4 & 7

I'm sure you've noticed I've been a bit behind on my blogging lately.  In the midst of all the busyness I've left out a few big events from the last couple of months.  Two of the biggest events have been the kids' birthdays. 
In September, Gabe turned 4!!  We decided not to do big parties for the kids this year.  Instead we told them each they could choose a friend and we'd go do something special.  Our sweet little Gabe looked at me with bright eyes upon hearing this news and said, "Mommy, I know who I want to bring to my birthday!!!"  When I asked him who that might be, he proceeded to name each and every one of his cousins - there are 6 of them!!!  I just love that boy!!!!!  So, in an effort to make his birthday everything he hoped it would be and to keep the cost low, we invited the whole family to join us for dinner at Chuck E. Cheese.  All of the kids had a great time playing and eating pizza and between all of us we had enough tickets for each of the kids to get a prize!  Gabe was thrilled that all of his friends were able to make it to his birthday celebration!!!

In November, Isabel turned 7!  I can hardly believe that I have a 7 year old!  That really makes me feel old.  Isabel's request was to take two of her best friends from Kindergarten to a movie and to dinner and the one thing she wanted more than anything else was an American Girl doll.  For some reason we've been receiving the catalog lately and she had gone through it and circled the things that she wanted.  When I was a little girl I wanted an American Girl doll and I really wanted to be able to get one for Isabel, but those suckers are expensive and I didn't want that to be the only thing she received for Christmas.  About 2 weeks before her birthday, we got another catalog that advertised free shipping and I began to formulate a brilliant idea.  I called all the grandparents and Uncle Druh and Auntie Candice and asked if they'd all want to go in on a doll for Isabel.  Everyone thought that sounded like a great idea so I placed an order and Josefina arrived a week later!!!!!  We invited everyone over on Isabel's actual birthday for cake and ice cream and to watch her open our gift.  She was completely thrilled!  There was A LOT of high-pitched squealing and Josefina has become part of our famly since that day!!  The weekend after her birthday, Isabel invited two friends to come with us to a movie and to dinner.  The kids had a great time and I think this will go down in history as one of Isabel's best birthdays!!!