Happy Elevensies!

As of 2:35 PM today, I've been a mother for eleven years.  Well... some months before that to be precise, but that's another story.  Today was all about Annemarie, my tall, strong, kind, maternal, hilarious tween.  Though you'd think, for the effort involved, moms should get something for the day too, you know?  When I'm not planning parties for kids later in life, I think I'm going to get a massage on each of my "labor days."  Good idea, huh? :) (Incidentally, if you want a TMI and--I'm told--hilarious description of my first birth experience, scroll back in the posts to "Christmas letter 2002" which tells all about our first June 5th. :D)

This is the picture my three year-old drew of me today, which aptly captures my current strung-out feeling from a few days of kid's parties.  

Though I am depicted with 6 or 7 fingers a hand, I'm not as up to typing right now as usual.  The pistachio (yes pistachio) coffee, followed by a maple french toast flavored coffee (!) didn't work this morning.  So I'm going to let the pictures do most of the talking tonight.  

This was the first party, last Sunday.  It involved sprinklers, hoses, and water guns, per my eldest's request.

The party then moved damply indoors for entertainment...

"No cake till you get off the table."

That was just the school friend edition.  Today I kept her home from school (gasp), got babysitting for the little ones, and had Annemarie and Mom time for hours.

And first time at Dave and Busters.  :)  (She'd won a gift card for it some weeks ago.)

Then got our little friends back to help with last minute shopping.

Nana helped make posters.

And a favorite childhood friend made the fun complete.

They updated their childhood pics too.  :)

Happy Birthday, Annemarie.  I'm so proud and grateful to be your mom.  Thanks for giving me the job. :)

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, 

so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  Ephesians 2:10