HAPPY 38TH BIRTHDAY, HOLLY!

Daughter Holly celebrated her 38th birthday today. The Baskin-Robbins chocolate chip ice cream/chocolate cake is a long time birthday tradition for her, complete with Christmas decorations.

Party Peeps from left: Elijah, Neil, Kelly, Knox, Jane, Don, Julia, Holly, and Shelby

Party Peeps from left: Sarah, Holly, Jerry, Elijah, Neil, and Don

The cake and punch were yummy

The presents were even better

Happy Birthday to our almost-Christmas baby Holly! You are the best Christmas present we've ever received. Wishing you all the good things you deserve in the coming year. So blessed that you are ours. We love you more than you'll ever know!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, KNOX!!

Grandson Knox turned 5 today!

He loves super heroes of all kinds, especially Avengers

We sang The Birthday song 

He blew out all those candles ...

... and enjoyed his birthday cake, ice cream, and punch

Party People!

The cake was great but opening presents was the best ~ He got books ...

... but hit the jackpot when he opened the really good stuff ~ Lego Ninjago, his latest fave

His cousin Elijah read his birthday cards to him

More goodies ...

... and then some more

Great-aunt Jane and family got him some cool headphones, super hero style

Birthday carnage ~ he was pretty much thrilled with all of it

Grandpa, Daddy, Elijah, and Knox figuring out how to work the bow and arrow

Knox couldn't wait to get started building one of those Lego sets ... with Daddy's help of course

Captain America enjoyed the party, too

Photo shoot with family and the Birthday Boy ~ his cousin Elijah, Aunt Holly, and cousin Shelby

Knox with cousin Sarah, great-aunt Jane, and great-uncle Don

His cousin Julia was late to the party but better late than never

Granny and Grandpa ~ we love having this grand peep in our lives ~ so hard to believe he's five already!

And those two wonderful people who made this day possible ~ Daddy and Mommy ~ Knox is most definitely the love of their lives

Happy Birthday, Knox!! We love you more than you'll ever know!!

ELIJAH'S 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Grandson Elijah turned 10 years old on August 17, 2016. He celebrated turning the BIG ONE O with a party at his house today with friends and family. His cake was decorated with a hunting theme. He and the other kids enjoyed the giant water slide, which has become a fun tradition for his summer birthday. The best part of all, of course, was opening his presents--cash and video games and T shirts to name a few. Wow. A whole decade old! Happy Birthday, 'Lijah-Man!! We love you very much!!

TIME FLIES~I CAN'T CATCH IT~FEBRUARY RANDOMNESS

02/01/16  Elijah demonstrated how to make chocolate chip cookies for 4-H. This one's mine. It was delicious.

02/03/16  Afternoon birthday sky

02/03/16  #63

02/03/16  Birthday Party People from Left: Don, Sarah, Holly, Kerry, Jane, Shelby, Julia, Knox, Kelly and Neil

02/04/16  Keeping us warm this winter ~ Neil did a fabulous job restoring this old mantel

02/05/16  Winter sunsets are awesome

02/06/16  Devo before Vision Basketball game ~ Elijah's first game with the big boys

02/06/16  Winter sunsets are awesome, but I repeat myself

02/06/16  Oh those yummy Valentine cookies from Ralph's

02/07/16  Sunday brunch at Grandma's Pancake House

02/08/16  Snow Day ~ Picking up the Peeps at 1:30 ~ much rejoicing ~ they haven't been back to school since

02/09/16  Red Bird in the snow

02/09/16  Hooked on icicles ~ one of the best things about snow days

02/09/16  Love to watch the snow fall

02/09/16  Used my questionable Photoshop skills to point out the tiny heart-shaped snowflake ~ hope you can see it, too

02/09/16  My true love sent to me ....

.... eight turtle doves (can't see the eighth one but he was there) ~ not sure what a turtle dove is, but these doves were hanging out on my back porch, trying to warm their tiny bird feet ~ can't say that I blame them

02/09/16  The wind blew down our flag along with its holder ~ snow blew in all over the front porch, including the flag ~ oops
I enjoy keeping a blog of everyday stuff ~ it makes a nice journal of sorts to look back on now and then ~ but I've been a blogger slacker this month
Halfway through February ~ time is flying and I can't catch it

HAPPY 37TH BIRTHDAY, HOLLY!

December 16, 1978 was a night much like tonight ~ rainy and warm. Neil and I headed to the hospital around 8PM, more than ready to have child number two and thankful this kiddo, like our first one, decided to arrive two weeks early ~ nine days before Christmas instead of New Year's Eve eve. At 10PM out popped this tiny girl ~yay! another girl!~and the first thing I noticed about her was the blond hair. Back then, it was a four day hospital stay. Imagine that. And for four days, this cute blond kid didn't have a name. Can't remember if we were undecided or just couldn't agree, but before we left the hospital, we had finally settled on Holly Elizabeth. She was our almost-Christmas baby, so the name Holly seemed appropriate, yes? And we did carry her home in a red Christmas stocking provided by the nurses in obstetrics. In the twinkle of an eye, we flashed forward and we're here this evening, celebrating her 37th (!) birthday. Happy Birthday, Holly! You are a blessing to us, and we wish you all the best of everything today and always. We love you so very very much!