Birthday Weekend




Our daughter Papaya turned 13 this weekend. 


(For those of you keeping track at home, that means we now have THREE teenagers under one roof. And come August we'll have FOUR--because our son Jr. turns 13 then.)


I kinda crack up every now and then--when I realize that we have SIX kids. (That's kinda a big number, no?)


And when we add that they all came to us through the gift/miracle of adoption, I'm floored.


I love our kids' birthdays because they remind me of how incredible it is that our lives have some together they way they have. 


I'm so grateful. 


It's not a perfect life, but we're going to love every minute of it.


Blam.



Papaya celebrated her bday at the Olympic Oval in SLC, ice skating.

Oh, to be 13 again?
(Can I just say, thank goodness SKINNY JEANS weren't in style when I was 13?)


Jr., LuLu and ZuZu skated, too.

More skating (and some falling).

Jr. brought his good friend (Our neighbor, whom we plan to adopt if his mom will let us. LOL!)

Jr. and our neighbor. (*Great hair, no?)


LuLu.

ZuZu.


A close call ... but no fall.


Papaya and friends ... thank goodness for the rails.

Papaya.

Bam, our oldest daughter, and neighbor.
(Would be nice if I was a phototgrapher--maybe include some faces?)


Getting skates laced up.

Pizza after ice skating.

Opening presents ON HER BDAY morning.
(No more Disney Princess perfume. Dangit.)


I had to include these. Our family loves Rango (movie) and we ALWAYS say,
"Are ya missin' ya mama's mangoes" from the movie. So, of course,
we had to get some mangoes for Papaya's bday celebration.

****

PS:

Here are a few pictures from the Dr. Seuss assembly I attended last week. It was really fun--thank you Lincoln Elementary!

Speaking to small people is fun! 

(And they had great questions, wow. 
My favorite, "Why did you want to be on Survivor?" I always answer in a way I know their parents will appreciate, "FOR THE MONEY." LOL.)


(Psst: It def wasn't for the money. If it was, I would have been burning socks out there. Ha.)



PS: You're gonna see, I wear one of 3 different outfits to speak. Ha ha ha.
It's Survivor thing: I came home so thankful for even ONE clean dress.
(I really do THINK before I spend money on new clothes now. Needs vs. Wants.)

Me and The Cat.
(I like how I'm smiling ... but The Cat isn't. Ha!)

Our kids came and helped with audio/visual clips.
(You can tell they've heard this presentation ... ha ha ha. They keep me humble.)
(Kinda. LOL!)



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