50 Bowers Power Points

Bowers School has Power! What a cute slogan, especially for a Christian family who LOVES the Power VBS cd... We know the All-Powerful One!!! :) hehe
Well, for all the little good things the kids do, like saying "please" and "thank you" Or sitting quietly, listening, helping a classmate, being a good friend, they earn what is called Bowers Power Points... One point for each thing. Well, Liliana was the second one in her class to get her first 25 and she did so within the first 5 days of school. For each 25 earned, the students have their names announced over the school-wide loud speaker and they get a sticker, a certificate and a visit to the principals office to shake her hand.
Yesterday Liliana earned her second 25, bringing her to 50 Bowers Power Points!!! :) Knowing this, I planned to have Liliana not ride the bus so we could walk her to the school doors so I could, again, hear her name said over the loud speaker... And yes, I brought my iPod to record it!!!
We are SO SO proud of you, Liliana!!! You are an amazing girl through and through... Just exceptional in so many ways!!!! :)
The song that has been playing in my heart and mind all day is "This Little Light of Mine"... And Liliana, you are letting yours shine, so bright!!!
I love you, my big girl!!! Xoxoxo

Project 365 Week 39

September 18, 19, 20 & 21 - see post on Grandma's visit

Thursday, September 22nd

Noah was napping so Elia and I played on the living room floor for a good 30 minutes until it was time to go see Liliana off the school bus.

 LOVE her expressions!!!

 She put her own headband on...

 Friday, September 23rd - no pic

Saturday, September 24th

Bedtime Dancing

Grandma's Visit & Elia's First B-day Party!

Friday, September 16th

GRANDMA'S HERE!!!!

I just love typing that!!!  Want to type it more, Grandma... hint hint.  :)

Elia fell asleep on the way, but look how happy the kids are to have grandma in the van... Noah's expression is not as big on his face, but I can see the pride in his eyes!  :)

Tradition is to hit Cracker Barrel for dinner after picking her up!  FUN...

over the top, FUN!

Donnie did not disown me!  :)  All I will say, is I had no idea I had the perfect witch laugh in me until this moment... I had all eyes on me!  So fun!

Sweet little lovebug, Liliana got in on it too...

The next morning... Fresh flowers for Grandma!

Scott's Orchard that afternoon...

 Noah is holding his shirt here, you know that fabric rubbing thing he does...

 An after-the-farm nap... kind-of.  :)

 That evening...

Sunday, September 18th

The day Mommy has had on her mind for weeks and weeks - Elia's First Birthday Party!

We did a bigger party for our 3rd and last child, our "cherry-on-top"... SO FUN!!!

I was obsessed with huge balloons!  These were punch balloons, served as awesome decorations and fun-favors!

 LOVE!

 We had PIZZA, one of Elia's favorite foods...

 How pretty is shes!?!?!?

and instead of cake, we had her other favorite food, ice-cream... a sundae table... with CHERRIES ON TOP... since she is our cherry-on-top!  :)

 The two big kids and I worked on these earlier in the week... the "thank-you's" each person took home...

The next morning's breakfast was still in theme... pancake sundaes!!!  haha!

 Daddy' even put gummy worms into a heart shape for Grandma's!  :)

 We keep Liliana out of school to hang out with Grandma and us.  Donnie took Liliana and Grandma out to get thier nails done, a very sweet bonding time for them!  Then we were all off to lunch and then to WICKHAM!

 Dog Pile Daddy!!! 

Just hangin' in there for the photo!  ha!  ...it got her to smile!  :) Noah, was done!  :)

Tuesday, September 20th, we went shopping and took it easy.  Liliana and Grandma made "islands" in the sandbox when she got home from school.

after dinner I taught Liliana how to braid using Grandma's beautiful hair...

 Hairbrushing is a family FAVORITE!!!  :)

 Liliana's second bottom baby tooth has been loose for about 2 weeks now... well, Liliana called me upstairs about 10 minutes after she went to bed and showed me that she wiggled her tooth to where it was ready to come out and since we could not find her first missing tooth and think she probably swallowed it, we knew something needed to be done... Perfect timing with Grandma, the nurse in the house!  I said to Liliana, let's go show Grandma, she will know what to do.  Grandma said it needs to be pulled out... Donnie and I said "not me!"... and without hesitation, Grandma asked Liliana if she could do it and she just reached in there and plucked it right out!  Liliana did not flinch and was very proud that Grandma pulled her tooth and that it was found to leave for the toothfairy that night!  :)  The toothfairy had a helper who beefed up the prize to a $10 bill!!!  wow!  :)

Wednesday, September 21st we brought Liliana to school.  Grandma started to cry when saying "goodbye" to Liliana, but I told her to "stop it"... :)  awe!  :)

 Grandma wrote Liliana a sweet letter...

snuggled these two for about 20 minutes, then we were off to the airport to send her back south...

 Liliana knew Grandma was going to leave her a letter, so she ran home from the bus stop looking for the letter and quickly wrote her one in return... (I need to mail it still, shhhh)  :)

What a WONDERFUL time we had!!!  Till next visit... WE LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!