Happy Birthday Alora & Elam!!!

This past week was one filled with anticipation as Elam and Alora anxiously awaited their birthday.  

The weekend prior, we were able to get together with our friends the Beutes and Parsels to have  a joint celebration as each family had at least one child with a birthday, all within 5 days of eachother.  Elam loved celebrating with his almost-birthday-twin Asher and Alora enjoyed having another girl, Aurelia, to celebrate with.  We spent the evening eating dinner and letting the kids run wild while adults played a few games and lauged.  

Saturday morning was finally the big day for Elam and Alora - 6 and 11 years old!!!.  They woke to balloons and bows with money taped to them hidden around the house.  After opening cards from one another and their sisters, they set to work finding all of the bows!

They convinced Daddy and Mommy to let them open gifts from their sisters and eachother that morning, so we enjoyed some birthday gifts earlier than usual.

Ezri gave Elam Micro Machines

And she gave Alora a popper fidget ball.

Tierney gave Elam MagnaTiles

And she gave Alora an easel

Alora gave Elam a raptor matchbox car

Elam gave Alora a Stitch stuffed plush

The rest of the morning was spent in play while Mommy worked on cupcakes!

That afternoon, it was time for gifts from Daddy and Mommy.    Elam got a Cars water bottle....

Alora got her growing up #11 doll

Elam got a Mack truck car hauler....

Alora got more Adventures In Odyssey books...

Elam got a Cars art tube...

Alora got a horse Bible cover and highlighter set for her Bible...

Elam got Bey Blades...

Alora got a Black Beuty Bryer horse and book...

Elam got Transformers....

Alora got a much desired baby doll that breathes, cries, laughs and moves its face.

Together, Alora and Elam got RC Bumper Cars

That night, we went to Logan's for dinner with Kathy, Jay, Becci and Henry.

Sunday, after church, it was time for the birthday party with Opa & Oma and Kathy joining us at our house for lunch and Grandpa & Grandma joining us via FaceTime from Florida for gifts.  Elam was so excited!

From Opa & Oma, Elam opened a tool bag with tools

a Star Wars Lego set,

and clothes,

Alora's gifts from Opa & Oma included some art/drawing books and supplies, 

and a chord book for her guitar.

From Grandpa & Grandma, Elam opened a Cars sticker book,

Thomas shirts,

a train lego set

and Nerf guns with a target

Alora's gifts from Grandpa & Grandma included fuzzy socks, 

the movie Encanto,

and a horse stable for her American Girl doll and horse.

While Ezri set to helping Alora assemble her new stable, 

Tierney was content to talk with Grandpa and Grandma

Lucky just wanted to play with the wrapping paper.

Then, it was time for the cakes!

Grandpa and Grandma made their own cake to match the kids' so they could join in from Florida.