HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD/GRANDPA!!!

Yes, we get to celebrate another birthday this week! And it's a great one at that. : ) True to what is probably his preference, I will not share too many pictures BUT I have to share my favorite - - a picture that is definitely true to his nature (um, not the lipgloss part...the fun, goofy, good-natured and kind part that lets a two-year-old make his lips sparkly.)

Things to celebrate about Dad and Grandpa

His one-of-a-kind sense of humor...nobody else comes close! (I think that, at one time or another, each of my friends have said to me "Your dad is the funniest person I have ever met!")

His one-of-a-kind, well balanced approach to parenting. Perfect parts friend and father.

His one-of-a-kind way of giving good advice but never judging.

His one-of-a-kind way of always finding new ways to sign "dad" at the end of an email.

His one-of-a-kind way of never being too busy.

His one-of-a-kind talent for coming up with the best games for family home evening ever, including but not limited to: throwing cotton balls at the revolving ceiling fan, finish the picture, sock wars (just what it sounds like), etc.

His one-of-a-kind love for literature, art, culture, history and Star Trek.

His one-of-a-kind way of teaching us about life, love and the pursuit of happiness/late night bowls of ice cream in plaid pajamas.

His one-of-a-kind feet of which he started asking me, at a very early age, if they smelled like strawberries or blueberries. It has always been up to me and my siblings...and now my children...to determine this. I don't know that any of us have claimed the experiment as worth examining...

His one-of-a-kind way of setting an example...never yelling or acting angry...partnering with my mom in truly using love as a tool in raising five kids who love and look up to him very much.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR ONE-OF-A-KIND POPS/DA/GRANDPA/PAPANWA!

Rainy Days!

The kids had such fun this past week - - in most areas of the world, a rainy day equals a boring, stuck-inside day with many limitations. For us, here in Gilbert, it opens a whole world of opportunities! The concept of time slowly moving us toward another summer has me already hyperventilating a bit since THAT is when our many limitations set in! So, with the rain we got on and off this week, it was wonderful to be able to spend so much time enjoying it with the kids. Being Arizona toddlers, I could probably count on two hands the times they have each been outside in the rain; it is still a rather new concept! My favorite part was just watching them run around and enjoy themselves and have no worries of dehydration, heat exhaustion or sunburns. Their favorite part was discovering that when sidewalk chalk meets water it equals much brighter colors and a much bigger mess! Score! Here are some pictures of our fun times...

"Rain is falling all around,

On the housetops, on the ground.

Rain is falling on my nose,

On my head and hands and toes!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!!

My sister, Katie, is 21 today, Feb. 11th! We are so excited to sing a little song and do a little dance for her today! Since she's away at college, we all miss her but wanted to send our love and celebrate her on her special day...

Things to love about KT...

She has one of the most open minds you'll ever find. Always accepting of others and understanding of differences.

She is so stinkin' smart! Just a whole lot of sheer intelligence...

She can quote Orange County and Heavyweights with me for hours on end. (sheer intelligence, I tell ya!)

EVERYTHING looks good on her! Hair colors, clothing, sassy shoes, pj's, you name it!

Being in college, she is super super busy, but has always taken time out to serve others.

Her high standards and the ease with which she seems to uphold them...

She is one of the best people in the world to have a conversation with, whether intensely serious or ridiculously pointless!

She is an amazing writer. It seems like just a few months ago, she went to work as a receptionist for the school newspaper, wrote a few articles for them and suddenly she's a copy editor! I don't know exactly how these things work, but that's pretty cool if you ask me.

She can quite often be found coming at someone, back pockets first, singing "My Hips Don't Lie."

The way she goes to college like Steve on "Blue's Clues" (that one's from Bethany)

One of the absolute best sisters/aunts in the world!

We love you! Have a great day!

Well, it took me almost a month to get another post on here! In small increments of time I have been able to get the hang (almost) of all the other details of it; this just took me a bit longer! Thanks to Katie for inspiring/bullying me (hahaha) into doing another one by 'tagging' me...which, by the way, is so fun! It takes me back to the good ol' days of those email quizzes that had titles like "How well do you know your friends?" and "It's Friendship Week!" (I'm sorry, but wasn't it Friendship Week from somewhere in the late nineties to about 2002??) I loved those then and I love this now. So, here we are...for those who are eager to be in the know concerning my current general beingness (yes, actually a word...for all the yogis out there...) : ) A few insights:

1. How long have you been together?

We're going on almost two and a half years. We're never quite sure where to label the transition from friendship to dating to engagement, but what we know for sure is that we have loved each other for a long long time and as life and that love evolved, so did our relationship. We were married in Dec. of '05!

2. Who said "I Love You" first?

We had said it, over the years, as friends...but in the way that really counts, JC was the first!

3.Who is Smarter?

Well, he chose me as his wife...that makes him pretty darn smart...

4. Who pays the bills?

I think we share that pretty equally. I pay the everyday normal ones usually and JC takes over on the random medical bill or anything that actually needs attention.

5. Who cooks dinner?

Actually, since little Ben has been born, JC does more cooking than I do. But I miss it immensely and, with Ben getting older, I am becoming more freed up and able to step in more often. Luckily, JC enjoys cooking and is great at it!

6. Who drives when you're in the car together?

JC. At least, almost always. He's a good boy and tells me if he's too sleepy to drive.

7.Who is the most stubborn?

I think both of us would agree that it would be me on most things. I tend to thoroughly analyze every thought and feeling I have, so by the time I have made up my mind on how I think or feel about something, it's usually pretty solidly set. But, most would probably be pretty surprised that there are times when he can be pretty darn stubborn too!

8.Who wears the pants in the family?

We have two pair of pants. Mine are the more outspoken, emotional ones and JC's are the stronger more silent ones. We also have a pair of party pants. We take turns wearing those.

Three random things about me!

1. Secretly, my favorite Sesame Street character is Bert. He is hilarious! I think we have a lot in common. (There better not be any comments about the eyebrows...)

2. I used to perform with a couple different polynesian dance groups...how I miss those days! It's all good though, I'm teaching Bethany the ways of the Wahine. : )

3. I think I have to copy Katie here and go with that I love to shop...clothes, shoes, bags, all of it! I don't think I used to pay much attention to fashion in general, but once I had more than one baby I kind of watched the hobbies start slipping away and somehow shopping jumped in to fill the void. I figure it's because, no matter how little time I have for anything other than being a mom and keeping my house in order, I will always have to get dressed (Well, most of the time! And for crazy weeks like this last one, I also shop for cute pajamas...) so, cute clothes make me feel a little more alive and gives me something to do at the mall in the five minutes that I'm not keeping my kids corralled in the play area!

And now I tag...

Emily

Shantelle

and

Crystal

Love to all!

More posts to come soon...I promise!