More Birthday Fun...

Disclaimer: We do not have big birthday parties for our kids every year. We always celebrate with family, but we feel it is not necessary to have extravagant parties every year. This is a special year; being that she is 10. We wanted to make it an important milestone to remember. Most every year I give them the option of having a small birthday party or getting $100 to spend. They usually take the money. It saves us a lot of time and expense and we feel like it just keeps things in better perspective. We want to teach our children that while, yes, they are very special and important, they do not need to be the center of attention in an extravagant way to be celebrated.

 Miss Ansley finished up her birthday festivities at the skate center last night with several of her friends. It was great fun! Wednesday's are called "cheap skates" at our skate center, which is why we chose to have it on a school night. It saved us a ton of money and we were pretty much the only ones there.
We dedicated this song to our little butterfly:

 They skated from 4-6 and then we all headed back to our house for cake and presents. (You can imagine the condition of my nerves and our home when that was over). I LOVE being out with my kids and their friends, but something happens to little girls when you bring them into the confines of a home... They go crazy! Up and down the stairs, running to and fro, drama, drama, drama... There are still cake crumbs and smears of icing on my kitchen floor.

We still have 1 more big birthday to celebrate this month. Our sweet Ashlyn Hope turns 13 on Saturday. She will be receiving a cake, a letter from us, another family photo, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. We are hoping to hear back from her. If we do, you'll be the first to know!

Also, please take a moment to visit the blog of a great family who are in EE visiting with their sweetie pie for the very first time. They need lots of prayers today. www.yourlovewillcarryme.blogspot.com.

Here's a few more pics!

Our Butterfly with her crazy birthday glasses from Elli and the weird, light-up pacifiers that they sell at the skate center. She just had to have one.

Limbo!

All her ROWDY friends... and a couple of brothers!

Yes, that's duct tape. The newest trend. It was at the top of her wish list and her friend Catie was oh-so-pleased with herself for buying it! They make all sorts of things with it; bracelets, wallets...

I look tired! Hmmm... I wonder why...

Blessings,
Rebecca