Happy Birthday AND First Day of SCHOOL!

Leila's 9th Birthday landed on the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THIS YEAR!  WAHOO! 

I'm sure the mathematical genius inside of me could figure out how many times this will happen in her lifetime... but the mathematical genius inside of me seems to be on vacation.... so we know it won't happen but only a very few times.  And how fun for LEILA!

Look how tall she is compared to the door!  My Big Girl!  Staring 3rd Grade at 9 Years OLD!



Simply Beautiful!

Our annual tradition was followed:  Nathan and I went to get donuts for the family bright and early in the morning.  He was of course up at 6 AM!  We put a candle in Leila's pastry and served her in bed along with a song.  She was pretty anxious last night and had a hard time sleeping, but she didn't wake up grumpy.  Who could when greeted with sugar and song?

The kids are holding up their grade:  2nd and 3rd!  They are old Pro's at this school thing!

 

 



Another Tradition is walking to school.  We left a bit early this year.  We LOVE that Daddy can go into work a bit later and can join us every year.

 

Kathryn and I will miss the big kids.  We spent the morning playing with Haley, going and checking out Kathryn's new pre-school!(YES!  SHE GOT IN TO THE FREE SCHOOL WITH OUR NEIGHBOR!) And doing a bit more birthday shopping.  Its been a great day so far!  Can't wait to hear how the kids did at school!

More Birthday posting later.....  I'm sure....

Happy Birthday Dear Kathryn!

Our BABY isn't a BABY anymore!  She is a BIG GIRL!  And She will be the first to tell you this!

I recently started a job and had to work on her birthday, but when she came into our bed around 4 AM both Daddy and Mommy were able to to sing to her and kiss her.  Thankfully she went back to sleep until wake up time! 

For dinner we went out to Red Robin with Grandma and Grandpa(Forgetting my camera! Poor poor third child!). We were SOOO lucky to have our good friends Garret and Haylee join us! Haylee is one week younger than Kathryn so we had them sing to them both! It was fun to pretend to be a family with five kids.

 At home both of the girls were too full for any birthday cake, so we opened presents and played games.

The REAL FUN was on Monday at the Sweet Shoppe Birthday Party!

My AMAZINGLY TALANTED Friend and Neighbor Erica, aka Haylee's Mom, put on a magical party for the girls.  The kids had so much fun!  I lovingly stole some pics off of Erica's blog-- but you should check it out to see her post and posts in general to see all of her amazing talents:  http://jnesorenson.blogspot.com/

Cakes by Erica!  One for each Sweetheart!

Decorations!!!!

WE ARE THREE!

Pin the Gum on the Gumball Machine!

Make a WISH!

Cake is SOOOO Good!

Another Birthday!

Nathan had trouble going to sleep last night.  He was just too excited about his birthday.  He was hoping we might give him a gift before school?  I told him that was completely silly since we bought him new shoes on Saturday and Daddy bought him the Transformer Movie on Saturday too that Mommy actually let him watch on Sunday.  So he has already "opened" a couple of gifts-- right?

Anyway, I told him I completely understood.  Seven years ago last night I was getting ready for bed knowing I would be going into the hospital to be induced the next day.  I had some trouble sleeping too because of excitment!

Happy Birthday Little Man! 

We sure love you!

8 is Great!

Sept. 4th marks the Day when Jeremy and I became parents!  What a wonderful and blessed day that was!

I always tell Leila that in the months before having her I would have very vivid dreams of her.  I especially liked the dream when they would bring her to me the first time and our eyes would meet.  I always tell her when that happened, it was my biggest dream come true.

Leila is very excited to be 8! She said on the way to church she was starting to feel like an eight-year-old. She is very kind and compassionate, always want to help out those who aren't feeling well. She is sassy and wants what she wants, but she knows what is right and always makes the right choices.

We had a very laid back picnic with our family and some friends at a local park. The kids had a blast and Leila enjoyed herself immensely. Thanks to everyone who supports and loves Leila. Thanks to everyone who supports and loves Jeremy and I and helps us to be better parents to this amazing little big girl!

We love you our BIG GIRL!  So glad to have you in our family!

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

Looks Who's 35!

ME!



I FINALLY trained my husband to make me a cake- I simply have refused to make my own, which means I have gone without most of my married life(We did go out many times and the restaurants would provide me something good).  Good Job Sweetie!



 My sweet husband Jeremy did a great job taking care of me today-- he made us a big breakfast to enjoy, and my parents joined us.  My kids were very excited to sing to me.  They had a beautiful card for me.  I went shopping the night before with his blessing and a budget that was his gift for me(and I got some awesome stuff!).  I had a low-key afternoon at home with the baby while Jeremy and the kids to a movie.  Baby wouldn't nap, but I got a lot of reading in.  I started getting ready for my night out and actually did my  make up(not remembering that last time I did my full face, I figure it was for my wedding day).  We headed out to Sellwood after dropping my kids off at my nieces house to have El Salvadorian food. Then it was over to Roller Derby to watch a very exciting game(more below).  

I called my Mom for a last minute shopping trip Friday Night- and she always finds me stuff!  I spent way too much money on myself and the conflict of guilt and thrill for doing so was grand.
 But I felt pretty spiffy-- new cloths down to my toes!

A bunch of my dear friends went out to dinner with me at El Planeque in Sellwood

These are my Ladies

And the boys

Christy, Me and Melia at Roller Derby- Future Roller Queens? 

The topping on the cake, so to speak- was the Roller Derby Experience.  Jeremy and I enjoyed the movie "Whip-it" and we looked into it and found the Rose City Rollers.  Tonight, my birthday, The Guns N Rollers were playing against the High Rollers.  It was entertaining- I think I actually started understanding the game towards the end of the night.  We cheered for both teams.  It was exciting and very fast moving.  To all of you asking me if my next endeavor will be to become a Roller Queen-- I am thinking not.  I am not tough enough-- I would be apologizing to the girls I would be bumping out of the way.  And when I fell, I would probaby stay on the ground(gravity likes me).  But who knows?  Molly Mayhem might have a place?

I feel very blessed and happy that I have so very much at age 35. 

I think this year will definitely be my year!