Happy Birthday Daddy!

Dear Jason,

 

Today you turn 33 years old, and since the girls get a birthday letter I suppose you should too.  I'm thankful to be able to spend another birthday with you!  We have been blessed to share the last 11 together.  I remember when we first met because it was right after my 22nd birthday and right before yours! 

 

In all seriousness, I am so blessed to have you by my side.  I know that I don't always tell you how much I appreciate everything you do, but trust me...I do...very much!  I have now professed it to all of our Blog readers too!  I couldn't raise these girls without you.  They are so lucky and blessed to have you as a daddy.  You are the "lighter" and more playful side of our relationship and the girls love sharing their laughter and silliness with you!  They need you and they love you so very much. 

 

Today has been a little bit of a bum day with Avery getting sick again....little booger got sick on my birthday too!  I think she just wants to keep her mommy and daddy close by. :)  I hope she feels well enough to let Pa Pa watch her so we can enjoy a nice dinner together, but if not we will make most of it as a family.  Lily was so proud to be able to pick out your cake today.  She said, "Daddy will love it!" 

 

Happy 33rd Birthday! 

 

Love,

All of us

My 33rd Birthday

I turned 33 years old on January 21st...thank you to my family for making it a great day!  I hung out all day with my girls and then my mom came over later that night and watched the girls so Jason and I could go to dinner.  We ate at Firebirds...YUMMMMMMM!  I had the best salmon that I have ever eaten!  We went to DQ to get a cake afterwards...more for the girls...who am I kidding...it was all for me!  I love my ICE CREAM!  We decided that we didn't need an entire cake for 4 people so we settled for a box of Dilly Bars.  The girls and Jason snuck a candle into one of them for me and they sang Happy Birthday...it was pretty cool! 

My mom walking on the treadmill...I bet she wishes she was eating that Dilly Bar instead!

The FINAL Christmas!

Every year sometime after Christmas we get together with Jason's mom's side of the family.  This year it was held at a cabin in Seward, NE.  It was a beautiful day and we were able to enjoy some time outside by a large fire pit.  The kids were able to run around and be kids...it was nice!  We enjoyed LOTS of yummy food...too much to even choose from!  The boys played cards and the girls/kids played Bingo. 

 

 We ended the day with a sort of White Elephant gift exchange as we always do.  The guys each bring a "guy" gift and the girls each bring a "girl" gift.  All gifts go in the center of the room and cards from a regular playing deck of cards are dealt.  You pick a gift from the appropriate pile when your card is called.  You can either pick a new gift or you can "steal" a gift you like from somebody else.  The "most wanted" gift this year was a handmade craft that one of Jason's twin Aunts made...they attend many, many craft fairs throughout the state and region.  I LOVE their work!  They can turn any old piece of "junk" into something amazing!  This gift was stolen many times...by the ladies...and by the husbands who were put up to it by their wives. :)  I really wanted this particular item and I knew we would end up with it because Jason was the last to pick!  YAY...we got it and it is now hanging beautifully in our home.

 "The MOST WANTED GIFT"

The second part of it (star)...I love it!

 Cousins...Avery and Jensen

 Brothers...Jason and Matt

 Jensen with Uncle Jason

 Can you tell she's mine? :)

 Cousins...Avery, Miles and Lily

 Second cousins...Paityn and Avery

 Grandma Romaine and Jensen

 Going for a walk down the road

 Helping dad cheat in Euchre!

 The kids got to open gifts too...they can't feel left out!

 My Little Ponies!

A Princess Barbie!

Christmas Day 2012

Okay, okay, so I'm a little late with this post! 

Avery was the first one awake, as usual, on Christmas morning.  I asked her if Santa came and she shook her head "yes" and her eyes lit up with excitement!  I told her that she had to wake up Lily before we could see what Santa left for her.  She scurried into Lily's room and said "wake up Yiyee!"  Lily usually throws a fit and rolls over when you try to wake her up, but not on Christmas morning!  She hopped right out of bed and the both of them made their way downstairs. 

 

They quickly spotted their presents from Santa...Lily's were wrapped in bright pink and silver snowflake paper, and Avery's were wrapped in Mickey Mouse paper...how did Santa know she loves Mickey?!  Too cool! 

 Holy cow...an Olivia Leap Pad game!

 MINNIE MOUSE game!

 Big smiles for a Leap Pad just like sissy's!

 Just what I wanted...a dream lite pillow!

 I gave Daddy a date to the movies!

 Avery gave Daddy a date to Dave and Buster's...their special hangout!

 A MINNIE MOUSE puzzle!

 After the Santa gifts were opened we headed down to check out the stockings.

 SCORE!

 Eating yummy french toast casserole on Christmas morning.

 We went to my Grandma's house later Christmas afternoon for a soup dinner.  We had lots of different yummy soups, desserts, chips, crackers, fruits and veggies.  Not your typical Christmas dinner, but it was simple and still delicious!

 Silly Avery and GaGa.

 My sister and her family

 Me and my dad

 Chillaxin

 My brother and Mindy

 My mom and her mom...aka...my grandma

3 generations...would have been 4 if I would have hopped in!