It's an odd number, really

So, I turned 37 yesterday. 37. It's not a multiple of 5, it's not almost a multiple of 5 - it's just sort of there. Nothing to get too excited about, just one of those numbers you have to pass thru to get to another more exciting (though bigger) numbers!

I had a good day, but you can definitely tell, I've reached that really grown-up age where it's not that big a deal to me to have a birthday. Unlike my younger days when I thought a birthday was a good excuse to not make my bed, go to school or work, or ya' know do anything I didn't want to.

So, my day yesterday consisted of the entire family oversleeping! L woke us all up at 7:15 and panic began! The little neighbor girl rang the doorbell at 7:20,so we were scrambling!

I did enjoy a nice lunch with friends yesterday and when I arrived home L and the kids had some beautiful flowers for me. Dinner was a salad and then we went swimming. A very simple day, but just what I wanted!

My Big Shot arrived last night too! So, hopefully, I'll have some time this weekend to start playing with it!

I got several nice gifts and cards including a blog post from Emily! That was sweet! The card from the kiddos? A singing card that plays Johnny Cash' Ring of Fire --picked out by N -- it was funny!

And today is the last day of school for N! So long 1st grade! Yeah,summer!

Party with the Mouse!

We partyed with a mouse on Saturday night. He was cute, though a little loud. The occasion was L's first "friend" birthday party. Her first three birthday parties were just with family only - and that was okay with her. She is much more shy than N and had never asked for a friend party. But...this year was different, she has been looking forward to her Chuck E. Cheese party for months! Since her actual birthday is during Spring Break, we decided to celebrate early to include her friends.

I haven't included any pics of her friends since I don't have their parents permission, but I've included some of L.

Her cake is hard to identify, but it's a puppy dog and she was thrilled, although, she doesn't like to eat the "dirty" parts....it's called fur, my dear and it's chocolate! And when you have a puppy dog cake, it's almost all fur!!

The highlight of the evening for her was the medal. At the Cheese, they do a whole 5 minute birthday song which is oh, so, loud, but at the end, they give you a birthday medal - looks kind of like an Olympic Gold Medal, which really I think they should give to the parents for making it thru another year :) Just kidding! L is so proud of this medal that she has slept in it and worn it to church and school. And since her party was 10 days before her birthday and Daddy will be gone on her birthday, she is getting to have a birthday 1/2 month instead of just a day, and that my friends is a girl after my own heart.

So now, I'll leave you with some pics!

Oh, and please excuse the nose...we are having some allergy issues and it's rather gross!

Another birthday and the winner

Today is my mom's birthday. I'll not announce her age on this ole blog.

My mom is such an awesome person! Along with Lance and my dad, she is my biggest cheerleader. She is an encourager and great advice giver (even if I don't always follow it, I always listen and take it under advisement)

I'm thankful for all the help she has given me when I've had sick kiddos. She is extremely talented at all things homemaking -- cooking, sewing, decorating! I got my love of homes from her --- just wish I would have gotten the cooking and sewing!!!

My mom is loyal and has sacrificed so much for her family. She has nursed all of us thru surgeries, illness, and hard times.

One time in particular that will always stay with me is when N was only 4 months old. N had a TERRIBLE stomach virus which then Lance got as well. I was running back and forth trying to take care of them both, and trying to work and of course N is getting first shot. My mom came to stay with us and risk getting this terrible virus herself. She stayed up all hours with me caring for these guys. On the last day, she fell into bed at 4pm with her blue jeans on and slept until the next morning. That is tired!

I'm so thankful for my mom. She has made my life better.

Happy Birthday Mom - I love you!

And the winner of the drawing contest.... it's Lacey
Lacey, I'll bring your gift card to the luncheon tomorrow! Congrats!

Can you name this guy? and HB SIL

This is a picture that N drew at school this week. I thought it looked really good and I could immediately tell who it was even though it's not labeled and he didn't tell me who it was. He scoffed at me and said, "I did that in about 10 seconds, I wasn't even trying."

This kid has an artistic touch. I think he's good. 'Course he is my child, so I may be a little biased. Or ALOT.

So, can you name who this drawing is of? I'm sorry for the poor quality - it was drawn on construction paper and I scanned it in.

Everyone who comments and gives the correct answer will be entered to win a $10 gift card. You have until noon on Thursday (2/19) to comment.


Today is my sister-in-law's birthday. She is 30-something today. As we would say in my family, she is in her young 30's!

M --- mother of 4
I --- incredible seamstress
N --- nine plus years being married to my brother
D --- decorator of cakes
Y --- young

Happy Birthday Mindy! Hope it's a great day for you!

40!!!!!

Today is Lance's 40th Birthday! Yippee!

We have some big fun planned for him!

This morning starts with a treat of donuts for breakfast. Tonight will be Texas Roadhouse (his favorite!).

The big surprise which he has just learned about is that he and I will be going to the Cowboys game Saturday night in Dallas. This is the last regular season game to ever be held in Texas Stadium. Should be an exciting night! We are also staying overnight at the Omni Mandalay in Las Colinas Saturday night while his parents keep the kiddos! I've had a hard time keeping this a secret from him until this morning!! This surprise involves us heading to Dallas 2 days earlier than we had planned. He will be busy packing today!

Happy Birthday babe! Hope you have a great day!

Have your people call my people

October. It's a glorious month in our family! October was the month in which Lance and I first became parents almost 7 years ago.

N loves October because it's his birthday month and he gets to celebrate all month because his birthday is not until the 30th. This is awesome. The poor people who have their b-day on the 1st of the month are missing out. They have their birthday and then the rest of the month, it's just a big let-down. But, not N. Everytime he writes the date or says the date he gets to remind us that it is his.birthday.month.

Well, not only that, but this year, we have learned he will be the SuperStar student of the week during his birthday week. In his first grade class, each student is assigned a week to be the super star. We will make a poster of all things N loves and he will share it with his classmates that week. Combine that with Halloween and well, there is sure to be some partying going on at our house that week!!! If that isn't enough, N is now convinced that he will lose his tooth on his birthday. How does he know? He is praying to God that he will lose his first tooth on his birthday. It's sooooo sweet. He whispers his sweet little prayer to God asking to please let him lose his tooth that day. I have to admit, it would be pretty cool and I think the tooth fairy would probably even throw in a little bonus for a birthday tooth. Of course, N thinks the tooth fairy would give him $1,000 for a birthday tooth. I'm thinking, move the decimal point over 3 spaces to the left.

But....I really don't think he's going to make it that long. Of course, it's already been loose about 2 months, but now, it's literally hanging by one little string. And the grown-up tooth has now pushed up behind it and is visible. So, the days of tooth #1 are numbered and there is a #2 that is close behind. I wonder if two missing teeth will hamper any of that candy eating on Halloween? Nah.

The big FIVE!

Today is a big day for my niece, Amelia. She turns 5 today.

Amelia is a spunky gal and has brightened our family! She arrived at a beautiful time in our family, just when we needed something wonderful to celebrate. Dad had just had his triple-bypass and was still home recovering. My sister-in-law's mom had just gone thru cancer treatments. It was a tough year in many ways for Paul and Mindy and then, September 8th arrived....Amelia! Lance, N, and I were fortunate enough to be in town the day she was born and were able to be at the hospital to meet her. This is the only time we've had that priviledge with any of our 4 nieces or 2 nephews!

Amelia started preschool last week and is very excited to be going to school just like her big sister, Elizabeth.

Amelia is also a big sister to Ollie and Hope. She gets the best of both worlds!

Amelia, we don't see you near as often as we would like. I hope you have a great day today on your #5! Your present is in the mail, I'm sorry I'm late this year!!

Love,
Aunt Jen

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Today is a "shout out" to my niece Elizabeth. She is 6 today - she is exactly 6 months to the day younger than N. And they were born in the same hospital - how crazy is that considering we live 4 hours apart and N was adopted? - I think it's super cool!

Elizabeth is a big sister. She has 2 little sisters and 1 little brother. She is very smart and excels greatly with her reading and math! N loves her and is very sad when we don't get to see them very often.

And most importantly of all, she has introduced my kids to the joy of playing......



PUPPY!



Elizabeth, I hope you have a great day!

Love, Aunt Jennie

My baby is three

My sweet baby girl, L, is a baby no more. It pains me to think of how quickly the time has gone. The sleepless nights, the illnesses, the temper tantrums, everything that I thought would go on forever....well, some of these things do remain :)

She is 3 now and what an exciting year that will be - lots of changes in the 3 year old year - by this time next year, she will be a different girl.

We celebrated her b-day on Saturday in Dallas with my parents, brother Paul and sis-in-law Mindy and their 4 kids: E -5yo; A-4yo; O- 2 yo; and H - 9mths. It was a good time. Mindy made a beautiful Ariel cake - the little mermaid - complete with ocean colored icing - she loved it! We had fun enjoying the cousins and playing. L got some neat gifts and her favorite was her "boombox" She has become quite the little singer and loves dancing! She played D-Jay yesterday and her favorite song is "Kiss the Girl" from the Little Mermaid soundtrack. She put on her finest princess dress-up clothes, sunglasses, and danced the afternoon away. It was great!

Our spring break trip was very fun - we spent lots of time at the park playing; we rode bikes; explored creeks; went to Build-A-Bear and the zoo. Grandpa took us on a wilderness adventure where we found a big river and threw rocks in a creek. Nana had special treats and spoiled us for a week. We are relaxed and ready to get back into the routine.

Hope you all had a good Spring Break or will have one if you haven't gotten to break yet!