Happy 12th birthday, Abigail!

Abigail got her big birthday present on Saturday, the day before her birthday. We surprised her by letting her choose one of our friends' would-be meat bunnies to keep- to save! (Our sweet friends wanted to give it to her- they knew it would be very loved). She chose a spotted black and white girl from their seven-week-old litter of eight (New Zealand breed) and named her Rosemary, or "Rosie," for short. She's already so loved.

Abigail said another early birthday gift on Saturday was that she got to go to confession for the first time in months. Sweet girl. I had way too much fun making her birthday board. Morning play with Rosie DF cinnamon rolls and strawberries for breakfast Her siblings were eager to shower her with a lot of thoughtful and homemade gifts (Opal said she couldn't even sleep the night before, she was so excited :-)). She's a good big sister. She has been loving the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, so we got her the Latsch Valley Farm series to read next. Mike and the kids spent a while watching old videos from when the kids were little. Skyping with and opening gifts from Grandma and Grandpa An electric eraser she really wanted- it was like magic! Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa! Bonding with Rosie. Mike took the kids (minus Joel) to the other house in the afternoon, where they played and hung out while he mowed and Joel and I napped. When Joel woke from his nap, we picked up Subway, the birthday girl's dinner of choice, and met the rest of them at the other house to eat it, followed by cake. It was a beautiful evening! Cinnamon Isabelle is still in a hutch at our other house. Rosie is at the new house, outside (approved by our landlord), since she's still so small. Abigail was so glad she also got to snuggle this sweet, fluffy girl on her birthday. Happy birthday to our independent, adventurous, compassionate, thoughtful, talented, devoted, helpful... Abigail! What a GIFT to our family this girl has been!