Something(s) to celebrate…

These are Tabitha’s hands. 
She purposed to take better care of her nails a few months ago, and boy has that worked out well.  She’s grown some seriously long nails since Christmas. 
She has also purposed to work on some other things in her life.  That has also been working out very well. 
A manicure seemed in order to celebrate both the lovely hands and the other accomplishments.  She chose a decidedly Rapunzelesque lavender. 

AND it just so happens that about a month ago I started Johanna on daily subtraction worksheets to help improve her subtraction-with-borrowing skills.  When she first saw what these daily sheets looked like she expressed dismay.  I get that.  Think about seeing a giant page of something you struggle at and being told you need to get all the right answers!  Mama has been around the block, though, and I offered this bit of encouragement: “When you get 100% on a sheet I will take you out for a treat.”  She nailed it last Thursday and today was our first change to get out.  Thankfully, Shamrock Shakes are out now, too.  Win-win.  We sat in the restaurant and she delighted me with half-an-hour of Hanny-isms, including thoughts on Moses, her birthday in May, and the upcoming musical. 

Katriel is FIVE

Her fifth birthday fell on a Saturday.  How fun is that?

We decided to pack all the fun into one day. 
We woke her up at 7 A.M. (she was actually awake and waiting for our arrival) and sang happy birthday.


Balloons and banners greeted her.

as did a spiffy breakfast.

The boys had to work parts of the day, so we did family meal and gifts early on.

We cleaned up and turned our attention to getting ready for her 11:30 A.M. turtle-themed birthday party.

We had a craft for the basement.

Friends arrived and got their turtle backs.

Lunch was pizza and fruit.

Lots of lovely gifts and home made cards. 

And cake. 

Big sisters had some friends here, too.  (I love these girls.)

And then the kid party was over at 1:30 P.M.

Somehow, we flipped the house again.  Mom lay down for an hour, then made dinner, and grandparents and aunt arrived for 4:30 P.M.
Pasta Alfredo was the birthday girl’s choice.

And look… more gifts! :)

We had a Princess Tiana cake for the evening.

And we may have reached our party-food-limit.

Don’t underestimate the Butler’s ability to party, friends. 

Party prepping–Turtle style

With a princess for good measure.

To be continued….

Thanks-giving Day is everyday.

But the food is only once a year.

Er.  Twice?

Birthday Prep

As Katriel’s birthday loomed, we sent out invitations and did some planning.  Again and again she would mention the piñata she wanted.  And, again and again, I would remind her we were not having a piñata.  Her February birthday has dictated we would have an indoor birthday parties, and how do you do a piñata in the house?  I’d explain this, and she would verbalize understanding and then mention a substitute activity…. until the NEXT time the subject of her birthday party would come up, and we’d repeat the whole conversation.

Today, Katriel and I went to Walmart for some groceries and a few things for her birthday. 

We went down the piñata aisle….

And there you go.
To be continued.

Doughnut with Daddy

Mom woke up sick. 
Hanny had an ophthalmologist appointment at 8:00 A.M.
So daddy took her to see the doctor, then stopped by Dunkin for a treat.

We were shocked to hear she needed to return to eye patching.  Eight months ago she had finished a long season of patching and her follow-up six months ago was so promising, he gave her six months off seeing him.  There was even a little hope that she would be told today that she did not need to wear this type of glasses anymore.

But – she does.  And she needs to also return to patching.

The doctor said correcting the optic nerve is something that usually doesn’t see progress past eight years old.  Hanny is 7.75 years old.  But the calendar isn’t in charge of Hanny’s eye; God is.  So we will not have a spirit of hopelessness.  For we have a High Priest who is not surprised by today’s appointment, and we will patch confidently.

Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

Sunday Dinner

While I’d like to claim I made a pot roast, mashed potatoes, asparagus and homemade bread, the truth is I enjoyed a wonderful Sunday dinner with some of my favorite people.

Delizioso!

1 Corinthians 8:8
But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Happy Valentine’s Day~2018

When the bigger kids were littler, I made a big deal out of Valentine’s Day.  The long winter would be getting to me/us and a mini-morning party was just what was called for.  Since Katriel was born and offered us her February birthday, I’ve let Valentine’s Day sort of an afterthought.  One of the kids mentioned some of their Valentine’s memories last night, however, and it made me up my game just a bit today.

They approved.

Happy Birthday Kelly!

Now THAT is a party hat!

Romans 12:10 - Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.