Opening gifts.  We had quite the crowd in our living room!

Andrew made it a special point that I take him shopping for Audriana’s birthday.  It was so important to this little four-year-old that he get his sister a birthday gift, one that he picked out “all by my own-self”  as he puts it, and he reminded me everyday for about a week.  So I took him up to our local Kohl’s and let him browse the jewelry section until he found just the right piece of jewelry for her.  He picked out a necklace.  You cannot see it too well in this photo, but it has a bright blue chain (yes, blue!) with hot pink metal hearts on the sides and one big multi-color metal heart in the center.  It’s quite the piece, let me tell you.  But he was so proud of it and couldn’t wait to give it to her.  And Audriana loved it, and she wore it to school the next day, and the next, and the next.  It made Andrew so happy, bless his BIG giving heart!

Group shots in our backyard and in our kitchen — Audriana surrounded by all her best friends, some of whom she’s known since the first grade.  These photos make my heart smile