This post documents your last day of being 7.

Jesus having a very special dinner with his friends before He went away – to remind them not to be afraid, and to show them a very special way to stay connected.

The Lord\'s Supper – Questions we have for Jesus

The Lord\'s Supper – I want to stay with you

The Lord\'s Supper – Why I\'ve called you to dinner tonight…

I know we’re a week early, but I believe in Birthday Months – It’s so easy and fun to celebrate you!!

You really wanted to have a special time where you could introduce your “Bestie” from Cobblestone to your “Bestie” from Council Rock, so tonight we had a very special night with Siobhan and Halle.

We went to the place you have been begging to go since we took you a year ago, and the server surprised you with chocolate lava cake for your birthday!! So we got all fancy and went! SO MUCH FUN!! You girls were so grown up – you tried new foods, you used your napkins, you spoke quietly (most of the time) – – and you also skipped to and from the bathroom (that you visited 3 times), danced in the booth to fun songs, and “kid-i-fied” the chocolate cake before wearing it all over your faces for a cheesy picture. Almost 8 is the PERFECT AGE!! I’m so so so SO glad you’re not growing up too fast!!

After the restaurant, you hot tubbed, painted, and we ended the night with a new story I bought you for your birthday:

The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills –

“People only need people, and nothing else”

– Papa in The Rag Coat

You have wonderful people!!

Invitations – done.

Love it!!

Love being your Mom!!

In no particular order:
Siobhan
Eva
Emily
Lindsey
Delilah
Halle
Samantha
Anna

Some pottery painting. Some icre cream cake. All good!

Random Fun Pictures:

Taken this week at your February Break Sewing Class!! Too much FUN!! You have been taking sewing weekly at the “Felt Queen’s” house for over a year now. You made all your Christmas presents there this year – you made me homemade fingerless gloves (LOVE) and a felt bell keychain so I always know where my keys are. 🙂

The focus of this semester’s regular sewing class is Sewing a Book. WAY COOL!!!

Registered for your passport today…

The very nice woman who worked also “sealed” your signature for you as a keepsake. She let you do the sealing by pulling the arm 🙂

Hey there Sweetheart –

Today ends February Break 2013.

We kicked off the week with a super fun family night on Sunday. We made a couple new recipes and a fire, we watched a movie (Hotel Transylvania) and thoroughly enjoyed each other as a family!! We made a salmon farfalle dish for you and Dan and a chick pea Indian dish for Madeline.

Monday you, Daddy Jim and I headed down to Letchworth State Park for some winter camping in a cabin called “Caroline’s Cottage.” In the middle of a state park with no tv and no other humans, armed with easels, paint, a 300-piece puppy puzzle, and some yummy ingredients.

Highlights of our fun adventure at Letchworth:

Painting together on easels in the kitchen of the cabin – a cat, “Baby Maya,” a girl, a climbing tree and 2 abstract pictures
Hikes in the snowy gorge with your tiny puppy.dog, Jojo
Sliding down a big hill on your bum followed closely by Daddy Jim
Building a fire that was too snowy to light
A marshmallow stick that holds 7 marshmallows with a great backup plan where you microwaved 7 marshmallows at the same time without us knowing (while we were trying to light the fire)
This 300-piece puzzle that had FAAARRRRR too many plain white and plain yellow pieces
Chocolate covered straw-la-berries!

About an hour after we got home you had a playdate with Halle. Thursday, you had your last playdate with Kate before she left working with you to give birth to Will. She is due in about 3 weeks! 🙂

Thursday and today (Friday) you had “Project FUN-way” with the “Felt Queen,” Miss Christina, your sewing teacher (and about 10 other young people your age.)

Tonight you’re at Daddy’s with Uncle Jim and Auntie Judi. Tomorrow morning we are going to meet to apply for you passport (we’re headed to Montreal with Uncle Mark and family for April break).

What an adventurous life you live!!!
I love life with you!!
Mama

And then life happens… Seriously.

Highlights since I last wrote:
You and I spent a week in Seattle with Amy (whose ankle was named “Frankenfoot”) and Lizzie. Hakon was there too, but we didn’t see him too much.
You have been ROCKING reading and spelling.
Last Saturday you decided you were going to hand make individually-designed Valentine’s for all 25 friends/teachers in your class. Wow! Such a loving gift
And here’s a picture of you with your sweet Jojo – you really adore him.

Oh, and p.s. Last night you decided you were going to name your son, if you had one, “Bob.”
pause.
“Bob or Joe.”
pause
“Maybe Billy Bob Joe.”
We both cracked up laughing so hard!!!!!

And you bumped into SO MANY of your friends! 🙂

You are such a rock star!!

Today at JCC you learned how to “finger knit” as a “Calming Craft.” LOL

You tried to teach Daddy Jim – you thought he could use some calming. He couldn’t figure it out.
You tried to teach me. I, too, because frustrated soon and shifted to the puzzle we were working on. You kept knitting – and before you knew it, you knitted your VERY FIRST SCARF – for Halle. And you could NOT have been more proud of yourself – each step of the way and especially when you were done!!

Check it out!!

Way to persist, Girlfriend!!