We had a fiesta!

We had a fiesta this past Sunday to celebrate Isabel's 3rd birthday. Today is in fact her actual birthday. When I woke up this morning Lee said to me, "can you believe we have a 3-year-old?" I can't!

There are so many things I love about our little/big girl! She LOVES to sing and dance. Recently, she really loves to play pretend. We pretend about KidzJam, we pretend she runs an ice cream shop, we pretend to go on a trip to the Philippines, we pretend about SO many things. She loves her nails painted, loves purses, loves to put treasures in her purses. These treasures can change from day to day, but they are her treasures none the less and she will guard them all day long. She has an AMAZING vocabulary (the girl can talk) and talk she does, but not around strangers or sometimes even friends. She is one to observe and then talk about everything once they (whom ever it may be) is gone.

For her fiesta we played a Dora game, where the kids had to use "Map" to go do different activities to get to the final destination, a pinata. Isabel's one request for her party was to have a pinata. She's been wanting one ever since she saw her cousin Ben had one at his birthday party. I figured that wasn't too hard of a request to fulfill, so we did and had a Dora pinata. Her friend Travis ended up knocking Dora's head off, which I'm not sure was fun or frightening:) We had a "Tacho Bar" - a nacho/taco bar. We had friends, fun, face painting, and an adorable "almost" 3-year-old.

Here are a few pictures. Unfortunately, I didn't take many from her fiesta (aka Dora) birthday party cause it was kind of chaotic, but here are a few.

Isabel helping to make her cake the night before the party

Our awesome, incredibly artistic friend, Jesse, did face painting for the kids at the party

Here's Boots from DoraI love all the girls watching intently Isabel opening her presentsIsabel received 3 tutus, and loves them all. What girly girl wouldn't? Ana got in on the tutu action too.Isabel received this wand and LOVES it because she pretends to be Princess Pea from the PBS show Super Readers, "Wands Up."Thought these I-S-A-B-E-L candles were too cuteOf course, we couldn't celebrate a birthday properly without donuts for breakfast. I must have been out this morning cause Lee went to the store, bought these, all before I was even up this morning.Here's my 3-year-old getting her groove on. She's dancing to music and watching her reflection in the TV, with her tutu on of course.:)

One Happy Girl

She is seriously the happiest little girl alive!!! I just want to kiss and pinch those little cheeks all day long:)

1 year ago

It's seems hard to believe one year ago today I was sitting in church and got a text message from Lee that said, "I fell and I'm hurt." Little did I know how far Lee fell or how God had truly spared his life, how he only broke his elbow when it could have been his neck, back, pretty much anything else. Still today we feel SO blessed by our church family, and all those that poured out their love to us during that time. Looking back I could list all the ways God helped us through that journey, but I probably would go on and on. Okay, I'll just tell one "way." Lee's surgery was supposed to be out-patient. He would have the surgery and would be able to go home. Well, some other surgeries came up before Lee's and so we had to wait. He didn't end up having it until the evening. Because of the late hour and just how Lee was feeling the Dr. felt it was necessary to keep him over night. Although I tried to bravely agree with the Dr. that was the best thing to do, I was devastated inside. I hate sleeping alone, not to mention I had a 3 week old baby I figured I would be up several times that night. I was so exhausted, emotionally and mentally. I left the hospital and went home. I broke down in tears when I got home, assured my friend who had been taking care of Isabel that I would be ok and got ready for bed. That night my 3 week old slept for 6 hours straight. I slept too. I felt so refreshed. It was really the best thing for all of us. I know so many were praying for us. Like I said I could tell so many stories like this. We are forever grateful and thankful that we have someone greater to put our hope in, Jesus Christ.

So what is the update on Lee and his elbow (cause some have asked)? Well, it's fully functional, for the most part. He won't ever be able to fully straighten or extend it, at least in this life. Some said after a year's time he wouldn't even notice that he broke it, but he does. He still has some pain and certain activities (like swimming) seem to bother it more, but all in all we can't complain.

In other news...like many other families we know, we made it over to the fair again this year. Again, it was full of fun. Last year it was the day after we went to the fair that Lee fell, so I told him no climbing latters this year after we go. I don't know why, but I was surprised we ran into several people we know. It was fun to talk and enjoy the fair fun together.

This was Isabel's favorite ride - The Banana Slide

Isabel and a co-workers little girl we ran into while thereAna wishing she was just a bit bigger to go on the ridesThe Ferris Wheel. From a distance it looks like it goes really fast, but when you are on it, it's not that bad.The girls enjoyed climbing all over the different tractors

She's done it again

Who's she? Lauren Bryson. She is an amazing photographer who always seems to capture every little quirk of our little girls. We had her take Ana's 1-year-old pictures a few weeks ago. Here are some (we really love them all) of our favorites: