It was a Sweet-Pea weekend...

It was quite a weekend for our little Sweet-Pea. She turned 8 back in July, but due to our move, she didn't get to celebrate with her friends until this weekend. She was beside herself with excitement all week. We not only got to celebrate her 'birth'day, we also got to celebrate her spiritual birthday! 5 years ago on August 7th, she prayed and asked Jesus to come into her heart...a day that I'll never forget!!

We celebrated in a big way! Sweet-Pea invited 11 friends to her outside water-themed birthday party on Saturday afternoon. We figured that some may not be able to attend being that it's the summer, but every one of them responded with a 'yes', so she was thrilled. Here they are...a bunch of cuties!

Sweet-Pea is in the front (3rd from left) in the polka-dotted bathing suit.


The girls came ready to get wet. Before bringing out the water balloons, the girls did a fun sand-art craft. Once that was done, they let loose in the backyard!! It took us two evenings to fill all the balloons, and the girls 30 minutes to pop them all. Our yard looks like a confetti bomb went off on it...too funny. (Anyone want to come help us pick up the pieces?!? All 10 gazillion of them!) They had a great time though...throwing water balloons, playing on the Slip 'n Slides, dodging the water gun that Lionel attacked them with etc. It doesn't take much to please a bunch of 7-10 year old girls. =)





Sweet-Pea on the Slip 'n Slide


After they got soaked and played a while, we had a cook-out complete with hamburgs and hot dogs. Yum!


The cake? Well...let's just say that Sweet-Pea had a particular design in mind, and I tried to execute it. She wanted a waterfall cake. Yup, you read it right...a waterfall. My husband is the one who went to culinary school, not me, but I did attempt to make it and I suppose it came out OK.


The kids enjoyed the cake as did the other parents who stuck around for the fun. It was gone within 10 minutes!!


After dessert the girls gathered around while Sweet-Pea opened her gifts. She had no idea that the other kids were going to bring her gifts. I guess she forgot about that part, so when it came time to open them, she was overwhelmed. She had a blast, and I know she was grateful for all her friends and their generosity!

After the party was over and most of the people went home, two of her friends stayed around for a couple more hours to play.


The two girls Sweet-Pea recently befriended are from Holland, and have been here visiting their grandmother - our neighbor. They all seemed to hit if off so well, but I'm sad for Sweet-Pea that they will be heading home this coming Saturday.

Why can't my children find friends who actually live near us?!? This next week is a tough one for both kids. Not only is Sweet-Pea going to say goodbye to her new friends, but Lionel is going to have to say goodbye to his best friend of 14 years!!! I'm not happy about having to pick up the pieces when this week is over. I'm sure there will be lots of tears shed.

My prayer is that God will bless both of my children with friends...friends with Godly morals and values, friends who will be there for them when they need a friend...friends who will love them for who they are. Will you pray with me for them? Pray for God's blessings to be evident in their lives during the next few weeks and months. I truly want my children to see God working in their lives. I tell them over and over that good friends are a gift from God. I know He will bless them, but not until the time is right. Thanks everyone!!!