For all those who come to this happy place, Welcome!

I can't believe my baby is already one years old. It's amazing how when you get older time speeds up and you barely feel like your catching your breath and your baby isn't so tiny anymore. I've enjoyed Abbey's babyhood. She is a funny little parrot. I feel out of all my kids she has my sense of humor (or maybe she is just too little to think I'm a dork, yet) My kids are so proud of her. Just this last weekend she started crawling like a "real baby" (on all fours) - but she is much faster at her "cockroach crawl" and resorts to that more often. She also spins 360' on her hiney. It's funny to watch, and she thinks the world of Paige & James. SHe lights up whenever Paige comes around and Paige is the first to try and make her happy. She thinks James is hilarious with his loud ways and is constantly laughing at him which just eggs him on even more. She is super independent. She gave up baby food at 2 teeth and 9 months. S...

We were invited to James friend Austin's birthday party. It was 'pirates gone wild!' It was so fun and there was buried treasure to be found. My Pirate Princess Paige... she can arrrggh - like no other. Pirate Maren & baby Abbey got into the pirate themed spirit of things. Abbey in her pirate garb. I made her this onesie before the party so she could fit into this rough crowd. James is walking the plank while Paige guides him to his final destination. Christie & Gavin and Maren & Abbey chat it up. Like the do? - My friend Chelsea rocks!

Happy Birthday Paige!! My little girl just turned 6 years old... and she will be in 1st grade. Should I start feeling old now? Paige is a birthday junkie. She keeps count of days and then is always asking if that's all the presents we got her. She is such a funny girl. She spreads it out as long as she can and you can't skip even one tradition with her. Here she is Birthday morning waking up before daddy left for work to see her brand new bike. it has since lost the training wheels and she's not to thrilled with that, but promises to try to learn how to ride a 2 wheeler (so far that means Jason holding onto the back the entire time when they go for bike rides). Paige insisted on chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast with candles (like Aunt Jen makes) - I swear you miss just one birthday and you make up for it every year by having a new tradition added to their lists. I shaped it like Mickey Mouse & added the whip cream & cherry. It turned out cute & didn't ...

I don't even think I can call him my baby anymore. I can't believe it's been 4 years. It has flown by. I have loved the crazy/fun/loving dynamic James has brought to our family. He is so unique with the things he says and does. He is a constant source of entertainment and such a blessing to our lives. James was born in one of the hardest years for our family, 2004 was a struggle with Jason's family and loosing my grandmother that I had been really close to. But he was the bright light we needed to get through all the difficult times. This is my boy showing off his bum( blebee ) or just his new jammies . He got Jack the Pumpkin King jammies for his birthday and was dancing around like a crazy man. I asked him to show me his present & he stuck out his bum. I couldn't stop laughing. He is always so full of it. James has been wanting a real bike for years. He had the pleasure of riding his friend Eliot's bike for a week when they left it at our house. So when h...

Today is Annette's (my mother minus the in-law) birthday. One of the funnest things about her birthday is that it marks the first day of spring . There are so many wonderful things to share about Annette. We first met in Rome, Italy back in July 1998. Jason was touring with his parents & sisters around Italy and stopped by Rome. It happened to be my last Pday in the mission. I remember how nice she was and so complimentary. She acted very demure and polite - little did I know the sassy little thing inside . Walking through the Colosseum, I ended up with her & Ron. All I remember is Ron asking me to come home and date his son . I think I just laughed off his request (little did I know)... Annette is the essence of generosity . She not just gives very thoughtfully & willingly - but she gives her time freely & her talents. Nothing is half-way with her. When she throws a party or shower she gives it her all. It is always tasteful and classy . She loves her grand kids ...

Zach had a birthday shout Hurrray !!! Jason & James hanging out with the birthday boy! Cousins having a lot of fun at Makutu's Island - Sadie, Zach, James, Paige, Grace & Nick Paige & James having fun together (what? no fighting? who are these children? really...) Paige telling James to get off the game - now there is my daughter! That's the girl I know and love. still leading (controlling) her brother in the right direction. Yeah! My kids hadn't had their minds altered with the intense sugar load. These are the right ones. Paige with the effects of sugar.... My little Supa -Star!!

One of the best things about my birthday is sharing it with my mom. I was born on her birthday 32 years ago today. Can you believe it, 32 years old - you too will get lovely little fine lines when you hit 30- ish . Oh how time flies when your having a life. Anyway, I've been tagged a few times to share interesting pointless facts about myself... so here goes. Curl up in your favorite sweats with your bowl of homemade popcarn , because this might take awhile. My mom was 24 years old back in November of 1975 - having her 4 th child (brave woman)... Here is a little known fact about her. Molly (my beautiful momma) only wanted 4 children so I was in the clear (thank goodness), how she ended up with ten was pure divine intervention and a very "healthy" relationship (oh the stories I could tell, but this is neither the time nor the place - I will save it for another time). Anyway, it was the day before Thanksgiving, a Wednesday to be exact. (Side note: I never understood the ...