The Lavinder Family: Happy First and Third Birthdays!

What a long month it has been already. We had family come in for Nolan and Felicity's birthdays and what a fun time we had. Thank you Granny, Great Grandma, Aunt Karen and Uncle James, Nena and Tutu, Auntie Sarah and Selia, Uncle Elliot, and Aunt Marsha! We really enjoyed having you all here to help us celebrate! We threw a party while they were all here as well. 39 adults and 20 kids (give or take a few). I don't know about everyone else but the four of us had a blast and loved every minute! I could not have done it without the very generous help of our family members either...little did they know they came to work ;) Daniel's sister, Auntie Sarah to the kiddos, made all the sweets and cakes! What an awesome job she did too! I loved both cakes so much! They were perfect! Thank you Auntie Sarah!

Felicity turn 1 on the 15th and Nolan turned 3 on the 17th.

I am still trying to wrap my brain around this.

My babies are growing up...I even teared up about it, then Daniel promptly made fun of me :) which I am sure some of you will as well. What a whirlwind of a year when you have two children. I feel like it slipped through my fingers so quickly and I didn't even realize it.

The most amazing thing to me is the love, pure love that Nolan and Felicity share for each other. To see them together is wonderful. He protects her already and she thinks he hung the moon and the stars. He can make her laugh like no one else can and he never wants her to be left out. Always wanting to "go wake sissy up." That doesn't fly well with mama sometimes ha.

Thank you Lord for the blessings of our two children. I pray that we continue to foster a loving relationship between the two of them and any future children that you bring into our home.

Now for some pictures!

Felicity's cake.

Nolan's Curious George Book cake.

Nolan's friend Ben playing.

Nolan taking a drink break.

Our neighbors Gary and Carla greeting the birthday girl.

The sweets table.

Kid's table. Plates and hats made to looks the the Man with the Yellow Hat's hat.

Granny and Aunt Marsha shredding the chicken and pork, they were pros at it!

Nolan playing with "ba-la-loons."

My sweet Felicity.

Nolan checking out the bouncy house...thank you Coast Guard MWR for our $60 entertainment!

Felicity and her mama.

Chocolate, white chocolate, and peanut butter monkeys. Auntie Sarah outdid herself!

Daniel cooking rice outside.

Enjoying the bouncy house.

Lots of people arriving.

Lovely work friends!

Notice all the men's eyes are facing in one direction...Saints happened to be playing during the party. Football, football, football.

Felicity and her Nena.

Banana Split bar!

Sweet smiling girl!

Church friends came as well.

The taco/burrito bar.

Wrangling the 1 year old.

Nolan had an absolute blast at his party! He didn't even have a nap that day and was in a good mood and raring to go until about 10:00pm when we finally made him go to bed.