happy 32nd birthday, babe

if he could have it his way, jesse's birthday would come and go with no attention drawn to the occasion. and with his birthday being on new year's eve, it's kind of hard to avoid at least a party. this year was a low-key new year's eve for our family, but i had to do a little something special for jesse. waffles for breakfast and a cake for when he got home from work. (yellow with chocolate frosting per the birthday boy's request)

and moments before he walked through the door, i realized i did not have any birthday candles but these 6. (unfortunately, not 32 of them)

i am so thankful for my hardworking, self-less, loving, dedicated, handsome, funny, helpful, talented, kind husband. i love you jesse!

2011 in review

• we started off the year with a bang- Brian Regan show and Elk Creek Vineyard get-away.
• Kate learned how to use the potty
• we went to the circus
• i stopped using non-dairy creamer (and it's flammable components)
• we bought chickens
• i started running (and still can't believe i enjoy it)
• we travelled to Pittsburgh for Easter and surprised Gammie for her 60th birthday
• we rescued a duck
• we kept the duck and named her Lucky
• Jacob turned 4
• Lucky was taken by a raccoon :(
• we celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss
• i went blueberry pickin
• we visited Colorado
• Jacob learned to draw tractors, and lots of them
• our chickens began to lay eggs
• we lost 3 chickens and had to end the life of our rooster
• Kate learned to use training wheels
• i was privileged to have my first experience being a maid-of-honor
• Kate turned 3
• Jacob had his first visit to the ER and first ambulance ride
• we said goodbye to our last 2 chickens as they went to go live with these ladies
• we travelled to Pittsburgh for Christmas

pittsburgh christmas

it's never a dull moment when we head to pittsburgh. there is always something to do or someone to see. this christmas did not fail us. we kept busy with lots of family and lots of visiting! i wasn't great with the camera, but here are a few photos from our christmas week:

playing with cousin easton

a short visit with grandpa dennis

making cookies with gammie

christmas with the mclanes, schneiders, and steckos

christmas eve

christmas with the piés

jesse's early birthday celebration

ray liotta

it was a thursday afternoon and we were sitting down to lunch. the kids were having grilled cheese and tomato soup and raspberries. of course, they eat the raspberries first. :)

within 2 minutes, kate's face had broken out into a rash around her eyes and mouth. we thought maybe she had developed a sudden allergy to raspberries (she had just eaten them the week before-no problem). after 2 doses of benedryl, and 8 hours later, it wasn't looking better. we sent her to bed thinking it might clear up over night. it hadn't. she woke up the next morning "mommy, there's something wrong with my eyes!"

she did not even look like my daughter (unlce josh thought she looked like ray liotta, and i have to agree) - jesse and i tried not to show our true emotions when we saw her face in the light. poor baby! after a dr's visit and blood test, we concluded it was not the raspberries and are more clueless than before as to what it could have been. thankfully, she cleared up within 2 days with a steroid. the only hunch we have is that she could have possible touched some cleaning products right before lunch? but with a 3 year old, who knows! we are thankful she recovered quickly, and she is thankful that she can still eat raspberries! :)

gingerbread morning

it was cookie-making morning at our house. it always seems like such a good idea... until we are done decorating and my kitchen floor is confettied with jimmies and sprinkles and the kids are all sugared up! but it was fun while it lasted :)

happy birthday to me

i am thankful every year for my friends who are always so kind to make my birthday so special. this year was no different. some friends from church and i had a splendid night out- some of us got dressed up (ahem), we ate a delicious dinner at bonefish grill, laughed harder than i had in a long time, and ended the evening with coffee and yummy tiramisu. (thanks jen!) :)

a few weeks later, i got to celebrate again with some friends from work. we had a delicious taco dinner, i was treated to the most delicious homemade white chocolate raspberry cheesecake (thanks mandy -my new favorite dessert!) and watched one of the dumbest chick flicks ever (i won't mention any names) :)

thank you to my friends for making me feel special and loved, and for making 31 seem not-so-bad.