The Girls' Birthday Party!!

I can't believe we are celebrating our girls' fourth and second birthdays!  Where does the time go?  We had so much fun at their party with family and a couple friends.  We went with a butterfly theme this year.  I didn't do a whole lot of decorations like last year, but did print off some butterflies and had them hanging around the house.  I also ordered a flower arrangement that had some butterflies in it.  It was beautiful!  And it's never a party without balloons!  The girls never stopped smiling.  We had thirteen kids under the age of five and Austin.  It was pretty crazy and I was really thankful for our newly reorganized toy room in the basement!  We had a wonderful meal of baked ziti, bread sticks, seven layer salad and fruit!  I let each of the girls pick out the kind of cake they wanted and made each of their cakes and cupcakes in their kind.  Kezzie picked strawberry and Adah picked confetti.  Perfect for their personalities!!  This year we actually sang to each of them individually.  I think they both felt special!  They are both so special!  I am so thankful for each of them and how they have changed our family!  Happy Birthday Keziah and Adah!  Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

Happy Birthday Brian!

I don't have any pictures as proof but I can't just not post about how we celebrated!!  About a month before his birthday I received a brochure in the mail for some upcoming events at the GBPAC.  It got me thinking and looking online for anything that was around his birthday.  It turned out that The Blue Man Group had been rescheduled from earlier in the year and one of the performing nights was on his birthday.  It was supposed to be a surprise until the tickets came in the mail on a day I was out of town.  When I returned home Brian asked me what the tickets were for.  I was completely caught off guard and told him to open it and find out.  It was still totally worth it as he was still really surprised and super excited.  It was priceless.  Brian's mom and dad agreed to take care of the kids and get them all in bed for us.  We left our house around 4:45 for some reservations at Bourbon Street in Cedar Falls (we had a gift card for there thanks to Emily and Adam).  The performance started at 7:30.  We were kind of far away from the stage but still really really enjoyed it all.  It was such a great evening out with Brian.  It's been a really long time and it made us realize how much we needed it!  God has blessed me so much by putting Brian in my life.  I love him to death and pray for many more years ahead for him!  Happy Birthday, Honey!

Ethan turns 5 and Alanna turns 1!!

We hurried home from the river this morning so we could get home in time to make it to Chuck-E-Cheese's in CF to celebrate two very important birthdays!  Ethan is the big FIVE years old and sweet little Alanna turned 1!  The kids had so much fun!  It was nice to have Austin there too.  I think we figured out that he has been to very few parties for Ethan because he always just happens to be with his dad.  Ethan was too nervous to go in the ticket blaster and Alanna was too little so Kezzie and Bennett went in their place.  Kezzie ended up earning an extra 54 tickets and having a lot of fun in the process!  Austin kept getting really lucky on the chance games and even spun a 125 ticket mark at one time.  He ended up with almost 450 tickets!  That got him a pretty cool mini basketball!  And when it was time for us to leave Bennett gave Kezzie a hug and they nearly tackled each other.  Actually, Bennett did end up on his back on the floor with an ouch on his head before the hug was over but it was just too sweet to stop!  It was a great time celebrating two of my favorite kids!  Happy Birthday Ethan and Alanna!  We love you to pieces!

Rylan Turned 2!

Lots of pictures, I know...it was an eventful day as we celebrated Rylan turning two yesterday.  He is such a sweetie and getting so big!  He really loved his cake and ice cream and his presents too!  Most of all though, I think all the kids just had a blast playing together!  Happy Birthday buddy!

Surprise!!!

Adam had the brilliant idea to throw Emily a surprise party to celebrate a few things that are happening in her life! First of all she completely finished college-never going back! She went back to school to get her endorsement in school counseling. So on top of that she started a new job as a student counselor for the Denver school system, working with kids k-8th grade. Lastly, it's her birthday on Monday and she turns a young 32 years old! Emily has come a long way. Being pregnant with Alanna and getting through school wasn't easy along with being a mom, working a full time job and worrying about where life was taking her next consumed her everyday for the last couple years! I am so incredibly proud of her. I have no idea how she survived it and I'm sure she is wondering the same thing. I know there were days she was barely getting through! But it has all been worth it and best of all God's plan is all coming together for her with the new job that she has and LOVES! We wanted her to have something new for her desk at work so we got her a willow tree angle that's holding an apple. She is making such a difference in the lives of all of those kids and it's exciting to know what an impact she is having on them (as all teachers are).  The angel says 'You are the best.  Thank you for making a difference.'  I thought that was pretty fitting!  We also gave her a little birthday money so she can get herself something to enjoy!  Happy Birthday, graduation, new job Day, Emily!  We love you!
Emily says she was very surprised and had no idea anything was even planned!  We all hid upstairs at Peppers in Cedar Falls and when the waitress pretended to seat them up there we all yelled, 'surprise!'

It's Golden!

Most years Adam and I celebrate our birthdays together since we are just a couple weeks apart in April, however, this one was extra special for him...he turned 30 on the 30th! We were supposed to celebrate with a party at Pizza Ranch last night but he threw his back out and had to cancel since he was pretty much destined to his couch! I guess that's what happens when you start getting old!! He was feeling a little better today so he made it over to mom and dad's for steaks on the grill, presents and cake. I tapped thirty $1 bills together to spell out the word thirty!  I love the picture of Alanna and I!  Such a doll!  Happy 30th Adam!  I hope that back gets straightened out!

I'm 30 :(

Today was the last of our days away from home. We didn't want to go all the way home to New Hampton after Bennett's birthday party and then drive back for church the today so we decided to end our weekend with a night at mom and dad's.  It turned out that Perry and Cindy and their four kids were coming to stay too!  I was pretty excited about this because I knew that we were celebrating my birthday after church and with Perry and Cindy in town there were more loved ones to celebrate with.  Grandma Smith even came for lunch and later Gary and Alena and Melissa and her two kids.  It was so nice to be with family!  The flowers came from my friend in Dubuque and my little sis Jamie!  They are so beautiful and smell wonderful!

Birthday Party Fun and Uglum Thanksgiving!

What a fun and awesome day!  The party started at 10AM and lasted until about 1:30 (mom and dad stayed until about 2:30).  Emily and Ethan and Alanna were unable to come because they had the flu so that was a bummer!  Casey had to work so she and Nate and Gavin didn't come either.  Dad was in the hospital for a few days (due to an infection that developed after bunion surgery) prior to the day of the party but managed to get out the day before and made it to the party.  That was a nice surprise for us all!  Even my good friend from Cedar Rapids and her son came!  What a treat!  Keziah and Adah received many great gifts and we all got to enjoy ham balls, veggies, fruit and cheesy carrot casserole together!  What a great time to reflect on how blessed we are to have these two beautiful and healthy girls! 

Since Mat and Steph and the boys were in town we decided we would celebrate Thanksgiving that same day so a little bit after the girls woke up we headed over to Riley and Kathy's house for the evening.  It's always great to get the cousins together and have a little adult conversation!

Birthday Bash!

Here we are...the two April birthday people! We waited to celebrate until the last weekend in April since that is when Adam's birthday is. Dad grilled some amazing steaks and mom filled in the rest! She always makes awesome sides too! We finished off our meal with a little DQ ice cream cake. I got some great gifts from my family. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful loving family I can celebrate with! On my actual birthday (4-15) my sister Jamie came in the morning to spend it with me and eat lunch. She brought me a dozen pink (my favorite) roses. Just as we were headed out the door to go to the park (it was a nice but very windy day), somebody was pulling up to my house ready to deliver a bouquet of flowers from my mom. They were so incredible. And for the rest of April I enjoyed both bouquets as they smelled up the entire main floor of my house. After only 20 minutes at the park, we were ready to come home. It was time for lunch. I made my favorite crock-pot chicken recipe. It was a great day!