2nd Birthday during restrictions

 

It was lovely and quiet, and as you can see, we had some yummy cake.  A friend stopped by with some goodies, a got kind cards, phone calls and texts from family and friends.  My kiddos played in the year-end orchestra concert and gave me a couple Jane Austen books.  My sisters gave me a new counter cross stitch pattern, Star Wars plates, and the hilarious shirt below.  My parents always come through with some birthday spending money and I'm thinking about getting a quilt frame.  

And of course, Greg made the day awesome with food I didn't have to make or clean up after, an awesome new lamp, more chocolate, and made the day run smoothly.  

The robe

For birthdays and Christmas the kiddos write out wish lists. Parker and Mimi's lists are SHORT! Yoda's lists are usually LONG! A few days after all lists were done, Yoda called out during dinner, "OH NO! I forgot to add a rode to my wish list!" I couldn't help myself and found him one for his birthday.

Birthday inside

Last month I celebrated my birthday, and we made the most of what we could do...

 a brand new puzzle,

  hike on a beautiful day,

 yummy cake,

 more goodies, and another puzzle,

 diner food!

More of Moab...

 Family Reunion

 Floating trampoline

 Grandad's 100th birthday

 This is across the street from my parents' house. 

 Yoda finally felt confident to jump off the diving board

And Happy Birthday, Dad :)

Thirteen for Mimi!

Mimi turned 13!  It happened, now we have 2 teenagers in the house.  We joke that they are so sullen, but really they are quite cheerful.  Mimi loves making people cringe by telling bad jokes and puns.  She is now taller than her mom.  She is currently in rehearsals for her second play-this time she's Dexter in Singing in the Rain. She builds and rebuilds Lego sets by memory in her room while listening to books on CD.  She's a unique and fun person!

Overheard at her birthday party, "Why is it that boys are so nice in books, but not nice in person?"
Me to myself, "that girl cracked the code so young!"

The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything

It's Greg, he's 42!  (that's a reference to the great book, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

 We went to Costco, just the 2 of us, cause that's what you do in Ohio when you're 42.

 We had cake with his parents and opened a few presents. 

Happy Birthday, Greg! 

Hanging with cousin A and the Rifle shooting merit badge

While in Utah my dad helped Parker earn the rifle shooting merit badge.  They worked for days!  Yoda and Mimi came along too. 

 Mimi always finds the perfect spot to play with dirt. 

Dad would watch Parker's shots through the binoculars to see how Parker was doing.  He had to score a certain amount on the target to be able to earn the merit badge.  

 Later grilled cheese at the Branding Iron...

It worked out that we got a couple days in Moab while my sister and her family were there.  That meant quality cousin A time.  He's such a little character! 

 Selfies with Cousin A. 

We celebrated my mom's bday a little early while we were there.  Ice cream cake!  

 A little chess. 

 And a day at the lake! 

Birthday

I insist that Greg gets me a cake for my birthday.  I insist we take a photo.  A few weeks ago I had another birthday and thought it was fun to look back at some old birthday cake photos.