Slumber Party!!!!

Ruth's husband, Jeremy travels a lot and we coordinated a night when both hubbies were out of town to have a slumber party!  We had been talking about this for almost a year so we couldn't believe we were finally making it happen!!  Ruth and her kids arrives around 1:00pm last Wednesday, just in time for lunch, our first of 3 meals together.  We love to have extended playdates, but this took it to a whole new level!

My kids were beyond giddy when I told them the plan...and I was too!

The afternoon was simply wonderful, there was lots of playing, laughing, running, smiling and Ruth and I looking at each other and saying, "how cool is this!?"

I didn't get many pictures of the afternoon, but we played games; Alexia and Keona spent hours in Alexia's room playing dress up and house; Anjuli and Diego played lots of board games; we had a fire going and music playing; Marco had a nap; Diego and Anjuli climbed the magnolia tree; Ruth and I served coffee, cookies and fruit and took turns reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to the 6 big kids; Ruth made homemade pizza for dinner and we just relished our time together!

After a yummy dinner, everyone got ready for bed and we had all the kids tucked in by 7:45.  We let them stay up late talking, but at least they were on their own.  Keona and Alexia slept together upstairs and Diego and Anjuli slept on the playroom floor.  

Ruth and I stayed up until almost 1:00am talking which was such a treat!  

I had emailed Diego's teacher and asked if he could get to school at 9:30 on Thursday since we were having a special sleepover and we wanted him to join us for a nice breakfast.  She was completely supportive and sweet about it.

In the morning we had pumpkin pancakes, played a bit and then we all hit the road at 9:00am.

Playing Guess Who?

Alexia and Keona were so excited to see each other's pajamas that they jammied up before dinner.  How cute is Callen in this picture?!

 Enjoying our yummy dinner together!

 And here are all 7 kids in front of the fireplace:

Marco and Callen LOVE Lyanna and were so sweet with her!

Alexia's 5th birthday!

On November 11th, our precious girl turned FIVE! She had been so excited for the day to arrive and talked about it so much. She had been counting down the days for over a month so I think she could hardly believe it when it finally arrived.  For the first time, she requested a Family Fun Day which was super special.  We let her plan the day and it went as follows: yogurt parfait for breakfast (plain yogurt with honey and homemade granola and kiwi, banana, grapes and mango); 9:15 church service; Chuck E Cheese's for play and lunch right after church; home for tea party and carrot cake; pinata in backyard and ending the day with a pupusa feast.  She was one happy girl!  

She requested carrot cake, which upon trying she said, "I don't care for it so much."  

So very thankful for this precious girl and the way the Lord is building our relationship! 

A display of pictures that shows her personality:

The family she adores!

 She was so excited to Skype with Tio Robi!

One of the gifts she received from her brothers was a Cinderella costume and she LOVED(S) it!  Here is the princess and her pinata!

Marco taking a swing at it

 The boys loved the punching balloons that were in the pinata

And a race with the boys!!

Alexia has been blessed with so many gifts and in the Lord's great mercy she is learning to use them for His glory.  

She usually wakes up before 7, but stays in her bed until 7:00 and then flies out of bed with all the energy of the household.  She can sing, dance, talk, skip, jump, laugh and smile all before the rest of us get out of bed. 

She is a bundle of joy, energy, wit and charm.
We love you, Alexia Marie!