Elliot's 7th Birthday

Hi friends,
I hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend and that you are happy.  Our family is still feeling energized and uplifted by the success of Elliot's birthday.  It was a nearly perfect day of sunshine, laughter and love. I say that it was nearly perfect only because our families are so spread out that grandmas, uncles, aunts and cousins were not able to be with us. If you are one of those family members reading this today, know that you are loved and missed.   

It absolutely does not seem possible to me that Elliot is now a seven year old boy.  But days turned into weeks, weeks into months and months into years.  And through all of those moments, our love for him keeps growing.  Just like it does for Emily. 

I'm not sure if Richard will read this.  In any case I want to say publicly that this day would not have been such a blast without his ingenuity and vision.  I'm sure I never would have thought to bring bags of soil and gems from the mine home to share with the children.  Or have the skills needed to construct a sluice and a concession stand.    After the last guest said goodbye, he said "I wouldn't have been able to do this without you, Jenny.  On my own I think of some good ideas, but when we work together on something, the results are fantastic."

Which made me feel great.  And I am extremely happy to be married to someone who listens to my ideas and helps them to grow into a reality.

Yet this event would not have been a success without our friends and neighbors who arrived with eager excitement and happy faces.  

Emily was our resident artist, generously painting some faces more than once!

Elliot with his friend Ryan.  Both boys share the same birthday.

 

Our friend Cae takes a turn at the concession stand.  The children called it the "confession stand"

Gems and crystals to take home!

Elliot only blew out half of his candles, then let Ryan blow out the rest.