we ate together, we answered some fun questions. We talked and laughed and told stories. She was absolutely glowing the entire time.

 Tim got her a little necklace too. Look at the trust and love between these two. My heart is full.

Finished off the night with a piece of tiramisu!

 May she always be "clothed in strength and dignity" (Proverbs 31).

This night will forever be etched on my memory as one of my favorites. Annie happily chattered away in the car on the way home, a sign of a FULL love tank. She is so easy to love and be with. She told us this was the BEST day ever and her most favorite birthday! It is such a joy to do special things for her and she is so easy to please. She is growing up into such a fun, delightful, beautiful, generous person. I am overflowing!

Happy 10th Birthday Annie!

I have been a mom for a decade! I am so thankful for Annie's life. Annie, you are my happy thought. I am asking the Lord to fill your heart with JOY this year. I am claiming "Sing to the LORD a new song..."(Psalm 33 and 96) and asking him to fill your heart with songs. I am so proud of how you are learning piano and want to be a worship leader some day. I know it will even start this year. You amaze me. 

 Present time in the morning!

 Science chemistry kit from us.

Sweet Reggie, faithful to remember it's Annie's special day, came over with a sweet gift and card. 

 Mimi and Boppa's package and card got here on her birthday! PERFECT!

 She was so proud to welcome Zoe into her Webkinz family! I believe we are up to 11.

 Cinnamon rolls for breakfast! YUM!

 Putting together a Lego Friends kit! She loved it! Thanks Grammy and Papa!

 Mimi sent really great candy!

Toby and Jesse enjoying Toby's gift from Mimi and Boppa!

Toby is 8!

 Eight years ago Toby was born! Eight years ago he was rushed into the NICU because he wasn't breathing properly. Eight years ago we found out he might have a genetic disorder. But he surprised us all with God's touch on his life by becoming the biggest and strongest and healthiest of my kids. His eyesight has not slowed him down. I am praying that this will be the year he sheds his glasses and his eyesight evens out. May this be the last year he has to wear a patch.

 We found these awesome guns at....you guessed it...the used bazaar. Don't you wish you had one of those near you?! They work almost perfectly!

 Special waffle breakfast!

 Toby, this year I am praying that you will be like Samuel and hear God's voice at a young age. I am praying that you will say, "Speak, for your servant is listening." I know you already have such a tender spirit and heart and long to do what is right and to please God. I pray this grace in your life will increase and that you will experience God on an even deeper, more intimate level this year.  I am praying 1 Sam 3:19 over you. "The LORD was with [Toby] as he grew up and he let none of his words fall to the ground." I am praying that others will recognize the hand of God on your life and that your words will be heard by many. You are a praying warrior. You are full of creativity and hard work. You love to make things and build things with your hands. I am continually amazed by the facts that stick in your head about ships, planes and science facts. You amaze me! I am beyond proud of you! I am so thankful to be your Mommy! Happy 8th Birthday!

So thankful that we all get to share in your special day!

Birthday Central

 This year we once again combined Toby and Annie's birthday parties...which is great, except it means making two cakes at once. Annie had a Webkinz themed cake with her favorites molded out of marsepein on top of her cake. She and I both worked on this together. We had so much fun laughing and were quite proud of ourselves in the end.

 Toby wanted Lego Star Wars and designed all the pieces on his cake himself.

 For the party, we met other foreigner friends and went bowling together in the big city!

 Annie was so excited to have some girlfriends to share her day with!

 Everyone had their style of bowling!

 Happy Bowler!

 S-T-R-I-K-E!!!

Girl shot!

 Boy Shot!

 We came back for cake at a friend's house!

 These amazing boys, Joel and Benjamin, gave Toby one of their Lego sets as a gift. They spent many hours finding all the pieces and directions and boxing it all up for Toby! Their generosity and joy in giving was a blow-away!

 The whole gang...minus the parents!

 Thanks to Stephanie, Annie was able to give everyone a used Webkinz from the used bazaar...no tags, but still super cute!

 Grace and Annie had such a blast together, both a fun mix of girl and tomboy! They were filthy and exhausted by the end of the day...a sign of great FUN! What a gift! 

 The kids even got to play with Missy, the pet squirrel.

It was one long day of driving and FUN with friends! We are so thankful!

Home School Concert

 We hosted our own home school concert with the Rays. Toby read a story and quoted Psalm 1.

 Annie performed part of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a Dream" speech and read her Panda research paper.

Jesse read an original about two bionicles saving the world...then he and Jonathan acted it out together. No picture could do it justice.

Afterwards we exchanged a few birthday gifts...Toby was very excited about his war plane book! Fun times with the Rays. Toby wished later on that weekend that the Ray boys could be his brothers, so he could see them every day.