Zoey's Birthday

****WARNING....Picture Overload*****

Yesterday, we went to Miss Zoey's 3rd birthday party. Let me tell you, it was well worth the 2 hour + drive!!! Being in that room, I instantly realized the huge amount of people that Zoey and her family have touched. There were Ds people, cancer people, and SMA people...all brought together by this amazing family. I literally could have stayed forever to just sit and visit with everyone. It was so much fun to FINALLY get to meet the rest of Zoey's siblings who I felt like I already knew and who instantly came up to Ella as if they knew and loved her already. (Of course she was a stinker at first and pretended to be extremely shy). We also got to meet a few other blogging families for the first time including Reid, his mom Cheri and brother Luke (there will be a story coming up about that :) and the amazing Strong family who have little Gwendolyn. I can't begin to tell you the impact that this family had on me in just the short time I visited with them. Wow!!! Then, of course, there was Jax and his family who we once again got to visit with. This time I made sure to get pictures of the rest of their family that I missed at Disneyland. Can I just say that I LOVE Jax's brothers!!! They are so sweet and funny and soooo amazingly good with Ella. The cutest thing was when Tanner told his mom that he wants a little sister "Just like Ella". Then he asked me if he could take Ella home. I told him maybe when she starts being a big stinker..then he could have her. Not long after that, she did something "stinkerish" and he asks me "Now can we take her home?". Just melts my heart!!

Here is Zoey and her daddy while everyone is

singing happy birthday to her. We had to do it

twice because she did the sign for "more" after

we finished the first time!

Jax's brother Tanner with Ella (love this kid)

This was the best we could do for a picture

of Ella and Zoey

Jax's dad, Ray, with Ella...when she was still being "shy".

She eventually warmed up to him...especially after he

took her outside. (he will so spoil a daughter someday)

My mom with Jax...I just love the way he is looking at

her in this picture.



Okay...here is the story about Ella and Reid...first they are
sitting nicely in chairs taking a picture.....then.....

tragedy strikes....(at least Ella thinks so) Reid decided to

reach over and grab her checks with his hand and drew blood.

You will see the battle scars in the rest of the pictures. Don't

worry Reid, we forgive you!!!

Mom's and kids...me and Ella, Heather and Zoey,

Lacey and Jax and Cheri and Reid

Ella playing with Jax's brother Carter

Ella and Carter (love this kid too)

Ella with her sisters and Jax's brothers

Finally some floor time!!!

With Jax...rolling to one side

And now the other...go Jax

Ella is always wanting to touch Jax....and only pulls

out his oxygen sometimes!!

Ella giving Zoey a birthday hug

Abbey and Zoey....heartwarming moment today when Abbey

asked me when the next party like this would be...she enjoyed

being with these kids as much as I did!!

I finally got my Zoey hugs!!