It is getting a little trickier to get everyone together these days, which means that everyone’s lives our full in a wonderful way!

Tate and Eliza’s Forever Family Days came along in July, and we always leave it up to them if they want to celebrate or not.

They wanted to!

Tate’s birthday was one week after his Forever Family Day anniversary, so we decided to lump these three celebrations together.

It was a GREAT idea!

We set the date for the last Saturday evening in July.

I had great helpers as we got ready for the party – including a decorating committee, ha, ha!

Seeing the Prime guy pull into your driveway the afternoon of the party was a huge relief because he had ALL of the presents!

The mama of this crew has been super busy and ordered everything very last minute.

I know! You are now wondering who in the world that mama is!!

Me TOO.

Smile.

Eliza promptly helped me wrap everything up!

Except I did not have enough paper for that one huge gift!

I looked at that pogo stick leaning against my bed and seriously thought I had temporarily lost my mind!

But that is ALL that Tate wanted!

Tate and Eliza requested Jap Chae, watermelon, and french bread for dinner with crepes, fruit compote, and homemade ice cream for dessert.

Good choices, you two!!

After dinner we switched into birthday party mode, and Tate opened his gifts!

He always has the CUTEST helpers!!

I LOVE the excitement of birthday parties!!

Of course we had to go outside and try out that pogo stick.

I have a hysterical video of Grant on that thing – he was, of course, that only one that could do it perfectly!

Kayla, Saige and I hung out on the front porch watching them all.

We sang Happy Birthday to Tate!

TWELVE candles in his crepe.

Tears in my eyes as I sang.

HOW is he twelve??

It was the best evening that ended way too soon but very late!

My favorite thing is this house full of people – especially all those kiddos and grand kiddos!!!

This is how you know you had THE BEST party – doing dishes until midnight!!!

Eliza Claire and Tate Owen, there could not be a party big enough to celebrate the anniversaries of the arrival of you two precious children into our forever arms.

It is such a BIG GOD THING that it should be celebrated EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!

We are never worthy to be yours, but we are SO grateful the Lord allowed us to bring you home!!

And Tate Owen, you are growing into a fine young man.

Your heart for others is inspiring.

You have such an old soul in your twelve year old body – and it is our favorite thing about you!!

We are so excited to watch the Lord write your story!!

Happy Forever Family Day, Zhao He Jie and Zhang Hong Yang – now our Eliza Claire and Tate Owen!!

WE LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH!!!