Audra's Party

I had settled on not having a party for Audra's birthday this year.  I had convinced myself for so many reasons...

her erratic emotions
her frequent agitation
her aggressive behavior
her unpredictable sleep pattern

Clearly nine years old has been a rough year for sweet Audra.  And the Audra of today nowhere near resembles the eight year old Audra we knew. 

By springtime we had stopped taking her many places.  And school had become almost impossible for her to attend. 

Over the past year she has endured so.very.much in our desperate attempt to find answers and help her:

Multiple hospital stays for weeks at a time
Many trips to the OR
Even more outpatient procedures
Countless doctor visits and needle pokes

But she has overcome much, much more.  And for that she deserved to be celebrated.  Even if not in the typical birthday girl way.  So we had just a small gathering of close family and friends.  Not too much, so as not to overwhelm her.  But enough for her to hopefully feel special for a day.

These next three pictures show her pure joy and excitement while we sand Happy Birthday to her...

 

Piñata time !

 

The Minion piñata did not match the party theme/decorations.  And if you know me then you know that is a big 'ole party no-no in my book.  But earlier this week I had Audra at Walmart with me to pick up a few party things and she noticed the Minion piñata.  She started laughing--the genuine belly laugh type--and there was no way I could not get it!  So she held the piñata in her lap while I pushed her in the cart through the store and she continued to giggle so sweetly the entire time...it truly was contagious.  She brought a smile to the face of so many Walmart customers that day :)

{T-E-N}

Double Digits ??!!

How is it possible...

How did this day get here so fast,

like the blink of an eye.

 

Our sweet, beautiful, tiny princess is T-E-N !!

 

I set the table up before she came home from school...

 

And when she walked in and saw the balloons, and cake and presents...

oh my was she excited !!

 

And I knew that she knew it was HER special day.

And that was all that I wanted :)

{plus a cute picture or two of the birthday girl}

I hope her little heart made a wish...

my wish will always be that all her wishes come true.

 

We have always told her that once she is double digits we won't be able to carry her anymore.

But now I'm thinking I won't be able to hold myself to that.

Her sweet self is just to hard to resist,

and besides she's super tiny and light as a feather.

Somehow she just always ends up in my arms.



 

Later that evening we took her to Dairy Queen for ice cream and feeding the ducks.

But there was only one lonely duck there...

or maybe he's one lucky duck since he got all of our bread !

 

 

Happy Birthday to my {tiny} big girl Audra,

who was born in my heart

and then stole it at first sight almost five years ago.



Walk of Love

This is our 4th year participating in the Brittany's Hope Walk of Love.

Their mission to help orphans around the world and the families who want to adopt them is so dear to our hearts.  

And not to mention they have the best goodie bags ever

{portable chargers, fidget spinners, ear buds, etc}

and the best entertainment for kids...

Carnival style games with elaborate prizes, face painting, and inflatables.

Tatum was so excited to ride a horse.

Last year Uncle Tim, Aunt Dawn, Charlotte and Whitney couldn't make it to the walk because they arrived home from China with Whitney late the night before.

 

This year, our three China beauties were there together :)

 

Me and my sweet girl

 

This year there was a different course for the walk, still on the grounds of the beautiful Ironstone Ranch, but a bit farther back, closer to the area of the new barn and manmade lake.

Just gorgeous !

 

Charlotte and her Daddy

The Fun Walk course was so peaceful and beautiful,

with lots of animals that you could get up close with...

After the walk we ate our lunch picnic style in the grass while we waiting for the raffle basket winners to be announced.

Tatum's sandwich was as big as her head !

 

And I took more pictures with the beautiful landscape in the background:

 

As usual...Aunt Kristy won a raffle basket.

I swear she wins EVERY time !

This time it was a Star Wars themed backpack set.

{better than the drum set she won last year I suppose!}

 

 Once the walk festivities were done we set off on another adventure...

to Corn Cob Acres

There were goats to feed...

and a barrel train to ride...

 

and a huge corn pit to play in !

 It's like a sandbox but full of corn,

which is very sensory appealing.

 

It was an unseasonably warm day,

not exactly what you want when you're at a Fall event.

So instead of hot cider to warm us up we enjoyed some snow cones to cool us down.