Happy Birthday, Luke!

My favorite part of helping the boys to plan their BIG DAY

is when they pick out how to decorate the CAKE.

This year, Luke didn't even wait for me to ask...

"Worms and bugs in lots of dirt, Mom.

That's all I want on my cake."

"But don't worry," he added later, "we won't eat the dirt!"

Since the dirt is composed of Oreos and Graham Crackers,

we'll see if he changes his mind!

Also on Luke's TO DO list for the day was:

1. Play at the park
2. Build Legos with Seth
3. Bike ride with Grandma
4. Watch a movie with Brendan
5. Sword fight with Dylan

And share cake with everyone else!

If only EVERY birthday could be so simple.

Happy 5th Birthday, Lucas!

You fill our days with laughter, joy, and lots of thinking

(trying to answer ALL your questions!)

We love you so much! X O X O X O

Sledding at Diamond Lake

Recognize the view??

I actually have this on my monitor...

to remind me it's still winter...somewhere.

While vacationing in Oregon during the holidays,

we gave the boys a dose of a "snow day" in the mountains.

We had so much fun!

Thanks Auntie Diane and Uncle Brandon!

Let's do that AGAIN!

Just Like Yesterday...With Some GREAT Additions

Us , Peter & Kristen Burnett, Craig & Molly Phair

Last night Charlie and I had the chance
to meet up with my old friends, Peter & Craig,

and their wives.

Peter and Kristen invited us over for a BBQ
while Craig and Molly were in town for a few days.
It was so FUN...who would've known it's been like
9-12 years in between seeing each other.

We had a HILARIOUS time comparing parenting stories.
We're thinking Peter and Kristen's kids would be great
at calming ours down (they are like little ANGELS).
And our boys would probably wrestle

with the Phair boys all day...
or at least scheme on their next plan of ATTACK together.
(Craig and Molly 's youngest is a sweet little girl
who I'm sure will learn to wrestle just like the lot of 'em). :)

Besides having an EXCELLENT time getting reacquainted,
we learned how to play Apples to Apples...Craig stole 3 rounds
(and ENJOYED winning everybit

as much as he always has).

Anyway, it is so GREAT to have good friends

that you can connect with
no matter how many years pass in between visits.
Hopefully it won't be so many years until our next visit.

So, thanks guys for all the LAUGHS

(nearly "pottied" my pants!)

And Peter, we'll let you REDEEM yourself
for that "BBQ'd" steak whenever you want. :)

P.S. The fact that I posted this less than seven hours

after getting home should IMPRESS you all!

Y