Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Today is Elizabeth's second birthday. We went to the Sunflower Chinese restaurant in honor of the occasion. Thursday we will have cake with friends, and open...probably nothing. Fourth kids just don't need much of anything, since it's all here from the previous three. Even clothes have worked out great. She's been able to wear all of Amelia's things so far.

She's a real cutie pie these days, and is talking up a storm. My favorite new phrase is "I love you Mommy," and "I love you Daddy," said with no prompting from us. Sometimes we also get, "kiss," and she leans toward us for a smooch. She's been working her way toward typical two year old behavior for awhile now too, mostly where the other kids are concerned. She marks her boundaries with sound. When someone gets in her space and she thinks they're either going to take something or mess with her she scowls at them and says loudly, "No, Maya!" (No, Amelia), or "No, Shindin!" (Shannon). The bluff works on Amelia too, she always backs off. She hates it when I ask her to get something from Elizabeth she's not supposed to have because it will come with lots of noise. She usually tells me she can't do it because Elizabeth won't let her have it. Those last in line ones look out for themselves.

Here are a few pictures from the restaurant. Every single day I think about how blessed we are to have such a terrific, healthy, sweet, and perfect family. (Translate perfect loosely...they're perfect to us, anyway!)

The birthday girl! She just looks so grown up. This time last year she couldn't even walk.



Our new favorite pose for the camera. The cheesy grin.

Pictures with Mommy montage.

Disregard my weird face in this one. It's an unprompted snuggle on her part.







The gang.

Some of the gang being weird.

Love my bro!

Wow, look at how much they're growing! It's not like I don't see them everyday and get to measure the growth by how many new things they have to have each season...but still I'm amazed every time I see a new picture of them.

Tomorrow we welcome first session campers. The staff are terrific and it looks to be another great Strong Rock summer. Pray for everyone who will come through the front gates this summer. May they leave different, better folks, walking closer with Jesus, than when they got here. Glory to Him for it!

And Elizabeth- I love you very much, and am honored, priveleged, and very happy to be your mom.