Party Time!

As you may have often noticed, I tend to refer to Kate and Olivia as my two monkeys. Just hang around them for a day and you'll figure out why: they climb, they play and they get into things. : ) I was super surprised but quite please when I took them into pick out their own cake and they wanted a monkey cake. To be more specific, Kate wanted a blue monkey and Olivia a green. And that is what they got.

My two happy girls.

The "kids" table

Then we of course had to have a good game of "pin the tail on the donkey"

Kate ready to go

Ava helps guide Olivia

Then it was time for presents. When I uploaded pictures, I just had to laugh at this one. It sums up Ava a bit as well . .. most days I am convinced she thinks she is as much a mother to Kate and Olivia as I am. : )

Olivia showing off her new glasses from Grandma Great

Time for cake - singing "happy birthday!"

Blow out the candles

A happy girl sneaking sips of Grandpa's pop

Kate and Olivia hanging out with Uncle David and Aunt Tara

Daddy, Ava and Aunt Callie looking at Aunt Callie's Zambia pictures!

Then what's any good party without lots of goofing around. : )

please don't bother Kate

when she's busy working

one more reason why daddy is more fun

cause mommy can't do this. : )

My babies turned 3!!

On Kate and Olivia's birthday, Ryan and I actually spent the day at a retreat with our local church. It was a great day but I'll admit that this momma was a little sad to not share most of the day with my birthday girls. Kate and Olivia didn't mind one bit though - a birthday AND grandpa and grandma's sounded like quite the fun duo. We took the girls up the night before and Grandpa and Grandma did a great job documenting the day for us.

Happy Birthday!

heading down for a birthday surprise from mom and dad

Opening their cards and present

Ava helping Olivia "read" her card

Grandma reading Kate her card

I love that Olivia still looks half awake in this shot : )

Cards, sugary cereal and a balloon = a happy girl.

The fun continued with lunch at McDonald's

Grandpa and Grandma keep piggy banks (or should I say "princess banks") at their house for the girls. This day was the first day they took them to the store to spend their money however they wanted. The selected "treasures."

Going up to pay

Ava's turn

Then Kate

Then Olivia!

The happy customers

Then it was on to the library for more than few puppet shows

When the girls came back, we went out for a quiet family dinner of pizza and presents.

Daddy and Kate

Mommy and Olivia

My birthday girls

Olivia shows off her new sandals and dress

Kate is happy about hers

Then it was home to snuggle in our pj's and watch the latest favorite: Dolphin Tale!!

Ava enjoying the fun

Still seems so unreal that my babies are 3. I feel like it was yesterday I was stumbling through life in a sleep depleted daze. : ) These days they still keep me on my toes but I couldn't imagine life without these two monkeys. They are full of silly, giggles, fun and mischief. Happy 3rd birthday my girls!

February Numbers

You know you're really behind when you're posting February numbers in April. : ) Regardless, February was a big month as we moved past some numbers we'd been stuck in for a while - the 80's and 100's. We are so thankful that it seems that many of the big hurdles we were facing in the Ethiopia program seems to smoothing out and cases are being processed and children are coming home. We keep trusting God to keep writing the details of our story.

Until then, we're excited to share our numbers from February!

Boy Number: 75

Girl Number: 97

sisters!

Our camera went missing about a month ago and Ryan's parents sweetly shared their camera for a bit with the twins birthday, a trip to florida and lots going on. I may have taken a couple photos off their camera of the girls that I loved from when the girls were at their place back in february.

Too bad they don't have any fun at grandpa and grandma's . . . .

We interrupt this silence . . .

I'm still feeling guilty that I couldn't find a way to post on the twin's 3rd birthday. : )

Lots of catch up to eventually come.

Life with 3 girls has been busy.

Minus this small fact that we're in the process of moving.

In 6 weeks we've had 39 showings . . .still praying for the right offer and trusting.

Until then, hopefully I'll start to catch up little by little.

Thanks for being patient!