TGIF!

The kids have not been here very long and we've already done so many things. Who knew Friday nights could be so productive? To start, we patched some holes and cracks in the walls.

Then we painted some color splotches on the exterior of the house. We still don't think we've found the right color yet.

We made sugar water and hung the new hummingbird feeder.

We cooked dinner and ate it.

We learned about our ancestors.

We matched in our cherry aprons.

And finally, since we had all been good and eaten a good dinner, we made cookies and ate them too.

After all that, we were exhausted. Lights were out at 10:00 on the dot.

Now, as I finish writing this, it sounds like everyone is finally stirring. The sunshine's out so who knows what today has in store for us!

Birthday Celebration: 3 of 3

Just joining us? Part one can be found here and part two is here. We wrapped up the party with dessert and presents. Of course I had to have a helper since I had so many gifts.

Here we are inspecting the "bweakable" humming bird feeder that he and his family gave me. It's very cool and I can't wait to find a spot to hang it - hopefully right outside a window. We had already oohed and ahhed over the insulated picnic bag you can see on the table. I have a feeling that will come in handy on trips to the park.

We also opened up some new clothes and a photography book.

The last gift was a new purse. We looked aaaaaalllll through it but unfortunately, it was not full of money.  Good thing it's cute!

It was a good, good birthday. I can't wait to do it again next year!

I'll leave you with some more random pictures from the night. Enjoy.

Birthday Celebration: 2 of 3

In case you missed it, part one is here. In my family, when it's your birthday you get to choose whatever you want to eat and that's what my mom will make for dinner. Excited about some good home cooking, Doc and I quickly changed clothes after work and headed to my parents' house.

We were greeted with big smiles from my littlest nephew.

Isn't he the cutest? He loves his momma too.

But we all have to have a meltdown every now and then, right?

Next to arrive was the bigger nephew. He got to carry in my present and quickly let me know that it was "bweakable."  I told him I could see all his chest hairs since he forgot to button his shirt.

His little sister just did not want to have anything to do with me when she arrived.

Once everyone got there, it was finally time to eat! But first, I took pictures for you guys so you could see what you missed out on.

Poppyseed chicken:

Green bean bundles:

Potato casserole:

Salad:

All prepared by my sweet, sweet mom:

It was all so delicious. Thanks, mom!

Remember my niece that didn't want anything to do with me? All it took was a little bit of under-the-table peekaboo to clear that up. At least for a minute.

Wanna see what presents I got? They're coming up next!

Birthday Celebration: 1 of 3

My birthday is such a big event that it's going to take three posts for me to tell you all about it. It started out fabulous. Who doesn't love breakfast and presents in bed?

I got to open presents from Doc and his parents. From him I got a gift certificate so I can buy some new swimmy suits for our beach vacations this summer. My mother-in-law knitted me super soft, super cute shoulder wrap.  She is very talented and I can't wait to use it. I also got a baking mat to use when making cookies and whatnot. I have a feeling it's going to get put to use very soon, maybe even this weekend.

I tend to think that everyone should get to take the day off of work when it's their birthday, but alas, I had to go in. But to be a work day, it was pretty good. I had lunch with three of my Memphis besties which is always very fun. It was hard to go back to work but when I pulled into campus God smiled down on my and opened up a parking spot on the very front row! That would've been especially awesome if I hadn't walked all the way to the parking garage that afternoon before remembering that my car was right up front. Sigh...  We had chocolate chip pound cake at work to celebrate my birth. It was very yummy.

Remember when I said colorful flowers make me happy? Well take a look at these sunshiny little guys that perked up to tell me happy birthday!

They've been hunkered down and bundled up all winter, but they have finally decided to spring to life this week. I love them. Every time I look down I feel like they're just smilin' up at me.

There was still more partying to do. Stay tuned!

Dessert Dreams...Shattered

It wouldn't be a Sunday afternoon if we didn't blow something up in my mom's kitchen, would it? Or at least that's how it seems things have been going lately. This time, though, I'm happy to say it wasn't my fault. Doc and I were sitting at the island while my mom was making a dessert for tomorrow night's dinner. She was making 4-Layer Cake, or as my friends and I like to call it, Girdle Buster. It starts with a crust on the bottom made from a stick of butter, a cup of flour and pecans. Instead of melting the butter in the microwave, my mom placed the stick of butter in her glass dish on top of low heat on the stove. She stirred it around until it melted, then added the flour and pecans and kept stirring.

And then it all blew up.

Literally.

Somehow we all managed to escape the flying shards of glass so, thankfully, none of us were hurt. I'm just hoping that round 2 goes much better so we can have dessert after my birthday dinner!