Happy Birthday R!

I don't post birthdays here for everyone I know, but for our Belgium family it's a great way to send birthday greetings. R. may wind up being a comedian someday. He'll do just about anything for a laugh and perhaps you can tell that from the picture.

Happy Birthday C!

As many of you know, we spent 2 months last year in Belgium. We stayed in an apartment above the most wonderful hosts. Luckily, we have wonderful ways (like Skype) to stay in touch. Unfortunately, the time difference makes it a little difficult to keep in contact. We've done pretty well, but I'd love ot hear how y'all stay in touch with the people who are far away.

Anyway, C. had a wonderful birthday party and sent us pictures of the party held in her home for 42 costumed guests and included a DJ. Now in August we'll be flying back to go to the wedding of their son and I am sooo looking forward to that party.

Happy Birthday C! We miss you!

Happy Birthday J!

J was one of our hosts when we lived in Belgium earlier this year. He (along with his wife C) was so helpful and made our stay there fun. He gave us so much help with anything we needed from directions to language lessons to grocery shopping to making sure we had tried at least half of the hundreds of beer varieties available in Belgium. J knows how to have fun and make sure other people have fun too. Happy Birthday J!

Happy Birthday A!

A is part of our Belgian family and while I'm a bit late posting about her birthday (ah the magic of post options) I think of her and her family every day. When we first arrived, she brought over many of her daughter's toys to share with Z which was so thoughtful and made our stay there more like home. A couple of weeks before we left, Buttons fell and cut herself behid her ear on a radiator and required stitches so A came over and took us to the hospital and helped us navigate our way through three stitches. So, happy birthday A!

Happy Birthday Hubby!

I've known him since I was 17 and I'm still crazy about him. He's sweet and thoughtful. He's a wonderful father and my best friend. He's smart, funny and soft spoken. He surprises people with his wicked wit and makes me smile all the time. He makes me want to be a better person. He's seen me at my worst and still thinks the best of me. He cares about others and is always willing to lend a hand. He is a good person.

Today I celebrate my Hubby.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for my family. Hubby and Buttons brought me breakfast in bed this morning for my birthday.Now, I'm going to go out and enjoy the rest of the day instead of making this a long post.

Happy Birthday J & J!

Happy Birthday Buttons!

You are now 4 years old and I can't believe it!
You love writing your letters, reading books, painting, playing on the playground with friends, cooking, helping, singing, dancing and fairy-winged basketball.
You love animals (especially dogs).
You remember things I have long since forgot.
You still come in to our bed in the morning to snuggle, which I will miss when you feel you're too old for that.
You say please and thank you, but more importantly, you care about the feelings of others.
You help your friends when they're scared to go into a new situation.
You console others when they cry.
You know how to be a friend.
You have the best sense of humor ever. Hilarious!
You make me proud to be your mother every day.
I hope I can live up to your excellence Buttons.

Happy 4th Birthday Buttons!
I love you.

Life and Blogging

Currently life and blogging don't seem to be working well for me to do at the same time. I've been taking a bit of a break from blogging and stepping fully into life. One week from today is Buttons' birthday and the opening of the play that I've been rehearsing. My mom and her partner are coming to visit during that time and my house is a wreck. If you have any sage words of wisdom about keeping stress levels down, now would be the time to share.

I'll be taking a hiatus until next weekend though.

Happy 11th Birthday B!

One of the members of our Belgian family has a birthday today. Unfortunately, it's too late to Skype, so we'll just have to tell the world and hope it gets back to him.

(We'll also call him tomorrow.)

Have I mentioned how much we miss our Belgian family?

What do y'all do to celebrate the birthdays of those who live far away?

He Just Keeps Getting Better...

Happy Birthday Hubby!

Another Year Older...

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday Buttons!

You are sunshine and laughter, sweet and silly, smart and kind.
Every day you amaze me.
When I pick you up at pre-school you've often saved part of your snack for your dad and me.
You love to dance and seem to really understand that different songs need different movement.
The joy you have during swimming lessons should be bottled and sold.
You've just turned 3 and yet your questions sometimes get me thinking pretty hard.
You always want to know more and more and more.
I've never seen anyone who can pretend like you can and the names you make up are so fun.
You're a joke teller and I'm not the only one to say so either.
I love your laughter and the funny looks you give me and the way you try to wink when I wink at you.
I love you when your grumpy too, but thankful that it rarely takes hold for too long.
I love the fact that when we walk outside to go somewhere you look up into the sky and say "what a beautiful day" even if it's gray and muggy because then I get to see it through your beautiful eyes.
Yes, it is a beautiful day because I get to spend it with you, sweet daughter.
You are 3 and I am in awe of you.


(Also Happy Birthday to N. & L. and Happy Anniversary to C. & A.)
What a great day!!!

"Wordless Wednesday"

Birthday Surprise

Buttons apparently drank a gallon of crabby juice before her nap and felt the effects upon waking. I hummed, hugged and asked her about her dreams. When that failed to bring her out of the funk, I started asking what she wants for her birthday. (A fairly cheap trick, but it worked.)

Buttons: I want a present mommy.
Me: Yes, we would love to get you a present. What would you like?
Buttons: A picture of Calin and me when I adopted her in China.
Me: That would be really nice. Maybe we should celebrate her adoption day too.
Buttons: Yeah, and I want in earring in my nose too.
Me: Huh?
Buttons: Yeah, just like that cow we saw.
Me: Mmmm. Maybe when you're older.

We saw a statue of a cow with a huge ring through its nose while we were on vacation and apparently she was quite taken with it. I'm all about kids being able to express themselves through hairstyles and clothing as long as it's not too hoochy mama or reminds me too much of a domesticated bovine.

Yes, the picture above is of a pig, but ain't it cute? Wanna make one? Click here.

Celebration!

The man I love had a birthday today. Buttons was in heaven. The more birthdays, the better. Cake, the birthday song, and candles. What a great time! I won't blog too much about hubby. He's a fairly private person and I try to honor that as best I can. However, he reads my blog, so if you wanna give a shout out, he'll hear you!

Happy Birthday Honey!
Love,
Me

October 17th

She officially turned two today. She can run. She can dance. She can talk. She can make jokes. She can hug. She can color. She can be insistent on swimming solo. She can say no thanks. She can put on her shoes. She can enjoy the moment. She can blow out the candles.

Happy Birthday Buttons!

The Cow Says Twoo

Buttons celebrated her 2nd birthday today with 7 of her buddies and 11 of our buddies. Our friend Jan made this cake (YUM), our friend Marsha took pictures after our camera ran out of batteries, our friend Beth brought juice boxes and offered the services of her camera as well. It takes a village to throw a birthday party. We have such wonderful friends.

We had the party at a local creamery/farm and we had a blast! The kids visited with cows, ducks, sheep, pigs and chickens. We went on a hayride to pick out our "perfect pumpkin", and then came back for snacks, drinks, cake and ice cream sundaes. Buttons would want to tell you about the singing as well. She loves the "Happy Birthday" song and afterwards she even blew out her candle! We all clapped and she was so happy. This year we had practiced the song and blowing out the candle in advance and it worked.
At the end of the party, everyone pitched in to help clean up and said their goodbyes. We packed our stuff, loaded the car, watched the cows and ran around in a field of grass with the cloudless blue sky stretched out above us. Buttons, Baba and Mama laughing, running, falling and flying. All the rushing of the day floating away with just the three of us. I enjoy parties, but that may have been my favorite part of the day.