A five year old boy

For weeks leading up to his birthday, Carter would say things like, "I can't believe I am almost a five year old boy," or "Mom, can you believe we are going to have a five year old boy in our family." Indeed I can't buddy. It is hard to believe it has been five years since this sweet rolly-polly baby boy joined our family.

Carter is my sweet, cuddly, sensitive child. He is super chill and ALWAYS happy. Carter is always giving us hugs and telling us he loves us. He loves spending time with his family, reading stories, playing x-box, watching movies, swimming and playing soccer. Happy Birthday Buddy!

Carter started out his birthday with a GRUNDLE of presents from Mom, Dad, Ammon and Grandmas and Grandpas.

He was excited about every one of them,

especially the Star Wars stuff.

For dinner Cart chose "those green things I like," (a.k.a. artichokes) and jello. I added some grilled chicken to make it a little more well rounded meal.

Of course we had to have a chocolate Star Wars cake and chocolate ice cream.

Not my best work ever, but cut me some slack- it's been a stressful month.

Happy Birthday Carter Ben!

A nice "Spring" break for Mom

This year for Spring break, I was the one who got a nice, much needed vacation. My fabulous husband stayed home with the kids and I flew to D.C./Maryland to visit family and see my newest niece and nephew be blessed. Despite delayed and cancelled flights and an unexpected overnight stay in a hotel in New Jersey, it was a fun and relatively low stress trip. Here are the highlights:

1. Spending time with this cute family and attending the twins' blessing.

2. Hearing this cute little guy say, "SAWWNEEE"

3. Meeting Lilly Ann

4. Meeting Liam A.K.A. "Chunk"

5. Visiting with my Uncles Stuart and Trent

6. Spending time with the Neel family Uncles, Aunt and Cousins.

7. Visiting Mike, Kim, Megan and Henry in Arlington.

8. Seeing the White House,

9. and the Lincoln monument.

10. Having D.C.'s three finest tour guides show us around the National Mall.

11. Seeing the plaque depicting my Grandpa Stewart at the WWII memorial, and spending "kid free" time with my parents.

12. Having my dad tell me a hundred times, "a picture is worthless without a person in it," and then having a hundred pictures of myself in front of every attraction we saw.

13. The Jefferson monument.

14. The world's coolest stroller (and cutest kids).

15. Visiting the National Museum of Natural History.

16. Having one day of nice weather.

17. My dad coming back to Des Moines with me for a visit and spending a beautiful day at the zoo.

18. Watching my dad get to know Abbi and realize that she actually is as wild as I've been telling him.

19. Quality "Grandpa time."

SEVEN!

Seven years ago, this sweet little baby boy joined our family.

On Tuesday, we celebrated his birthday all day long! We started with chocolate chip pancakes and homemade hot chocolate for breakfast. Then Colby and I picked him up from school and took him out for Chinese food for lunch.

After school we had Star Wars cake and icecream. (keep in mind that I had only attended ONE cake decorating class prior to making this cake, so it's a little rough around the edges. Stay tuned for some better cakes later in the month)

And of course we had PRESENTS~ Ammon is so lucky to have so many people who love him. He got presents from Mom and Dad, Carter, Grandma and Grandpa Stewart and Grandma and Grandpa Frost.

For his birthday dinner this year, Ammon chose to have homemade chicken noodle soup and frog eye salad. I always laugh at the dinners that Ammon likes.

We love our Ammon so much and we are so grateful for him. We are so proud of Ammon for the good choices that he makes. Ammon is a wonderful big brother, he is very witty and he is always making us laugh.

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Match maker, match maker, make me a match!

11:00 pm last night: getting a little nervous

Midnight: start getting butterflies, can't sleep

1:00 am: finally drift off, sleep nervously

8:00 am: serious butterflies

9:00 am: so nervous I think I might puke

9:30 am: try to distract ourselves , doesn't work, still pretty nervous

9:59 am: Colby gives me that look that says, "here goes nothing" and logs onto the CASPR website

10:00 am: bring up the match website and see...

another link that we have to click on

10:01 am: click on the link and see..

Scott and White Memorial Hospital

Temple, Texas

10:02 am: have a little celebration and breath a big sigh of relief

It looks like it's time for us to turn up our country music and start shopping for some cowboy boots. We'll be spending the next 3 years in Texas. Yeehaw baby!

March in the Midwest

March is now in full swing and, as is typical in the Midwest, we are still experiencing rather "Wintery" weather.

Tuesday morning, Colby was still scraping ice from the van windshield,

and we still have piles and piles of snow that have yet to melt.

But we do have lots of things that are keeping us smiling..

Yesterday Colb took part two of his board exam (he is now breathing a little easier)

I started a Wilton cake decorating class, just in time to make fabulous cakes for our March birthday boys.

Yesterday I caught Carter playing the air guitar in the back of the van on the way to preschool.

It is supposed to be a high of 38 degrees, we may break out the flip-flops, or at least hope that some of this snow starts to melt.

This is our last winter in the Midwest.

Just looking at this cute little face makes us smile.

Last, but not least, Abbi has been watching "Signing Time" and has finally found a way to communicate (other than throwing a huge temper tantrum).

On flowers, chocolates and formal dances...

I am a typical girl. I like flowers, chocolates, love songs, chick flicks, formal dances and figure skating. Colby is a typical guy. He does not. But, he is a great guy and he humors me. He sends me flowers, even though "they are a waste of money and they just die." He lets me have first pick at the box of chocolates and doesn't complain when I take one bite, decide I don't like it, and give it to him. He listens to love songs and watches chick flicks with me, even though he knows I am just going to cry at the end. And for the past three years, Colby has taken me to the Winter formal at his school (yes, we are 30 years old and still going to school dances). This year, we talked our friends the Campbell's into going with us and we had a great time.

Megan, Aupreille and I at the Gala.

Megan and Jason Campbell .

I couldn't resist posing in front of this backdrop. Again.

Now if I could just talk Colby into watching some Olympic figure skating with me...

L.O.V.E.

Nine years ago, on a cold day in February I married my best friend.

Today, I couldn't be happier.

Life just keeps getting better.

Sixteen years ago, on a hot day in July, I never would have guessed that I would end up spending my life with this cute guy. (This is obviously pre-growth spurt. Don't you love the hair?)

I also LOVE that our anniversary is so close to Valentine's day. This year we celebrated with balloons, creme brule french toast, and church that was cancelled due to the weather. (although on a side note, we didn't get the message and we went anyways!)

One of my many "valentines," I love this little girl!

We hope your week has also been filled with L.O.V.E.

Fifteen Months!

Our little Abigail is now fifteen months old. Wow, time flies. It is hard to believe that our little baby is "so big."

We love the games she plays (like pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo),

and her big, cheesy smile.

But we're always on the look out for "hurricaine Abbi" that hits our kitchen every night about the time I am trying to make dinner.

With all the trouble she causes, it's a good thing she's so cute!

At 15 months Abbi's interests include:

Shoes, especially her new "sparkly" shoes.

(when I first bought these she insisted on wearing them all day, even after I put her jammies on)

Baby dolls,

and books.

We love you Abbi!

I "heart" February

I always look forward to February. Maybe because it means the end of my least favorite month of the year, maybe because it means it is Valentines day and our anniversary, maybe because it is one month closer to Spring. I Love February for many, many reasons. This year, I love February most for ONE reason. So far, February has been really, very, perfectly ordinary....

And after the past eight months, perfectly ordinary is absolutely perfect.