The Birthday Countdown Has Begun

Isabelle turns 7 in one week. We started her birthday celebration today with Kevin's parent. Isabelle planned the whole day. The day started with a BIG breakfast: waffles, eggs, fruit, juice, & bacon! We were full! For our activity, Isabelle picked "Arts for Kids"at our local Arboretum. We had so much fun . . . face painting, hay ride, hedge apple throw, puppet show, & LOTS of crafts. By 2 we were hungry, so we headed to her favorite restaurant, Sante Fe South for chips & salsa & macaroni & cheese - YES it is a mexican restaurant, but she LOVES to eat macaroni & cheese there! After lunch/dinner, she quickly rushed us home for cake & presents
Family photo on the Hayride
Isabelle requested a chicken on her hand. . . . this sweet lady LOVES to paint. She was so excited to paint Isabelle's chicken.

John Michael wanted a white dinosaur! He sat completely still . . . rare for him!
Grandma & I decided to share in Isabelle's fun & get our hands painted.

John Michael could have stayed at this all day . . . throwing hedge apples to pop balloons
Making Pine Cone Turkeys
Making Nature Placemats
Happy Birthday Celebration with Grandma & Grandpa

Finally opening presents . . . she had waited all day!
New dress from Grandma & Grandpa! So cute!

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A Little Girl Before Our Eyes

Loading the bus this morning . . . so thrilled!

After much debate, and some begging on her part - we agreed to let Isabelle ride the bus to & from school. She really wanted to. I really didn't want her to. However living in the farthest spot that you can live & still be in our school district, does make a difference with gas prices so high! :) So after some upset stomachs (completely on my part from nerves) we agreed to let her ride. We told her she could ride the bus home & we'd see how that went . . . she was beyond excited - the 1st words out of her mouth when she woke up on Friday morning were "Is today the day I ride the bus home?" So I was beyond excited to pick her up Friday afternoon. However, the upset stomach came back as I waited & waited with another mom & the bus was 25 minutes LATE! When it arrived, I could tell something wasn't right. She loaded off the bus with a red face & huge tears streaming down her face . . . the bus driver & I quickly recognized each other (SHE GOES TO OUR CHURCH - THANK YOU LORD!) and she explained the situation. I guess a boy had gotten on the bus that wasn't supposed to & they had to turn around. Isabelle knew they weren't going the right direction & she paniced thinking they weren't taking her home. Can you just imagine??? After she & I talked & I assured her Vickie our driver would get her to me everyday & she recovered from the panic - she perked up & said how awesome it was to ride. We saw Vickie at church yesterday & Isabelle asked if she could start riding in the morning today - so I sent her off to school on the bus this morning. We prayed for a smoother day today!

On Saturday night as Kevin put Isabelle to bed, they were messing around with a loose tooth & Kevin was "trying" to tease her about pulling it out, and actually DID pull it out to both of their amazement. It went flying to the floor & they were both hysterically laughing! One more sign of her becoming a little girl before our eyes! We love you baby girl.

A Little Man's First Big Catch

This weekend John Michael caught this incredible bass in the pond behind our house. Kevin cast the pole for him & walked away . . . he tugged & reeled this big one in! He was SO excited! The sheer joy & excitement could not be contained - by him or his dad!

John Michael Goes To Cooking School

John Michael is taking a cooking class on Friday mornings this month & absolutely LOVES it! Yesterday's was a "Firehouse" theme. They made Code One Bread & Firehouse Stew. He loved them both. . . as did I. I can't wait to make them at home!

September 11 Program

Today Isabelle had the privelege of speaking at a Sept. 11 program at school. She had to answer the following 3 questions . . . "What is a hero? Who is your Hero? And Why?" Her paper was chosen as one or 8 to be read at the program. Here's what she wrote.

"A hero is someone who helps the world and cares for people. Jesus is my hero. Jesus is always with me. He watches over me. Jesus loves me and cares for me. He is faithful. He is kind to me."

We are so proud of her & pray that God used her to plant seeds today!

Haiti Relief Fund

Please help us help the people of Haiti. You can read updates at www.c3missions.org & make donations to the Haiti Relief Fund.

All I Want for First Grade . . .PART II

(See the hole on the top left)

Isabelle lost her 5th tooth last week - guess who had to pull it out - MOM!!! It was so loose, she was afraid to go to sleep, so she laid on the couch & begged me to pull it out. She was so excited to have it out! Amazingly, after that tooth fell out, the 2 front teeth started breaking through. It makes me a little sad - it feels like yet another rite of passage. The cute little smile with no front teeth is no longer. Her big girl teeth are growing in quickly. She is growing up so fast!