Happy 8th Birthday Big Girl!

When did this happened? Natalia is 8 years old! Hard to believe that she already is 8. Someone...please make time stop. It's going by way too fast.

Tuesday evening, the day before her birthday, Papi and Mami came to Beaumont to help Natalia celebrate. My parents offered to take her anywhere for dinner and she chose...take a guess...Chick-fil-A (like mother like daughter). Later, they went to Barnes & Noble.

The next day, Natalia was supposed to go with Daddy, before school, to play tennis (like they have been doing once a week for some time now) and then out for breakfast, but she was way too sleepy from the night before. So, Daddy cooked her a special breakfast and I made her some chocolate covered strawberries and cherries (her two favorite fruits).

Papi and Mami brought her McDonalds for lunch, per her request of course. Later, they picked Natalia and Carson up from school and they went straight to Chuck E. Cheese to continue celebrating. Will they ever get tired of Chuck E. Cheese? ~I'm really not sure...

Immediately after all that, we headed to Sartin's for some bbq crab! Natalia's favorite! After all you can eat crab...we ended Natalia's special day at Marble Slab!

O.K. so all that was good, but then Grannie and Papaw hosted a little family party at their house on Saturday night. We had hamburgers, fruit, chips, cookie cake, ice-cream and lots of toppings. The kids enjoyed the slip and slide and just spending time with their cousins Solomon and Tytus.

And finally, Natalia celebrated her 8th Birthday with her friends from her soccer team, school with her bff, Hannah! What fun time they all had. Every girl got the piece of their choice and painted it however they wanted.

Natalia & Hannah (BBF)

Oh yea, and this is a photo just to show you that yes...Natalia has a mom. I DO exist!

A Wonderful Mother's Day

What a much needed fun and relaxing day I had. Perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day. Woke up to Dave and the kids preparing breakfast. They made the most delicious pancakes I've ever had, scrambled eggs, chocolate covered strawberries and Natalia prepared my favorite cup of coffee.

Immediately after, the kids presented me with gifts. Natalia gave me some bath salt she made in her science class and Carson made me a paper flower arrangement along with a sweet card.

The night before Mother's Day, Natalia and Dave were plotting...

Come to find out, this is what they were talking about...

Aww, how thoughtful! My own homemade Kindle! Natalia was able to keep the secret, whereas Carson...well, let's just say he has to earn his way back into Daddy's circle of trust!

But, guess what!? Later that morning, before church, I found a real Kindle under my pillow. I couldn't believe it!!! In reality, this is my Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Birthday gift. Apparently, the kids didn't know about this surprise (you know, can't really keep a secret just yet). So, I asked them all to sit on the couch because I wanted to read to them from my "Kindle". I wish I would have taken a picture of Natalia's face when she saw the "real" Kindle for the first time. She could not believe that I actually had a "real" Kindle in my hands! She could not even talk. She was so surprised. Needless to say, I have not been able to use it yet. She got to download the very first book and read it all day long.

After church, we went to Papaw and Grannie's house for lunch and then we got to relax at home and at the bookstore before we went for a special dinner at Carrabba's!