it's my birthday

well, almost.  technically i still have 6 more days (translation....6 more shopping days), but i really don't go by that.  my mom has always joked that i start planning my next birthday the day after my birthday.  and she's kind of right.  i love spending time with my family and my friends and while that happens often, something about birthdays make it even more special. 

last year allen surprised me with dinner with about 30 of our closest friends :)  it was right before we moved so i was soaking up all the time with them that i could get.  it was also that night that i *knew* i was pregnant with anderson.  yes, august 19, 2009 was a great day.

my mom asked me a week ago if i'd made my birthday list.  i hadn't.  she was shocked.  so was i.  i normally start mid-spring sending emails with links with "for my birthday" as the subject line.  so i started thinking...about things i've wanted since christmas (or before) and either hadn't asked for, didn't get, or pushed to the side so i could get something else, which normally translates to "for my kids."  i love getting money but i normally use it for gas, diapers, clothes for my kids or groceries.  am i the only one who does that?

so here are a few things i've had my eye on. 

a toy watch.  and no, i don't want it because sandra bullock wore it in the blind side.   in fact, i saw these on oprah's favorite things when avery was 1.  loved it then, love it now.  white on white is my favorite, my second choice is white with a pink face.

  

a hobo clutch/wallet.  a friend introduced these to me a few years ago and i love them.  they are kind of pricey, but well worth it (i've heard).  they are super cute and supposedly "last forever."  i take that term with a grain of salt knowing that it won't be the last wallet i ever buy.  for those of you that have one, do you love it??

 

custom picture frames.  because you just can't have enough.  and because these coordinate with a piece already hanging on my wall.   i sent my mom a set for andersons room (see, i can't help it) but i want these too.  is that bad?  no.  it's not.  that's why we make wish lists...if i don't get it for my birthday you'll see it again on my christmas list.  a perk of having a summer birthday.

a necklace.  i gave these to my mom and mother-in-law for mothers day.  i want one too.  super cute with a white fitted t-shirt and dark jeans.  

speaking of which, there are some jeans i want too...that i'll be getting...but not on august 19th.  i can't find the picture, but trust me, i know where to find them!

so there's my list.  it's not long, partially because there is only one thing on it priced under $100.  i know i have at least one friend who will identify and sympathize with my list.  and i love her for it!  she's probably reading this post and nodding her head.

so how about you?  what's on your wish list?

our new obsession

our family has a new obsession.  i know we're a bit behind the granola train, but, to be honest, i've never had any yogurt that i just loved.  or really even liked.  the consistency and smell grosses me out.

until i had anderson.

i was in the hospital and they brought me a parfait that was YUMM-O.  so good, in fact, i asked for another.  i did a little research and been on a mission to find my favorite combinations.  bonus?  the girls love it too!

here's my mix of choice

i love the cinnamon raisin granola, and the fresh berries are yummy too!  i have a friend who makes her own granola, and i can't wait to get my hands on her recipe.

my avery

six years ago our family was blessed with the precious gift of avery.  i can tell you that my world changed when they placed her in my arms, when we brought her home, when she smiled at me, rolled over, walked, went to student life childcare, called me mommy, held her baby sister, started 3, 4 and 5k, wrote her name, did a forward roll, recited scripture, told me she loved me, made the right decision, saw cinderella's castle, danced in her ballet recital, held her baby brother, taught addison something new, swam by herself, failed at something...then succeeded.  in six short years God has used this little girl to change my life and i am so thankful for her.

happy birthday avery!

same faces, different places

we were in town for the fourth!  that meant lots of family time and lots of friend time!  dreamland and fireworks have been our tradition with our friends and this year was no exception.  we did, however, change our location to watch the fireworks and (thanks to trey) it was a spectacular view! 

life is so much sweeter

with friends

we spent last week with some of my most favorite friends.  who doesn't love the beach?  tons of fun was had by all. 

addison spent most of her time trying to keep up with the big girls or telling the little girls what to do

avery rarely came up for air

and sweet anderson just did whatever we needed him to do

so thankful for wonderful friends!

638

curious as to what these numbers mean? 

638

the number of times i hear mommy each day?  (nope, way more than that)

the number of hairs on andersons head?

the number of times i have to stop and pick up a my little pony toy?

the number of times i pray for sanity?

the number of sonic blasts i've eaten this month?

if you said any of these...you're wrong!

it's ages of my kiddos, well, sort of.

my avery... is about to be 6 years old, which baffles me.  where did the time go?  where is sunset drive and her little nursery?  where is this little butterball of a baby?  I'll tell you where she is...she's grown into a little girl that has lost 3 teeth (two she pulled herself), who learned to swim on her stomach, back and underwater in 6 days, and is about to start REAL kindergarten.  i'm trying to savor every moment of this summer...it's my last one before her 'school years.'

sweet addison...in the middle of her 3rd year.  when we moved last year she was still in diapers and now she's grown into this sassy, independent little girl that says things like "i'm serious mommy."  she's a dance machine and a cuddle bug.  her attitude (when her arms aren't crossed and she's not stomping across the room) and empathy make me want to be a better person.  she loves to hug me and allen and tell us "i'll take care of you."  she's going to be a great mommy.

little anderson...already 8 weeks.  i call him my little punkin-doodle, which often gets shortened to little punk.  we all love his hair...it's just as thick as the girls when they were this age...and i'll admit, i've given him a mohawk.  on purpose.  and liked it.  it was inspired by the nickname.

here are two similar pictures i found of avery with addison and anderson. 

if you ask me who he looks like, i will have two answers - 1) like allen, 2) like avery as a baby. i think he has the best of avery and addison to make the perfect little anderson.  he's so sweet and has the sweetest temperament.  he loves for the girls to talk to him and they take every opportunity to get right in his face.  and while he might fall asleep in your arms, he doesn't want to be held while he sleeps.  we still swaddle him and he's the first of my little ones to take a pacifier.  he's found his thumb several times in the car and playing but because he sleeps swaddled, it's just not there for him to have.  8 weeks have flown by and while life is definitely a little busier, i couldn't imagine it any other way!

the gift giver

i've been thinking a lot about weddings lately.  we have several to attend this summer and, most importantly, my sister is getting married in august and we're all in wedding mode!  i love weddings - the planning, the food, the pictures, calligraphy on the envelopes, flowers, the dress up - every.single.detail.  i have coordinated many weddings and i love helping brides make sure their day goes as planned.  i think it's my type-A personality.  it's also a need to have things under control - one of my many gifts flaws. 

anyway...

one of my favorite things about weddings is picking out the perfect gift.  which means browsing a registry.  which takes me back to the point and shoot gun at all of my registry locations.  all six registry locations.  not really six, i think it was five.  seriously.  five.  can you say OB-NOX-IOUS?

a blog i follow recently asked us to tell her our best/worst wedding gifts. 

my favorite was not on my registry - shock - it was a laundry basket filled with things you don't think about buying when you're a nearly-wed.  tide, downy, paper towels, a swiffer kit, toilet paper, febreeze, cascade, hand soap, hand towels, ziploc bags in all sizes windex, endust, coat hangers, candles, aluminum foil, chip clips, a gas gift card, a movie rental gift card...you get the idea.  it was overflowing of some of the most practical household items that really add up on your grocery budget (we didn't have a budget when we got married...we just spent).  and i've given this gift to several others as they've gotten married. 

my least favorite was...well i'm not telling.  :)  just kidding.  i really can't remember anything i just didn't like.  plenty of duplicates and things i didn't use.  and i'm sure there were things i didn't like - trust me - i just can't remember what they were.

so tell me yours - favorite and least favorite thing you got?  favorite thing to give?