Elise Has a Birthday!

Elise turns 14!!



Wow, they grow up sooo fast! It's hard to believe that it was 11 years ago that we adopted her. Watch out all you new moms and dads, time flies by so fast. On one hand, it seems like only yesterday that got them, on the other, where did the years go--it's hard to remember what life was like before you got them?!! She's been such a blessing to us and is so special to each one of us. What would life be like without you Elise--we don't even want to think about it!! Happy birthday, precious girl!!



This year on her birthday, Elise decided not to have cake or ice-cream. I know, I know, who doesn't have cake or ice-cream on their birthday?! However, we discovered several months back that she was lactose intolerant. When I asked her what kind of cake she wanted, she said she didn't really want one since she can't really enjoy it anyway. She asked for something else--chips and salsa--instead.

I wish you could have seen Serena's reaction to finding out that there'd be no cake or ice-cream for Elise's birthday! She was shocked and saddened:0 It bordered on disbelief even! Like perhaps we were pulling her leg and she was waiting for us to tell her otherwise. But, when we explained the reason why Elise didn't want cake or ice-cream, she understood, but I know she was still disappointed by it. After all, they always enjoyed and looked forward to sharing cake and/or ice-cream with the birthday girl/boy. Sorry Serena, you'll have to wait 2 weeks until Shawna's birthday for cake and ice-cream :)



As usual, the girls all bought presents for the birthday girl! How thoughtful and sweet they are!



I think the best gift she got--which wasn't really a birthday present at all, but happened just a couple of days before her birthday--was getting her braces off. Finally, after 5 years, she is braceless!! Elise, being a cleft palate baby, had very crooked teeth, especially on the top. The first couple of years were spent doing expansion of her upper palate with all the head gear and stuff. It wasn't very pleasant, but necessary for the beautiful smile we now see!!