Love Grows Best

This is definitely one way of looking at it!  I need this hanging in my home where I can be reminded lovingly every.single.moment.of.every.single.day how much we have to be grateful for.  Every detail in our lives is orchestrated by a good God, a God who delights in delighting us.  Even my tiny home is a blessing.  There are days (especially recently) that even my four year old missy is frustrated with the lack of space in our 500 square foot apartment.  When daddy is sitting at the table, we have to ask him to move his chair to get past him into the kitchen.  Missy regularly stubs her toes on chairs and toys because there is simply no room to move around without doing so.  Little brother gets two toys out and the house looks like a disaster.  Couple that with the fact that my dining room table is also our office and well, you get the picture.  It is certainly a challenge for this obsessive compulsive organizer and cleaner.  God is stretching me.  Stretching us.  And growing the desire to someday (loose term!), someday move onto something a bit bigger.  

That said, on to the Missy's 5th birthday party, enjoyed one week early (which made no sense at all to her, poor child.  I grew weary to trying to explain that she would not actually turn 5 until this week and we left it at the fact that she was already five!).  We went really simple and small this year, but she was absolutely thrilled.  Never fails to amaze me how easy kids are to please when they feel loved and accepted and celebrated!

The Cake Project

The mixing

Freezing three layers of cake and two layers of strawberry ice cream.

Silly birthday girl watching mommy spread butter cream frosting over the frozen cake.

She wanted to do the decorating on top!

The finished project, minus the candle!  The girl was pleased as punch and I was pleased as well.  Now to see how it tastes!

Chloe is into pretending she can read the Kirsten American Girl book and she wanted it on the table as part of the decoration!

One of the goodies in our gift bag to her.

She finally got the roller blades she has been wanting...from her Avo Rosa and Avo Jorge!

Thinking that maybe she has bitten off more than she can actually chew with the roller blades.  She quickly grew frustrated when she figured out she would not just roll away gracefully like the big girls she watches in the condo.  Deep sigh.  She is SO my daughter.  She has a long row to hoe in front of her, I am afraid!  It did not take long before she was crying and begging to "take them off of me, please!"

I did not get a picture of her bed covered in balloons but she woke up to 30 balloons in her bed.  She was thrilled and little brother kept saying, "Wow, wow, wow!"

Putting make up on Avo Rosa.

This was another little goody in her gift bag and she literally spent the entire afternoon putting make up on anyone that would allow her.  She was perfectly intense and perfectly content!

And this is our boy child: he loves all things motercycle and spent hours playing with Tio Binho's helmet.

She received a potted flower from Tio Wellington.  Here he is explaining why he gave her a flower: to learn to take care of something carefully so it won't die!

Even Chloe got her make up done...by her grandpa.  I thought this was precious! 

Sweet Rayssa (Victor's girlfriend) was such a sport about letting Chloe do her make up!

Grandpa Jorge and Isaac Jorge!

Daddy, Grandpa and Baby Isaac

Grandpa, Son and two grandsons!

Can't you see why we are all a little crazy about this darling baby boy?!!!

Dessert table: Lemon Tart, Birthday Cake and Brigadeiro candies!

Not sure who is enjoying these loves the most!

Our Five Year Old!

Poor Tia Tati was so tired and fell asleep.  Noah is in love with her and would not leave her alone.

Cuddles with Tia Tati

Noah at the end of the day with his crib full of sissy's balloons!

It was a delicious day.  We so enjoyed our guests.  Daddy's pork ribs were fantastic.  The cake was a success though I thought it turned out rather dry.  Will have to work with the next ice cream cake project, but all in all, I was pleased.  The little girl child was so pleased with her lunch and cake and guests and gifts.  She was quite loved on and blessed and so it was a success!

Have a great weekend you all!

Jama