Sarah's 6th Birthday

 Seeing that I am about ten days out from the birth of this newest baby, I decided it was high time that I blog Sarah's 6th birthday.  Sarah took ballet for the first time this year and this is her dressed in a beautiful princess dress for the end-of-year recital.  Our incredible long-waisted girl!

 Mariana spent most of the recital convinced that she was also a ballerina, so it wasn't long before she inserted herself into the photos.

 Sarah and Mariana with Sarah's best friend Ella.  Of course, Mariana also believes Ella to be her best friend and regularly talks to her on her calculator/phone.

 And, finally, the actual birthday.  With the arrival of my parents in town, birthdays now include real birthday things like noisemakers, pinatas and decent cakes.  Note the older brother dutifully working on school in the background.

 Despite it being a chilly 15 degrees the two girls insisted that they carry out their original birthday plans to wear their swimsuits while being sprayed by Isaac with a water gun.  I finally gave in, but somehow didn't get photos.

 Mariana eyeing up the cake.

 There's nothing like being bounced on the trampoline by an older and significantly heavier sibling.

 The iconic tilted-cake post.

 Big smile.

 More cake, more little girls.

 Sarah's godparents also stopped in on their motorbikes.  Isaac had been promised a ride on Sarah's godfather's motorbike and he finally got his wish on Sarah's birthday.  How I wish the short clip of the breaking of the pinata would play on the blog.  I've never heard such squeals of delight as the candy rained down from on high.  Sarah's day was a happy and joyful one matching a very happy and joyful little girl.  We love her to the moon and back and wish her many, many more happy years.

Isaac's First Communion

We have a real shortage of photos of Isaac's First Communion.  The reason, rather simple, is that Dave and organised the event which left Mariana in the hands of Hannah, the other boys on the altar and thus no one with a camera in hand.  We did, however, hire a professional photographer, so we have beautiful photos of Isaac's special day.  (http://twotreesphotography.zenfolio.com/)  As you can see, it was hot.  At 30 weeks pregnant, I was definitely feeling the heat and was very glad of my makeshift fan.

Dave managed to catch a few shots of the entire class while the photographer organised them into some sort of gr. 2 order.  Lots of tall girls!  Isaac opted to wear a country club look.  Actually, he is our fourth boy to wear this outfit.  The pants, however, have been updated due to a small tear in the knee after Ben's First Communion.  Isaac is most definitely our smallest boy and the jacket's sleeves had to be rolled up.

Here he is with his wonderful godparents.

Tall girls here as well!  I've said it before, but I will say it again, we base our choice of godparents on how much our children look like their family; he fits in better with this blond crew than he does with ours.

Our very gracious priest insisted on honouring Dave and me for having taught and organised First Communion this year.  Dave received a book and I was given this beautiful bouquet of roses.  His words were perhaps the greatest gift as he spoke of our dedication to faith and family, both requiring much sacrifice.  For a moment, the exhaustion of the day was rolled away and I was gifted with a glimpse of how God sees our marriage and family life.