Happy Birthday Paige

happy birthday to you couz, happy birthday to you! happy birthday to YOU! happy birthday to you.

I hope you have a day full of blessings and laughter.

What a blessing you have been in my life.

Especially college years and beyond.

Thank you for being my ACU sister and keeping an eye on me my freshman year.

I always loved to come back to my room after a long day of classes and see a note from you on my door. Or running into you in the student center before chapel and you checking in with your younger cousins like you were the Mother Hen for us. You were sweet and a huge blessing!

I loved spending that summer at Camp Deer Run with you and still could get you for not coming as a camper with all of us.

I love watching you scrapbook rapid fire style. I mean you put a whole new spin on slapping a picture on a page in style.

I love hearing your stories in blogland of the little cousins. They couldn't be more cute and full of character.

I love seeing how God is growing you and enriching your life daily.

May this year be full of many blessings for you as you continue to take life one day at a time.

Enjoy your journey couz!

I love you
Susan

Let the Festivities Begin!

My Husband out did himself this year! Jeff is NOT the planner in the family, I am!

Jeff is NOT the LOVER O' BIRTHDAYS in the family, I am!

I believe everyone should be celebrated on their BIRTHDAY! Jeff just sees it as another day until this year....

Jeff sent E-VITE's to a few of our friends and we all met at my favorite new spot in Downtown Fort Worth. Gloria's Restaurant-home of the best bean dip, margaritas and salsa dancing. For you Fort Worth folks: It's located in the newly renovated Montgomery Ward building off of 7th street. It's my opinion that EVERYONE should go by there because not only is there a Gloria's but a Starbucks, Cold Stone Creamery, Target, Ross and Marshalls. A girls dream spot.

As the party was breaking up I could not stop wishing everyone a Happy Birthday! I don't know why but I kept saying, "Thanks for coming! Happy Birthday!" Maybe it was my margarita talking but I have never been affected like that...EVER! Oh well, it was fun!

I am so blessed with friends and family who are willing to take time out from their kids to spend the evening celebrating little ole me. One friend had had a really, really rough week so I felt extra special that they made it that night. Another friend's husband was on a business trip but she still came all that way to say, "Happy Birthday!" God has really blessed Jeff and I with great friends and family! I cherish them always! Here is the chicks from the party, the men were on the opposite side of us holding our "luggage" or purses as they are normally called.

What a wonderful way to kick off the birthday celebration! Tonight we are off to celebrate FAT TUESDAY at Razoo's. Neither of us have ever done this but you are only 29 once so Jeff is letting me live it up! No that's not true it's just the excuse we are using to get out of the house since he is on vacation this week and I am not. Otherwise I would be staying home in my pj's getting caught up on laundry and other things that have gotten out of hand since I was sick 4 straight days last week. And tomorrow is my OFFICIAL birthday so Jeff and I will be heading to Cheesecake Factory! Could life get any better than that?!? I don't think so, I really don't think so!

Happy Birthday E!

Here is the story of Elijiah's 2nd birthday party in his own words.

"It's my party and I will bang my head on the ground if I want to."

"You can not bribe me with chocolate cake. I will not smile for you. I will not have a good time."

"Ohh fire. Blowing the candles out is fun, but I won't smile just so they still think I am not enjoying myself."

"Ohh this cake isn't bad either. But then again no smiles because I have to pretend I am not having any fun on my 2nd birthday."

"Maybe if I shove it in real tight they won't see my trying not to smile. This cake is really, really yummy!"

"Oh who am I trying to kid? I am having a great time!!!"

"Happy Birthday to Me! Happy Birthday To Me!"

"Yeah!!!! It's my party and I will scream for no reason if I want to."

"Sue Sue! Check out my hands and dirty face!"

"What? I didn't do anything?"

Now on to presents.

"Grandpa told me to open up this bag. Hmm, I wonder what is in there?"

"Wow, this looks like it could be fun to play with."

"It's a car!"

"Now if you will excuse me I am going to play for a minute."

"Lynnie told me to open up another one. Oh wow there are basketballs on the paper! So cool!"

"Hmm, what is it?"

"Airplane!"

"Wee!"

"Sue Sue is that what I think it is? A big bah-baw-go-go! Let me see if I can throw this big ball in the air. One, Two, Three!"

"Hmm it looks like it is going to take lots of muscle for me to get it up there."

" I think I will try a chair this time."

"Daddy why don't we use the stairs to lift it up the bah-baw-go-go in the air?

"I hope you don't drop it on Meme!"

"Look! I have a small ball too that I can try fitting in there!"

"Umph! Two points!"

"Look what I can do with the big bah-baw!"

"Wee! This is fun!"

"Whoops too far!"

"I can balance on my ball too!"

"Head stand anyone"

That's all the pictures Sue Sue has of my big day. She forgot to charge the camera. Silly Sue Sue.

A BIG DAY...KATY DAY!

Today you celebrate St. Patricks day while I celebrate my niece Katelyn's 5Th birthday! Y'all I am old!

For each of my nieces birthdays I take them to IHOP for breakfast and a trip to Wal-Mart to pick out their present. Today was Katy's day! Now let me tell you, Katy is a lot more, should I say, shy, no that's not it...maybe I should say, humble...yeah humble is the right word...than her sister Faith. Faith is a lot like me, God help her! She loves to be the center of attention. She is not afraid to talk up her birthday weeks in advance and she will tell you all day, "It's my birthday say happy birthday to me!" The proof of our similarities is in this post.

Anyway, Katy was the complete opposite of Faith. I bought her an "I am 5" pin today. She put it on at first but then someone at IHOP said, "Happy Birthday!" because they read her pin. It freaked her out and she asked to take it off. What!?!?!? Shoot, I would of loved to have one that said "I am 29 today," I would of wore it proudly. Although I am happy to say she later put it back on after I talked to her about how important today was. I said things like, today is YOUR DAY, you only have this day only once a year, so you should soak it up because everyone deserves to feel special on their day. Do you know her response?

"I felt different today when I woke up because I was a whole year older!"

I told her I totally understood how she feels, I always feel different on my birthday. When they came to sing I snapped this picture of her in the "IHOP Chef's hat." She was a little nervous with having all the attention focused on her. Isn't she a doll! Love this girl, yes I do!

Here is her breakfast of champions...she ate all the chocolate chips and almost half of the Funny Face Pancake.

And here I am with my sweet niece Katelyn. (And yes that is an NCAA hat I am proudly wearing from my mom's trip last year. Hint to Mom: Bring me back another one this year. And yes bloggers, my mom is going to the finals without ME! Where is the love people? Where is the love? The closest I get to being able to go to the Finals is dropping them off at the airport!)
I love you sweet Katelyn and enjoyed being able to be apart of your special day! After all you only turn 5 once. And you are the cutest 5 year old I know!

Katelyn's Favorites at age 5 (according to her today)

Favorite Cartoon: Popeye and Dora

Favorite Color: Purple (she gets that from me!)

Favorite Season: Summer (she surprised me, I didn't know if she would understand what I was asking)

Favorite Movie: "Ah, sometimes "Tweety the Movie" and sometimes "High School Musical"

Favorite Food: Pancakes (Go figure...she was waiting for them after all)

Favorite Restaurant: McDonald's

Andrew: Two Months

Andrew turned two months on October 16th and I am still trying to figure out how I can slow the process down.  It seems like only yesterday I was writing his one month post.  I don't even want to think about how it will feel to write his 12 month post one day.  I know this year is going to fly by and so I choose to embrace every up & down this past month has brought to the table.  Thankfully more ups than downs but I would be lying if I told you it was all great, all the time.

Andrew loves to sleep with his hands close to his face.

Over the past month, I started back to work.  Thankfully I work at home otherwise I would have begged to stay home.  God was good providing this jobs many years ago. Adding work into our daily routine has thrown both Andrew and I for a loop the past few weeks.  Even though I am still home all day, it's almost like he knows I am not fully paying attention to him.  For example, the other day I needed to take care of a few emails in the office.  I carried him in to sit on my lap while I worked and the minute I sat down in the chair, he threw a fit.  This was the first time he had ever done this and I was perplexed for a few minutes until I realized that Andrew is not happy when I am working.  I have since brought in his play mat to sit next to the desk so that I can answer emails scream free.  Good news is that we are finally both starting to find our way again and the work days are getting to be much easier.



My Little Co-Worker



This past month Andrew attended his first birthday party.  My favorite set of twins turned double digits and there was no way we were going to miss their ice skating party.  I had high hopes of ice skating with the kids but my husband asked me nicely to rethink that plan.  I was bummed but knew he was right, taking care of Andrew would not have been as easy with my arm in a sling.  :) 


Happy 10th Birthday E & C!

Andrew hung with Dad--the warmest spot at the rink

 
 

Maybe next year Andrew will stay awake for the party!

 Another first this month is I left the boy with a babysitter.  Okay it was his grandmother but still it was the first time I had to call in advance and arrange a sitter.  The night I needed a sitter happened to fall on my S.I.L Missy's birthday so I dropped him off at their house.  I guess you can say he went to his first birthday party without his parents this month too!

Happy Birthday Aunt Missy!

 

Andrew loves hanging with Lynnie!



One thing I absolutely love about this month is that he is starting to smile and coo at us.  Jeff & I could sit for hours watching his different facial expressions.  I know I am his mother but he is one cute kid.  

playing in his pack & play

We have come to realize this month that Andrew loves hanging in his pack & play, being outside and going for walks around the neighborhood.  All of these things are great tools during his fussy times.  It really is a joy to watch the world through his eyes.

Andrew's 2 month doctor visit

Andrew's stats as of 10-19-10

Pounds: 13.12
Height: 24 inches

Longest stretch of sleep: 5 1/2 hours

His latest nicknames: Chunky Monkey, Tooter Rooter & Mr Jim's (his Dad's nickname-not sure where it came from but it's pretty cute to hear Jeff say "Mr. Jim's what's wrong with you?)

Happy Two Month Birthday, Baby Boy!

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Today I was typing the "Sunday Word" post when Jeff walked in the room. He says, "Oh are you writing about me again?"

I said, "No not today."

"Why? I thought I was your blog material. Am I not good enough anymore?"

To which I replied, "Yeah, when you keep saying stuff like that I guess you are great blog material."

So for his birthday I do what any good wife with there own blog does, I make a post in honor of Jeff.

Jeff's favorite song these days is "Rock Star" by Nickel back. He knows every single word and sings them proudly. And when I saw this post today I knew there was no greater post for my husband on his birthday.

So in honor of my favorite Rock Star, on his birthday, I give you his list.

1. He knows every single word to every Van Halen song ever made.
2. If he doesn't know the lyrics he makes up his own. His version of the lyrics are hilarious and often make me laugh very, very loud. (And for those of you who know me and know my tendency for loud laughter can only imagine the sound that echos through our car or house during these times)
3. He is loyal.
4. He knows when to say no when he has too much on his plate.
5. He listens more than he speaks. But when he speaks, people stop to listen because you know if he is speaking up then he must have something important to say.
6. He can perform the dance called the "White Man's Overbite" better than any man out there.
7. He likes to perform this dance when I am in a bad mood. I start laughing and the bad mood slips away.
8. He spends wisely. I found a Christmas card from my grandparents two years ago when cleaning out one of his drawers, the money they gave him is still there. When I asked if he was going to use it he says, " When I find something I can't live without I am there."
9. He is a great uncle which can only mean he will be a great father one day.
10. He loves me warts and all.


And now for my newest favorite picture of Jeff.
We were having a party this weekend for his parent's 40th anniversary. I had a bunch of songs downloaded to the IPOD so we could party like it's 1967. I downloaded the Beach Boys, "California Girls" in honor of niece Hayley who was born in Cali. Her sweet Uncles Jumped at a chance to dance with Miss Hayley. I will let the picture speak for itself.

Happy Birthday Jeff! Thank you for all the joy that you have brought into my life!

Oh, by the way, if you aren't going to use that money my grandparents gave you, can I have it? I have my eye on a cute little dress that I saw today while shopping in the mall...without you to nag me! :)

Yeah, yeah I know...wait until it goes on clearance.

Sigh...

Jeff's 36th Birthday Weekend

Happy Birthday Jeff!

So we started a new tradition in our little family of two. You can celebrate your birthday 48 hours in advance if you so choose to...so that is what we did. Our hope is that when our children come down from Heaven that we will start this with them as well, maybe give some fun gift or allow them to pick the activities for 3 whole days. Since your birthday only comes once a year-why not make it special.

We started off with a small surprise party for Jeff with our friends. We went to Las Hacienda Ranch for dinner and then we went to bowl at Main Event. Our friends Todd and Holly and Brandy and Tim helped me surprise him. Poor Jeff was so cranky on the way over but it soon changed when he saw that I had put this little shin-dig together for him.

The next day, his actual birthday, we had a barbeque at his parents house. Jeff's niece Hayley and cousin Caroline organized our games for the party. Balloon toss, anyone? You have not lived unless you have seen the Cherry Clan (our family name) toss "balloons" (ziplock bags filled with water) back and forth. What a hoot!!

Thank you everyone for making this day special for my sweet husband! He has said many times today, "Thank you for my birthday!" So I know we did it right! Because like I always say, "Everyone needs to feel special on thier birthday!"

I love you Jeff!
Susan