Sophie's Birthday Party

Sophie's 6th birthday was last Friday. It took me a week to recover from the festivities to post some photos. Sophie requested a slumber party, but Paula negotiated a slumber evening and then proceeded to plan out a "pillow fight" pajama party. Paula sent out invitations in handcrafted pillowcases and 5PM on Friday 4/3/9 there arrived 20 girls to celebrate with Sophie.

As the girls arrived, they created sleep masks decorated with stickers and jewelry.

Soon after arrival, the pillow fights had started in the media room.

One of Sophie's favorite activities was spinning in the rocking chair. At its peak, 4 or 5 girls would sit in the chair while 2 or 3 spun them in dizzying circles.

Of course, Paula had plenty of food including pizza and ice cream sundaes complete with multiple options for decorations. Chants and singing filled the air most of the time around the table.

Finally after lots of running and screaching, pizza, pillow fights, sleep mask creation, ice cream sundae decoration, lots of running and screaching, chair spinning, singing, ball pit battles, glow in the dark bracelet swirling, and lots and lots of running and screaching, some of the girls settled in to watch Princess Diaries 2.

Spring Break 2009

Back before kids, John and I used to go skiing with a group of friends. Actually John and the group went for several years before he and I met, then he was stuck taking me along with him. As all of us started having kids, the ski trips went by the wayside. This year the majority of the group decided to try out the tradition again. So, we decided on Breckenridge and found this lovely place to stay...http://www.vrbo.com/969. There are 23 of us in one house including 12 children!

I was pretty excited about this trip until we took Sophie and Jason ice skating in early December. Neither of them enjoyed learning the ice skating and they didn't really like the cold either. So, after that event, I started coming up with ideas of what I could do to fill 5 days in the snow with children who didn't like cold. I brought travel games, books, art/craft supplies, and ingredients to make rice krispie treats.

I am happy to report that we have not had to depend on any of them. Even earlier today I got to make the rice krispie treats by myself. Here are some pictures of our week so far:

Walk back from the slopes to our castle (in the background)...
Sophie in ski school...
Allison taking her time getting to the sledding slope...

Sophie and daddy sledding ...
Kids sledding together...
Desert/bedtime snack (brownies, ice cream, rice krispie treats, grapes and blueberries ---it's vacation!!!)...

First Crush??

Sophie is a Daisy Girl Scout this year and this weekend started the annual cookie sales. Sophie's troop has decided to participate in the Project Troop to Troop program which is part of the Gift of Caring Community Service Project. In this program, the girls can ask potential customers if they would like to purchase cookies that will be donated to our military personnel both at home and abroad. Sophie, to my suprise, has taken quite an interest in this program and was very excited when the first person order a box for the Troops. It was later in the day when I finally found the root of her interest. Here is the conversation we had on the drive home:

Sophie: Mommy, do the cookies for the Troops REALLY go to the military people.

Me: Yes! Why?

Sophie: Do they go to the army people?

Me: Yes.

Sophie: Will they go to the people who are still training and learning?

Me: I think that they could....Why?

Sophie: Just wondering.
Sophie (gleefully trying to whisper to Jason): I think Yuri is going to get some of the cookies that I sell!!!

FYI: Yuri is a young man from our church. He graduated from high school last spring and entered training for the Army Reserves. He has always been very sweet to our little Sophie.

Great News!!!

Here is a picture of John on Christmas Eve. This was a week after his surgery to remove a tumor.Now, John had given me a SHORT list of questions to ask the surgeon when he talked with me after the surgery. When Dr. M. came out, the first things he said were, "John did great" and "It was benign!" I was so grateful and relieved that I forgot to ask any of John's questions.

Anyway, we went in this morning for the post-op follow-up and John finally got the opportunity to ask all of his questions. The tumor was indeed benign and of a variety that has less than a 10% chance of reoccurring. Dr. M. is sure that he got it all out. So, now John just has to do a bit of therapy to get full range of motion back in his arm and fingers.

I feel very thankful to and blessed by God for all his love and mercy. I am also thankful for all the support and prayers that we have received from our friends and family furing this time.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas....

We have started up the tradition that my mom had for my sister and I as children...new pajamas for Christmas.

So, now the kids are all in bed, only an hour later than usual, and it is time for me to go finish the last little bit of wrapping. Wishing everyone a blessed and merry Christmas!

Surgery Complete

This is John after the second hour-long delay to his surgery today. And he had a headache...but never fear, the drugs would soon be here!
This is John's arm post surgery.

The tumor was removed and found to be benign! Thank you for all your prayers!

It would be easier if it were me....

John is headed in for surgery this afternoon to remove a growth in his left arm. I am WAY more nervous about him going in for surgery than I have ever been for any of my surgeries. It's just outpatient surgery, so we should be home later today. Of course, John has never been under anesthesia and we do not know how he will react coming out of it. So, hopefully, the nursing staff won't be too eager to push him out the door afterwards.

Anyway, we are praying for a smooth surgery, quick recovery and favorable results from the tests.