Mya is 1!!

Wow! This took me forever to post but on the 18th our little Mya turned 1 and she was so cute. She got a couple of baby dolls and every time she opened one she would get so excited and rock them and snuggle them-she's all girl! I had decided to make a cake with fondant which actually turned out okay, but it's definitely not near as delicious as the buttercream frosting, that's for sure. I also made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with pink buttercream and chocolate cream cheese buttercream and they were scrumptious! Martha ain't got nothin' on me!! hee hee I think Mya really liked her party and I'll have to show you pics of that day, instead I decided on showing the ones of her with her special cake which we all devoured after. :) It was so cute, Eli could hardly stand it while I was taking pictures that we weren't actually eating the cake, he really wanted to get his hands on it and was so patient. Eli's birthday is this weekend so it will be fun to have his special day too, he's been waiting for a long time! Happy Birthday sweet Mya, we love you so much and are so lucky to have you in our lives. You brighten our days with your sweet smile and are such a beautiful part of our family. We are so blessed.

Happy Birthday to the love of my life!

Today is a very special day...it's Tan's Birthday!!

I have loved Tan for as long as I can remember...our first prom we went to together I was history! I couldn't resist his high knee socks in basketball, and those tight pants in football, and he could always make me laugh. ( We all remember that break-dance show at 8th grade graduation, hee hee :) ) I've loved him ever since!!

Tan has this way about him that draws you to him...everyone loves to be around him and he makes me want to be a better person. Here's some random things I heart about my man:

• he loves family and is such an awesome dad
• I love his sense of humor
• dreamy blue eyes
• super-amazing at sports (he's like the bionic-man or something) and at anything he does
• he makes sure I have gas in my car
• pretends I love the "fart gun"
• changes diapers and gives the kids bubble baths
• makes really good breakfasts
• has really big muscles
• he gives the best massages
• awesome at wrestling, Eli can't get enough
• his laugh is contagious
• thinks we all like noogies (is that how you spell it?)
• super strong and loves to give piggy backs and opens all my jars that I can't
• gives me the first sip of his soda
• tells me I'm gorgeous when I haven't done my makeup or showered
• lets us all watch sportscenter whenever we want :)
• makes the best "no-bake" cookies
• waters all my plants since I forget to :)
• is the best person I know
• my bestest friend
• did I mention he has really big muscles? :)
• oh....and his cute buns!

Happy Birthday luva, you still light my fire!! Thanks for being you :)

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{St. Patty's Day, and turning 50}

Yesterday my beautiful mom turned 50 and my sister and I had so much fun "kidnapping" her, going to lunch and having a great girls day together (of course I had the kids) but we had a great time!! My sister was the kidnapper, ski mask, water guns and all....and then we had a fabulous lunch at a new little bistro in Twin. We then headed back to Hagerman where my mom was then paraded around town to her friends' houses, local businesses, etc. in an "old Lady" costume complete with a wig, cane, nylons around the ankles, funky glasses, clip-on earring...you get the picture followed by a delicious meal held by her dear friend. We had a great time and I hope mom did too...you are the best mom.. we love you so much!!

On a whole separate note, St. Patrick's day is here and I though I'd make one of these if I had some extra time...so stinkin' cute! I found it here and loved all the fun ideas!! It's my new favorite blog as of right now and has some great tips, recipes etc. You should go check it out!! I'm going to try some of her tutorials, they look so easy and fun. Hope you all have a wonderful St. Patty's day!!

{E-man's birthday party}

Wow! This took me forever to get posted but better late than never, right? Eli's birthday was a lot of fun even though there was a complete lack of planning on my part. We ended up just having a small get together at our house after going bowling and just kept it pretty low key. Eli got so many cool presents and I think this year was the year he started to really get the idea. I also posted a picture of a little card that we get to read every year for Eli's birthday....my sister did this up when I had Eli's baby shower 2 years ago and it's the cutest thing! She had everyone at the shower write down advice for each year of his life until he reaches 18 and she did each year up in a really cute way! This year it was a little shoe and when you open it up, there's all these great words of advice from people I love on what to expect or how to deal with that age. Some of the things said are hilarious, others are heartwarming and I truly look forward to reading each one when his birthday comes around. My sister is so stinkin' creative and thoughtful.....I dont' know what the heck I'll do when she has her babies, I'm in trouble!! I just thought it was a great idea to do for a shower if you were in need of a fun idea! Anyways, hope you are having a great weekend! I love you Eli! I can't believe you're already two!

Here's the cake that I worked sooooo hard on......Uggh!! It was pretty cheesy but Eli seemed to like it even though there were some language barrier issues at the ice cream shop.....the cake ended up saying Happy 2 TH , not happy 2 ND.....ha ha and there wasn't any lightning McQueen figures, just spongebob. Sigh......I'll do better next year! :)

I think he had a great time, don't cha think?

.Eli's 2nd Birthday.

For Eli's 2nd Birthday we took him bowling for the first time and he had a blast!! I wish I had taken a pic of when Tan had to chase after Eli down the bowling lane........Eli was so worried that his ball wouldn't come back that he went chasing after it and Taner followed after. Needless to say it was VERY slippery and both fell right on their backs!! They were totally fine but it was hilarious! Eli only did it one more time after that and poor Grandma was the victim then and I hope she has recovered from the experience. We had so much fun and I have more of his actual party but for now here's the ones from our super-duper fun bowling night!

{My baby is Two!}

Say what? I can't believe my little man is going to be turning two......TWO!!!! Time goes way too fast and I want to tell it to please stop just for a moment so I can take it all in and enjoy my little ball of fire a little while longer. Eli is such a crack-up! He's an amazing big brother, loves to help me get diapers and change her, and he always is worried when she cries. He's always had such a kind heart and is such a ball of energy that even though he's a handfull sometimes and keeps me on my toes, he brightens my day so much and I love him more than ever! It's been such a joy to watch him grow and become the little person that he is with all his personality and spunk and I can't wait to see what the future years hold. On the 7th of this month he'll be two and Tan and I feel so lucky to be his parents, such a cutie! Happy early birthday bud, you are our little sunshine and we love you so much!!!

Happy Birthday, Lova

Birthday at the Beach

Okay.....so.....I'm HOW old? The other day it was my 28th birthday and this time I guess it kind of snuck up on me! I still feel like I'm 19 and have so much I want to do and accomplish! You know that list you make when you're young of all the things you plan to do or have done by a certain age? For some reason I was thinking of that and basically everything I had mapped out for myself has totally been rewritten and I'm using a whole different compass! 

The old me would not be very comfortable with change but as I've gotten older I have learned to love these changes for they are what make me, me! Taner and I took Eli to the beach for my birthday and had such a wonderful day! Eli had so much fun and while I was watching him and Tan play I was thinking of what I mentioned before and I can truly say I am so very happy with where I am at and how lucky I am to have such an amazing family who I love so very much. We are healthy, happy and get to do so many things together and I don't think anything I had planned for myself would have been any better than this. Thank you Taner and Eli for such a special day, for my delicious peanut butter brownies and for all the laughs. 

My baby is 1 year old!

Happy Birthday Eli! We are so blessed to have you in our family and you brighten our day in so many ways! You can always make us laugh and it is so fun to watch you grow. We can't believe you're 1 year old since the 7th, time has really flown by. We love you so much!

Here's our little man, all grown up!

And walking!

The morning of his birthday I went a little crazy and made all kinds of pancakes to make a big number one and a yummy stack! Who wouldn't want a birthday stack of pancakes with their very own wish?

At first he didn't know what to think and took the pancakes off one by one.

But then he got into the birthday spirit and went pancake crazy! Isn't it great to be one?

Yes, this incredibly professional-looking, crooked cake was made by me. Martha Stewart will see this picture and will beg for the recipe I'm sure, not bad for someone who doesn't have any round cake pans, right? I promise I'll do better next year so Eli doesn't have to be embarassed!

Eli got his first balloons from grandma, he was wrestling with them all day!

We also had a party while we were back in Idaho so we could spend it with family. It was fun to watch his reactions!

Isn't Jake so cute? He's almost exactly Eli's age so they can be buds!

Chloe as a zebra

A tiger and monkey hug