basketball champions

yep.
they did it.
they won the championship game on thursday night.
by 2 points, another nailbiter of a game.

i couldn't sit for the last three quarters.  i cheered like i have never cheered before.
it was intense, again.
but, they won, again.
and now they are the champions of the league!!

they put up special red, white and blue nets for the championship game.
since they won, they each got to take turns cutting down the net.

then, right after christopher got to play in the all star game...

we had a party at our house last night for the team.

the boys would have played basketball 'till midnight if we let them.

it was so fun to have a front yard party.
i haven't had one in years.  used to do it when the kids were little.
all these boys need is a basketball hoop and they are happy for hours.
thus, the front yard party.
such a great group of kids, this team was.

and the coach was pretty awesome too...

it was a great season and we're sad to see it end.  but the weather is nice and baseball is calling.

semi-final game win

last night. by 4 points.  it was an awesome game, so exciting - the last two minutes were intense.

chris is the head coach of christopher's team.  it has been so fun for both of them.

our team has such a fun mix of private and public school kids in the area.  i love that my kids know so many kids at so many different schools and are friends with all of them.

i saw christopher make the sign of the cross at half time which brought me to tears.  the game was close the whole way through which is why i thought he did this.  

but when i asked him about it as i tucked him in he said, 'mom, i always pray at half time.  i always say an our father and pray that we have a good game.'  this made me so proud. 

this is a very competitive league, and it has been so fun to watch the growth of the team.  and listen to chris' coaching strategies.  and win last night's game:)

wish them luck thursday night - they're playing in the finals!!!

it was sweet

our valentine's dinner was.  the kids came home from school to find the dinning table set with some surprises...

they were sure excited to open their valentine gifts...

we made heart shaped pizzas on the grill for dinner.  pepperoni & cheese...

and tomato-basil on rosemary dough...

ella really enjoyed rolling out the dough and i had fun making the heart!  we had spinach salad with it and the dressing is a pretty pale pink color which worked perfectly for the occasion...

and for dessert...individual heart lava cakes

it was a fun dinner and i am so thankful to have so much love in my life.

happy valentine's day

i feel so blessed that i get to spend today and all my days with my wonderful husband...

and my wonderful kids...

happy valentine's day to my #1 love and to my 4 little loves.

scenes from a 3rd birthday celebration...

ok, i've got to get caught up on these birthday posts so there are going to be a lot of them from now on.  this is our busy time of year for birthdays and since this blog is my 'scrapbook' for my kids i have to post on important events even if they've already passed.

so, john turned three a month ago now.  and he was really excited for his birthday.  he talked about it for months and talked about wanting to have a big party.  he would tell me who he wanted to invite and then say 'and....' to me so that i could fill in the blank with more invitees so that he could have a 'big' party...it was pretty cute.

i happened to find an ancient martha stewart baby magazine (from when i was pregnant with my first 11 years ago!) that had some adorable ideas for a 3yr. old circus themed party (i.e., cake pictured above) and john john loved looking at that magazine and that lion cake anticipating his party.

so we had some neighbors and friends with little ones over on a sunday afternoon for some face painting,  games, and jumping....

there was a panda trend going on with the girls...

and the (older) boys got into the team logos...

our neighbor is amazing at face painting and balloon art.  the kids each got a balloon sword, flower or animal on their way out...

my mom helped me make the lion cake...

and these adorable party favors. we filled them with animal crackers...

ella helped too. she painted all the stripes on these cups one day when i was putting john down for a nap.

oh and my mom made this cute elephant swag too...

here's the group at singing time...

the little guy had so much fun at his party and that made me so happy.  i just love this kid so much...

how can he already be three?  why, oh why do they have to grow up so fast?!