Thursday, December 22, 2011

Birthday Bliss

Today I am 29 years old.  It's been another happy birthday.  Here are some reasons today has been especially nice.

1.  It was a beautiful, sunny day!  Cold as heck, but I am very thankful for that mood-boosting sunshine.

2.  I got to open up cards and presents from my kids first thing in the morning.  I have some pretty talented children by the way.


Carlos took the girls shopping yesterday to let them pick out my gifts.  It was so sweet to see how excited they were to give them to me, and how proud of themselves they were.  Love, love, LOVE those kids!

3.  I got held down by Carlos while many tiny hands gave me 30 birthday spankings.  (They got a little carried away, but I can assure you that the last spanking didn't count.)  Which brings me to my next point...

4.  I still have one more year to enjoy my twenties.  (At what age do you start feeling like an actual adult?)

5.  Carlos made panko-crusted halibut for dinner by my request.  It is awesome having a husband who can cook.

6.  Ava played "Happy Birthday" for me on her violin.  Followed by cheesecake with family.

7.  I ate a bag of gummy bears.

8.  I am the very grateful owner of this:



Do you love that I'm using the dealer's photos?  I'm too lazy, it's too cold, and the car has already become too dirty to take my own pictures.

Carlos and I decided we wanted/will eventually need a bigger car so we sold our old one a couple of weeks ago and upgraded.  I am completely in love with it, which is good because we have dubbed it both my birthday and Christmas presents.   So Happy Birthday to me!  And Merry Christmas.  For the next 3 years.

    

Friday, December 9, 2011

Christmas Cookies

Earlier this week we went to Grandma's house (who happens to live right next door) to decorate Christmas cookies with my sister and her kids.  I'm pretty sure the best traditions involve food.


Please endure the following photos...













By the way, no one can pull off a mullet quite like Fiona.



We did our best to ensure that the whole cookie decorating process was sanitary...







Repeat Offenders



Mission: Failed.  Don't worry friends and neighbors; These cookies were made for private consumption.  Luckily I have become immune to grimy, sticky little fingers all over my things.


I'd say the kids' decorating skills have improved since last year.  But they have yet to master the art of "sprinkling."  


Exhibit A




We (meaning the adults) all agreed that Ellia's plate of cookies looked the most appetizing. (Not that I refrained from eating Exhibit A.)
  


Also this week, Ava was in the newspaper twice.




It took 5 years, but she finally sat on Santa's lap, voluntarily.
It's a Christmas miracle.