HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

So I have the GREATEST Dad.

He can FIX anything (and even if he can't, he tries).

He LISTENS to my problems (and doesn't pick sides).

He is my biggest CHEERLEADER

(though I'm still waiting to see him with pom-poms).

He VALUES my opinions (even if he doesn't agree).

He always SUPPORTS me (even if he doesn't always understand my choices).

He's one of the STRONGEST men I know

(he stopped smoking...really stopped).

His favorite snack is GRAHAM CRACKERS with milk

(yes, that makes him great).

He likes to live in DENIAL that all the imporant women in his life have photography on the brain.

I could go on and on and on

about how GREAT my Dad is...

but I'll save all the sappiness and just say

Happy 57th Birthday, Dad!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DYLAN!

Our sweet baby boy is ONE (Saturday)!

Where did the year GO?

Dylan is by far the happiest kid EVER...

we are so LUCKY!

After feeling guilty for just planning on a Cold Stone cake

for Dylan's birthday (thanks, Shan)...

I threw together a "Castle Cake" with whatever junk

we had around the house (sorry, buddy).

But, ALL the kids thought it was AWESOME

(and I guess that's all that counts).

Here is the play-by-play of Dylan's

first "birthday cake" experience:

Why are all these people staring at me?

I think I'll get tired and play "shy."

Hmmm...I liked the ice-cream Grandma gave me.

Maybe I'll TRY the cake.

Still testing...

Cake rocks! Can I have more??
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. HAPPY!!

EVEN NUMBERS

This weekend we had a wonderful SURPRISE visit

from my cousin, Shannon, her two adorable daughters,
Jenna & Allyson, and my Aunt Gayle.

It was so nice to have much more EVEN numbers

& other GIRLS around all weekend!

The kids played together NEARLY perfectly

& the adults had lots of ADULT time.

We had SO MUCH FUN! Come again, SOON!