Best Birthday Weekend Ever!

I'm normally not that big on birthdays.  It isn't that I don't like them - it's just that I usually don't care about making a big fuss over mine.  But this year a lot of really great things happened to come together to make my birthday weekend extra wonderful!

On Friday afternoon, Todd was able to watch his grand rounds lecture at home on-line, which gave me time to get an hour massage and a pedicure.  It was great to start out the weekend with a happy back and happy feet!

Saturday was a beach day.  I'll let the pictures do the talking:

This towel & mound of sand is Parker.

 

Look at Anndra's tongue sticking out as we bury her!

 

Digging a tunnel under the sand.

Then Saturday night we had a double date with friends.  They invited us out to dinner as a thank-you for loaning them our car while Todd was out-of-town last month.  We had a very pleasant evening and I decided that it is a shame we don't do it more often!

Sunday was mostly a typical Sunday... but then after dinner we got all the kids involved in a little project.  It started out as a hunt for our picture boxes (and a cord that is missing from our battery-charger thingy for the van, but that's a story for another day).  Well our search turned into a massive organization effort that didn't end until long after the kids had gone to bed.  You might not think that was a "birthday present" for me - but it FELT like one because it got us so much closer to being ready for our move... which makes me happy, happy, happy!

Tonight we'll conclude the birthday celebrations with a date at the movies.  Best. weekend. ever.

Darling Anndra

Our sweet baby girl is due for another update.  None of the stories go with the pics, but I'll sprinkle them throughout the post anyway.

She says "door knock" instead of door knob... and "compu-work" instead of computer.  When she helps me put the clean laundry away, she loves to hang each shirt on the "door knock" of the room it needs to go in.  And whenever I try to do email, she's always asking me to close my "compu-work" and play.

 

Earlier this year when we were separated from Todd so much (being in Utah 2 out of 3 months), Anndra got a lot better at chatting on the phone.  Every time she began talking to her Daddy, she would ask, "Where are your doing?" - which I think was her version of "Where are you?" and "What are you doing?" wrapped up in one.  Made me smile every time.

 

 She's going through a bossy phase right now.  If she doesn't get what she wants, she puts her hands on her hips, pulls her eyebrows together, and just keeps saying it louder and louder.  I think she's trying to put authority in her voice - it's adorable and frustrating all at once.

Her new favorite cartoon is My Little Pony.  We've endured these little obsessions of hers in the past: first Dora and Diego, then Bubble Guppies, and eventually Leapfrog Learning DVDs (which was my favorite).  Well, now it is My Little Pony and she is absolutely smitten with the characters and their adventures.  She wants all of us to pretend we're ponies with her.  She RUNS (gallops?) through the house calling, "Come on, Mom!" over her shoulder.  As annoying as it can be to hear nothing but My Little Pony all day long, I have to admit I'll be kind of sad when she moves on to the next thing - because her little gallop is so darn cute. 

A few days ago she actually let me BRAID her hair:

Happy Mother's Day

I love you, Mom!  Here's to you and the thousands of special moments you've spent loving us.  Your remarkable example has taught me so much.

 

I hope you find joy (even though your kids & grandkids can't be with you) as you are surrounded by many other wonderful mothers on your mission. We will be thinking of you all weekend!

Oh, how we'll miss these Florida friends!

The past few weeks have been busy with play-dates galore as we try to cram in as much time as we can with some of the kids' favorite people.

Thank goodness Play-dough (below) and BeyBlades (above) are fun for so many different age groups!

"Fierce-some" Four:

This last picture & story is about a new (rather than favorite) friend.  We were waiting for Parker to finish cub scouts and hanging out in the church nursery.  This cute little gal came in and began quietly playing with Lincoln.  After several minutes, she said, "What's your name?"  He answered, "Lincoln."  Then she asked, "Want to be my friend?"

His reaction was so adorable.  He looked around with an embarrassed look on his face - as though she had asked him to be her boyfriend and he was checking to see if anybody had heard.  Finally he shrugged his shoulders (I think they nearly touched his ears!) and whispered, "Sure."  I guess nobody had ever really asked him that before!

Amazing Warrior

My heart goes out to my dear friend, Kelli, today as she recovers from yet another surgery in her battle with ovarian cancer.  She is a close friend of my family and I think of her as a sister.  Some pics from our last visit with her:

Hugging Parker:

Pics from last summer that show how long her beautiful hair was before chemo:

Our love and prayers are with you, Kelli.  We know the Lord will help you through this season of illness.  You are so strong and faithful.  Keep your chin up!

Lincoln's Goofy Faces