Aulora's 7th Birthday

On Aulora's 7th birthday I took the younger three to a children's museum in 

TheWoodlands and then to a splash pad park. Gran went with us too! For dinner we made lasagna at home and cousin Natalia joined us. Happy Birthday, Aulora! 

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!!!

John David's 12th Birthday - A Special Note from Dodie and GranMamma

"We're scratching our heads too, trying to wrap our minds around how quickly the last 12 years have passed. Today, 12 years ago, we welcomed John David Sullivan, our most favorite first grandchild, king of all Lego lords, mastermind of Zelda, leader of not only the neighborhood posse (yes, we actually watched him lead the kids in a parade down the sidewalks in South Bend), but leader of the Sulliv

an monkeys - his sisters and brother. He has a great mind and a cute and quirky personality. We're proud of his effort in BQ; he's memorized 12 chapters of Matthew to date and can quote them all in about 30 minutes! We love him dearly and look forward to see how God uses all his giftings. Proudly signed, his GranMama and Dodie."

(Taken from Facebook)

John David's 12th Birthday

I only captured a few pictures from this big guy's special day. His birthday fell on the same weekend as a big Bible Quiz trip and then church and a huge Fall Festival. He celebrated with friends the weekend before, but since he didn't want me to come along, ("I just want it to be guy time.") I have no pictures from their testosterone filled evening!

John took John David and two of his friends (Ryan and Reid) to play laser tag and eat ice cream. It was super easy to plan and afterwards John David told me it was the best birthday party ever! Sweet. Let's put it on the calendar for next year and do it all again!

The official ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins that he wanted.
We ate this after coming home from the Fall Festival.

We're running out of room for candles.
No more birthdays!!!

The birthday spanking tradition lives on!

John's Dad, D, got in on the action too.

Even I got to get in a good one to grow on. =)

We love you so much, John David. 

You made us a mommy and daddy all those years ago. 

Thanks for giving us so many good stories we'll be able to tell 

one day while we're rocking away in our rockers. 

You are turning out to be one fine young man, and even though we'd like to take all the credit, we thank Jesus for you. What an awesome responsibility to raise a leader in the making! 

YOU are amazing. What other 12 year old loves his brothers and sisters as much as you do? What other boy spends a couple hours a day memorizing and studying God's Word? You can quote 14 chapters from the book of Matthew now. Wow! 

We love to watch you sword fight and wrestle, and I'm confident that eventually you'll have all the ninja skills you ever wanted. You are (still) a Lego master. We went to Lego Land in Dallas a few days ago and the bitterness of growing up was realized when you were denied go karts and play area. We TOLD you not to grow up. You should have listened to us!

You devour (hey, it's a vocab word!) history books and currently The Hobbit as well.  Nothing makes you happy like a good back scratch or head scratch, except maybe Starbucks. Grande Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino with chocolate sauce and whipped cream on top to be exact. 

YOU ARE LOVED!

Aulora's 6th Birthday

We celebrated at home and then later at a Bounce House place in town. 

Dinner was spaghetti - Boo's favorite!

A yummy cake made by Gran

Mommy with the girls and cousin Natalia

Aulora hugs Holly,  Uncle Zach's girlfriend. 

She scored big points when she gave Aulora the new Barbie movie!

Aunt Sanja, Uncle Danny, and Natalia gave Aulora an Easy-Bake Oven kit. Oh boy, the time for gift revenge is coming soon, Sanja. Make-up kit? Drum set? Slime machine? I can't decide yet. =)

Birthday spankings!

We had a Lalaloopsy birthday party. Even Aulora's dress was handmade by a lady on Etsy. 

Thank you, Gran for buying it for her!

Even D and Daddy got in on the bouncing!

Lots of yummy, beautiful cupcakes that were made by Gran. 

Faces were red after all that jumping.

This is the face she makes when she gets something like candy. 

It means, "It's mine! Don't even try to get it!" =)

Some close family friends even make her a Lalaloopsy story book for her. So sweet!

Julia and Aulora. Sweet sisters!

Gran and the birthday girl

D and the birthday girl

Happy Birthday, Boo!