Our precious Eliza Claire is EIGHT years old!

We had a little celebration last Thursday, on her actual birthday!

A gift from Blake and I, and donuts and smoothies for breakfast!

We love a party around here, and we were thrilled to celebrate our newest eight year old on Sunday with one!

Her meal of choice was steak, baked potatoes, bacon wrapped asparagus, and a green apple salad!

Yummy!

We did have to change part of the menu – from steak to pork roasts – but it was still yummy!

We had our favorites over after church and got the festivities under way!

There were gifts, of course!

There were spectators, of course!

Notice Chad and Briar’s matching blue eyes!

I should have taken a series of this photo – because after I took this first one we watched Briar’s head bob and her eye lids get heavier and heavier……she was ready for a nap!

There was dessert, of course!

Eliza is our chocolate and strawberries girl!

So chocolate brownies, ice cream, strawberries, chocolate sauce and toasted coconut it was!

And then there was a lot of play time – all afternoon and evening!

Sundays are the BEST.

Birthdays are a very reflective time for me.

I watched some old videos this week of when Eliza was just home from China.

She was SO little!

So much I never want to forget!

What a JOY it was to watch Eliza enjoy her birthday this year!

She says the most adorable things!!

She is full of life, thriving, learning, and growing – and it is just breath taking to watch.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for allowing it to be US.

Happy, happy birthday to our Zi!!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!