Tonight we had Challice's Birthday celebration.  Tomorrow David is off work and they plan to spend a lovely day together just the two of them.  Sunday after church they will spend the afternoon with her In-Laws so we chose to go for the Friday option!  :)

Braelyn gave Challice a bunch of lovely flowers.  You know how Challice loves flowers!

She requested Scotch Broth and Cheesecake for dinner so that's what we had!  The Scotch Broth was sooooooo good.  Challice seemed hungry.   Then again, by the time she left we knew that food wasn't long for her stomach so she's probably hungry again.  But I digress.

After a meal of croissants and Scotch Broth we ate the great cheesecake I found at Albertsons!  It had four flavors!!!  Lemon, peach, wild berry, and strawberry!  I had wild berry but I believe the birthday girl had peach.  Kevin, of course, had lemon.  Nolan cut the cake with excellent critical...er... supervisory aid.

I wish Braelyn had gotten a picture of the cake.  It was so pretty with all the colors etc.  Good too!  Just the right amount of crust.  Have you ever noticed that a lot of cheesecake either has almost no crust (boring) or too much crust (icky).  This was perfect!

Then we opened presents!   I haven't  included all the pictures here.  We have a great one of her tearing off wrapping paper and tossing it in the air.  It was a gift from the Grajeda family and was a tea-pot with miniature violets all over it.  Gorgeous.  You know how Challice loves tea and flowers!

Morgann gave her a pregnancy care package!  Complete with pinapple, canned soup, ravioli, raisins and who knows what else, this thing was HEAVY.  She doesn't look like she's complaining though!

Nolan made her a plaque wood burned with the words from Isaiah, "The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the words of our God will stand forever." (ESV)

The kids and I got her gift certificates to the Quilted Quail, Walmart, a bag of Reeses, note cards, and a journal.

I think she thought my signature on the card was funny.  I signed it Mom (aka. Mumsie) and Dad (I don't recommend Dadsie or even worse, Dudsie.)   As you can see, she has an easily tickled funny bone!

Lorna got her David fix.  As usual she kept us laughing half the night.  There is something about 2-4 years old.  They're so funny!

We all had so much fun.  We were sorry to see them go... I think Jenna was angling for a game of Apples to Apples but Challice's evening misery hit and I think she just wanted to be home.  How strange that is to write.  I have a hard time remembering that this ISN'T home like it used to be.  Prayerfully it'll always be home in some fashion but it definitely is different.

Happy Birthday Challice!!!