Therese Turns Seven (in Flaming Red Hair)

Therese reached seven years of age on Valentine's Day.

To celebrate the milestone, she sported a wild red wig on her head—an "Ariel" wig—and enjoyed gifts that were princess and fairy-themed through and through. Her fantastically bright cake even matched the fairy-fantasy theme, and Therese reports it was her "best birthday yet"!

Happy birthday, Sweet Therese Genevieve!

William's 12th Birthday

Happy twelfth birthday to Joe's Saturday morning helper and my consistent helper in all things botanical. (William weeds a mean garden. If you know the weeds at our house, you'll appreciate this.) 

William is just one year away from teen-hood and already becoming such a little man. We love you, William, and we are so proud of all your accomplishments!

Reaction upon opening the uber-cool airplane model from Aunt Cathie and Uncle Jeff.

Big gift: A longboard

Delicious "dirt cake" made by Kathleen and complete with worms and dump trucks.

Marguerite's 3rd Birthday

It is stunning to realize that it was just three years ago that we made the frantic trip to Georgia, through the aftermath of a blizzard, to pick up our sweet Marguerite Jane. While time does fly, it is hard to remember a time before MJ.

Miss Marguerite fills our lives with such joy. We pray for her birthmother each night and are forever grateful that she chose for Marguerite and Lucia the gift of life.

We love you, Marguerite! Happy birthday!

Kathleen is Fourteen!

The years keep on rolling by, and Kathleen has turned fourteen.

What a beautiful young lady she has become.

Our musician.

Our artist.

Our patient and helpful daughter.

Our poised and lovely young lady.

That lovely young lady also took hunter safety this year. With hunter safety under her belt, we decided it was time to get Kathleen a long-awaited gift: her own .22 for target shooting. Now that's a gift. (I think it goes without saying that there are no bullets in the gun in the photo below, and the gun and ammo are kept in separate locked safes, accessible only to the adults in the house.)

Kathleen made her own birthday cake this year.
It was supposed to a paisley-swirls sort of design, although Kathleen was fretting that it looked like fish! :)
We all thought it was very cute.

Our 14-year-old!

Kathleen and her best girlfriends. 

The next day, Kathleen opens her gifts. Including this "big one."