Happy Birthday to Me!

I guess a birthday is just another day for a mom, but there were some sweet moments yesterday! While Isaac was at playgroup, I went to help my friend Melissa pack to move and she reminded me to go to Joe's BBQ for my free birthday lunch. So, Isaac and I had a mouth-watering yummy pulled pork sandwich, mac & cheese (homemade!), BBQ beans and rootbeer cake at Joe's, followed by a free dozen doughnuts at Krispy Kreme. Yum! Couldn't ask for better treats. When Isaac fell asleep for his nap, I snuggled up and watched "Life is Beautiful" and cried. What a touching movie...I can't believe I had never seen it before. My adorable husband brought home Panda Express for dinner, beautiful white tulips, and an ice cream cake to celebrate before we hustled out the door for our last Parenting Class. Oh, and I loved all my gifts! Thank you to my mom and dad for Wii Music and for dinner at Rumbi. Thanks to Jerry and Olivia for the clothes. Thanks to Emily for the shirt and notebook and Deseret Book gift card (the best!). Thank you to Wendi and Kami, who both knew I love to make cards, for the paper supplies. To everyone else for the cards and phone calls that made my day. And especially to Jeremy for catering to my whims and gutting and painting the office and for the gorgeous new computer desk and shelving. I am so spoiled! Love you guys!

Happy Birthday Sweet Isaac!

Dear Isaac,

We love you so much and are glad you are our baby. You turned three last week. I can't believe it! What a big boy you are. Thanks for bringing such joy into our lives. You make us all laugh. We love how you go through phases carrying your treasures around with you, sleeping with them, playing with them, etc. Like the sWord you have tucked into your waistband at all times, the cars in your backpack, and the swashwight (flashlight) you sleep with. We love how you are trying to be a big boy by going potty (gimme a sticker), how you drop-kick the soccer ball and the football, how you like to set the table and put away dishes, and how you argue with Jacob about whose daddy your dad is (My daddy!). We know you love Jesus, too, and love to hear you pray and sing your nursery songs. Thanks for being such a sweetheart. We love you, Ike!

Love, Mom, Dad, Spencer, Noah and Jacob

Happy Valentine's Day!

With Isaac's birthday being on Valentine's Day, we celebrate Valentines in a little smaller way. We had heart-shaped puffy pancakes and strawberries for breakfast and I gave the boys BIG Hershey kisses. They love me. Jeremy went and bought my favorite french toast at Mimi's cafe to pamper me a bit. Then it was off for Chihuly and the celebration of our baby turning THREE! More later...

More Chihuly

Chihuly

My mom and dad have been here helping Emily's family out with Ethan's hospital stay for his terribly infected hand. On Saturday we all went to visit the installation of a glass exhibit called Chihuly (after the sculptor) at the Desert Botanical Gardens. Emily and I spent three days last month hitting redial on our phones to get free tickets for this weekend! The artwork was stunning and we enjoyed being together as a family. The boys ran up and down the trails and had a great time! (Those blue "rocks" are FLOATING!)

It Takes A Village

So, the guest bathroom is finally done! A big thank-you to Olivia, who painted it yellow! To Jerry, who helped Jeremy with the sinktop replacement and mounted the mirror on the wall. To Terry Baxter, our home teacher, who helped when the sink leaked. To my mom, who brilliantly copied an Ikea pattern for the vinyl on the wall. And I bought the towels on sale at Target. And Jeremy paid for it all! It turned out beautifully!

Our Family Picture

We went a couple of weeks ago to the Mesa Temple, where my friend and amateur photographer Heidi Hartman agreed to take our annual family photos (we bartered for piano lessons for her girls...worked out great!). Really, we didn't get any pictures that were perfect, with everyone looking and smiling and holding still all at the same time, but Heidi was so cute to snap this photo when we weren't "posing". It's my favorite of the bunch. What I love most about it is that Noah is still doing what he's supposed to (look at the camera) while the rest of us are trying to get Isaac situated so he doesn't fall off his precarious foothold in the crook of the tree. So sweet.

Run Like the Wind!

Spencer participated in the Mesa School District Junior High Track and Field competition yesterday. He placed first in hurdles! He did well in the 100-meter, too, placing 4th, and had fun throwing the shot put. It's just like when he was a little boy; he grins the whole time and you can tell he's just loving running! Way to go, Spencer.