st. patrick's day and some randoms

daddy's birthday

I'm big on birthdays, if you haven't noticed.  My husband's was no exception, especially when he was entering his thirties!!  He, on the other hand, isn't too excited about his birthday- his own and others. 

It was a Thursday and he wanted to go to Outback for his favorite chopped steak salad.  It's not even on the menu anymore, but they are super accomodating when he asks for it!  We took both kids out, along with my parents and brother, figuring that we had a 5:2 ratio of kids to adults, respectively.  With the crayons given and new iphones, we were equipped to make it through. 

Afterwards we headed home for some ice cream cake, requested by the birthday boy!

This is my favorite!

The kids were, by far, more excited than Jon!

Here's to another decade, as good as the last!

v-day photoshoot

It was a sunny morning and Cole's new shirt arrived in the mail a few days prior, so we had a little photo shoot.  I threw up a background and shot away.  I notice that my first shots always come out the best.  It helps when I have two cooperative kids!

This one is my favorite.  I love when photography is like art.  I hate posed pictures, where the subject is dead center and looking at the camera with a fake smile.  I'm contemplating getting this blown way up and hanging it somewhere.

My babies are growing up too fast!!

This picture represents my girl when she's in a silly mood.  I love the lips.  Someone has been teaching this girl to pose.

More legs and toes.  Cole hates to wear socks!  It makes me crazy because it's so cold!

Cut his hair off or not?  Hmmmmm....

 

This doesn't happen very often!

I love V-day pics!

turning 29 (again!)

On my actual birthday, I invited my family to come over for dinner!  I didn't really want to go out with the kids to a restaurant because it's more work than it's worth.  I can never really relax when we're out.  And, I wanted to be able to drink my wine and enjoy it.

Me and my mom.  Boy, do I look pale.

homemade pink lemonade cupcakes that my wonderful husband made me.

My favorite little guy.

They were dancing on the Wii.

No one loved taking this picture.  Doesn't Jon look happy??

surprise!!

I was very specific with my mom that I did NOT want a surprise party for my birthday.  She assured me that Jon didn't say anything to her about a party.  So, I assumed there would not be any surprises.  On Tuesday  my mom invited us over for pizza on Saturday.  She said he friends were coming over to plan their trip to Vegas.  I didn't think much of it until that day.  Jon wasn't feeling well and had been on the couch for most of the day.  He decided not to come.  Before I left I just got this feeling that something was going on and told Jon.  He must have thought I was crazy since he was planning a surprise party on my acutal birthday.  So, I called my mom on our way over and there were two things that sorta threw me off... the first was the told me everyone was over there (Nicole, Mike and Luke).  I thought it was a little weird that she cared that they were all home, if her friends were coming over.  The second thing that threw me off was that she was concerned that Jon wasn't coming.  If we were just coming over to hang out, I didn't know why she cared so much that Jon wasn't coming.  I called Jon again and he just laughed.

So, as I was sitting there, cutting out felt circles, I mentioned to my mom and Nicole that it crossed my mind that there was going to be some kind of surprise.  They both assured me that there was no surprise.  Not even 10 minutes later the doorbell rang.  and rang.  and rang.  And, in poured my all of our friends.

I had to call Jon and let him know there was a party going on for us.  He took a shower, felt much better and came over.

It was a ton of fun!

Nicolette was Lysa's girl all night.

Baby Francesca came, at a whopping 3 1/2 weeks old.  And, she's a celebrity!  Cute little girl is on a magazine cover, already!!

All my friends were there!

Sisters!

My mom got us!  It was so much fun!

michigan trip

We took a little trip to Michigan over MLK weekend.  Jon and his sister hadn't seen their grandma in awhile and Miss Mattie hadn't met Great Grandma yet, so we decided to meet in Michigan for a mini reunion.  Aunt Kim and Uncle Greg graciously offered their home for us to stay at.  Even Grandma Jeanette came!  Poor Grandpa Gary was the only one who wasn't able to make it.  We missed him!

The kids were really excited to see "baby Mattie"!  I think she might be called that forever!

Inbetween the last picture and the next picture, Nicolette and I were able to meet four amazing women (and their children), who I have known for years.  I brought my camera, and then left it in the car (Jon dropped me off).  I was SO bummed.  It was a meeting that was cut much too short, but when you only have a limited amount of time, it's hard to fit everything in.

Rushed from the indoor play center, we were off to tea!  I have never heard of an actual tea party place before!  I have to say, it was one of the cutest places!  We arrived after the other girls had enjoyed tea and pumpkin bread, but just in time to enjoy a little tea and order food. 

Mattie had fun too!

Later that day we went to Ryan's house for a little pizza and rock band.  Cole thought he was all that when he was playing the drums!

Unfortunately we had to go home on Sunday.  We're hoping we see everyone again real soon!

This was not easy to do!  Mattie is pulling Cole's hair in this picture.

It was a fun weekend seeing family.