Angry Sensei

The kids love to play "Angry Sensei" with Daddy. It's a game he made up and they beg to play it every night at bedtime. 

Julia's 9th Birthday Party

The Cake

Licking the icing off the candles and decorations

We served lasagna, salad, and breadsticks - Julia's favorite!

Lots of games for "The Sock Monkey Olympics"!

Yum yum! Gran made the food!

Another game - using spaghetti, see how many penne noodles you can get in your cup before time runs out!

Good thing they were all friends - we had to share chairs!

There were friends from Classical Conversations

and friends from church too.

Gran had the job of cutting the cake. Can you tell?

I was there! I was there! =)

Joshua is a boy, but we still let him come.

There were presents galore! Natalia made Julia smile with all of this Littlest Pet Shop stuff!

Gabby gave Julia a really neat geode! 

A gift card to Justice never hurts

Lots of fun things, including a picture album

This was the Sock Monkey Olympics board. After each game the winner's name was written in. Then all the winners competed in the final challenge - Banana Chop. Halie won!

These were the party favors. I found the buckets at Target and then hot glued a sock monkey on the lid. All that was left was to fill them with candy. We stacked them all up on the entry way table.

Julia, you are so beautiful! I still can't believe I get to raise my own sweet girl! Every day you are becoming more thoughtful and helpful, creative and funny. You are smart and sweet, cuddly and lovable. Daddy and I adore you! I love you forever. I like you for always. As long as I'm living, my Julia you'll be!!!

My Only Thanksgiving Pictures

Cousin Natalia, Joshua, Aulora, and Julia all acting silly

Does Joshua ever NOT act silly? No, not really. =)

All the kids minus John David, who feels too old to hang with the kid crowd.