Birthday Celebration

How to celebrate turning 3-

Dress up in your new birthday clothes for church

Let your sisters spoil you (wait, that's every day)



Get a new Cars bike

Have lots of help to learn to ride

Ask your Mom to make a Hot Wheels cake and love it when all she does is put a few cars on top

Invite over your favorite friends for an evening of fun and celebration


Happy Birthday Cole-Man!

My Boy is 3!!

Happy Birthday to Cole-Man!!!! Can't believe you are already 3....how we love you, our little boy!!! We all adore you so much...and you certainly have all 5 of us wrapped around your finger. Of course, this morning I woke up thinking about the night you were born...we stayed at home as long as possible to make sure I was in labor...I remember being really uncomfortable and watching American Idol...we didn't even head to the hospital until about 10:30 PM and you were born 2 hours later. We just couldn't believe how lucky we were to have you...the boy we had waited so long for!!!! What joy you have brought to your parents and sisters. Just the other day, Jordan told me that she caught a glimpse of you sitting on the stairs and was "overcome by the amount of love she had for you." We all feel that way!!!

Some things about Cole at age 3:
-Loves all things that "go"- trains, trucks, cars, buses, etc.
-Asks several times a day to go outside to "drive his tractor"...loves to play outside
-Loves his sisters...gets into lots of mischief with his best buddy Regan...likes to destroy toys, legos, etc.
-Talks and talks and talks...you can tell by how he speaks that he has older siblings...the other day when his little friend went home, he called out the door to him, "Miles, email me!!!"
- Asks almost daily to go down to the farm to see grandpa and the trucks and horses
-Gets upset if doesn't get to say the prayer
-Is still not a good sleeper...still waiting for him to sleep through the night consistently...uggg!
-Is an unpredictable eater...sometimes eats a ton, and other times hardly eats at all...prefers rice, lasagna, mac and cheese, and minestrone soup. Loves soda and doughnuts and suckers. Doesn't like anything that has to do with bread.
-Still wants to be carried everywhere!!
-Likes everything "Cars".
-Can be a real pill in church, has to be taken out almost every week...likes to look at the pictures of Jesus especially the one of him knocking at the door
-Calls all my friends by their first names...as in, "Can we go to Amy's house?", "Where did Kim go?"
-Has a bit of a temper and can throw a mean tantrum...other times he is just as pleasant and easy as can be
-Loves tools and likes to play with Dad's real ones in the basement
-Is aware of everything....and makes sure that in this family of 6, his voice is always heard!!!

Happy Birthday Manny! We love you so much.

My Texas Trip

I was lucky enough to get to escape for a few days last week down to the sunny, warm land of Texas! My youngest sister, Katy had a new baby girl, and I was thrilled to be able to go and spend some time with them.


Stella Kim is an amazing baby...and I absolutely fell in LOVE with her. In fact, by the last day I was just trying to drink up her newborn smell to take home with me...since I no longer have babies at home. I loved snuggling her and cuddling her. I loved how we got to stay up late together each night so that her mama could get a few hours to sleep. I loved being able to spend time with my little nephew Sutton who is just the best kid ever and so much fun.


It is so hard for me to live so far away from this great family...I even adore my bro-in law, Nick. He and I have always been good buddies. Another bonus is that Tod's brother and family live in the same town, so I was even able to sneak in a few short visits with them- 3 more darling nieces and a nephew!


Katy and I had so much fun together- despite the strict feeding schedule, we planned an outing each day (to my favorite Texas stores!) and made some yummy meals together. We also spend hours and hours just talking together about everything under the sun...and laughing. She knows me and she gets me, and I just love her to pieces.

Everyone knows that the first few weeks with a newborn are incredibly difficult and exhausting...as the adoring big sister, I am so proud of Katy.

Of course, this trip wouldn't have been possible without Snarr jumping on board to keep my 4 little ones at home. He juggled cooking, cleaning, church assignments, car pools, basketball and tons of other things...and managed to do just fine...although he did admit to being more than ready for me to come home. He even surprised me with a new kitchen table!!! I missed my own family so much while I was gone.

I relished in the opportunity to have few days to slow down and relax. Hours and hours on a plane by yourself to read and think is not something that I take for granted. Same for the blocks of uninterrupted sleep I enjoyed. All in all, it was just a great get away for me....can't wait to do it again sometime!