Our wonderful niece (and super cool cousin) turns 9 today. 9 years ago, Jake and I were flying on a red eye out to Newark and Julia was being born. So happy to have you in our lives Julia!!
Hope you have a super happy birthday!
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Our wonderful niece (and super cool cousin) turns 9 today. 9 years ago, Jake and I were flying on a red eye out to Newark and Julia was being born. So happy to have you in our lives Julia!!
Hope you have a super happy birthday!
It's our beautiful little girl's 3rd birthday today. She's never really had a shell to come out of but her personality has blossomed this year. She's continued with her severe independence but has started to develop a bit of patience. She loves music and will sing, dance and play instruments like there's no one watching. She has a flair for drama and talking about how "wonuful" everything is.
We think so too. Happy Birthday Josie Grace, we love you!
Please join Josie, Sophie & myself in wishing the best wife, mom and friend evar a Happy Birthday! We hope it's your best yet.
Our little girl turned 4 today. She's been counting down the days and asking every morning for the past month "Am I four?". She was ecstatic this morning when she spotted her birthday banner and presents on the kitchen table. She came running back to our room to ask Jake if she was four today. A couple things Sophie has decided turning 4 means.
She is now too big to be picked up. (I have completely vetoed this one)We're having a rainbow themed party for her tomorrow and will be sure to post pictures of Sophie's first summer time birthday!
She needs to wear underwear with four princesses on it AND the number 4 on it.
She will now eat asparagus. (cause that is what 4 year olds do)
A big, huge Happy 36th Birthday to my husband. He gets to celebrate from Wednesday to Saturday this year starting with a whiskey tasting last night and ending with his favorite Thanksgiving meal on Saturday. He deserves an extra week of celebration on top of that!
This is our biggest concentration of birthdays at the Ranch, and probably the one week (other than Christmas) I most want to be home. My entire family converges onto Camp Nagapapa for what is usually the final bash of the summer, and the most continuous use of the pool all year.
At least one campfire is involved (with requisite smores) and at least two or three runs for Friendly's ice cream (with the world's best peanut butter sauce). Spiedes, sausages & peppers, corn on the cob, salt potatoes, coleslaw, tomato & basil salad, guacamole & chips are all usually consumed by the truckload, and any leftovers mysteriously disappear from the fridge overnight (with a trail of crumbs leading to a certain upstairs bedroom).
Happy Birthday to Uncle Anthony, Aunt Lauren, Grandpa George and Aunt Sarah: may your birthday weeks be as good as we're imagining them to be!
I'm generally in awe of my wife for a variety of reasons, but most especially in the realms of being a human being, friend and particularly parent. I know, it sounds like I'm bragging or scheming to get a new batch of cookies with those yummy chocolate chips she picked up, but I'd wager anyone who knows her has probably felt the same way at some point. Most recently for me, it was last night at the girls' bed-time.
We usually read books to the girls, but last night we stayed up later than usual eating popcorn and watching The Lion King so we had a make-believe birthday party instead. This is a nap-time routine that Brandie & Sophie have developed together, and it usually involves Snow White, Mickey Mouse or some other celebrity (at some point or another I think every one of our long-distance family and friends has been the subject). Last night I was the guest of honor, a rare instance where Sophie didn't have to take on the role of the guest mid-way through. Here's a rough transcription of what it's like:
Mom: "Ok whose birthday is it?"
Girls: "Daddy's!"
Mom: "What do you think he would like for his birthday present?"
Sophie: "A new boot!" (just one)
Josie: "A pancake!"
Mom: "Does anyone have a pancake?"
Sophie: "I do! It's a squeaky one!"
Mom: "Ok let's wrap his present! What color box should we put it in?"
Sophie: "Brown!" (looks at me) "Do you like brown?"
Me: "I do."
Mom: "Oh I only have a white box. Does anyone have some brown paint they could color this box with?"
Sophie: "I do!" (pretends to paint the box)
Mom: "Here, hold your finger on this ribbon and help me tie the bow. Perfect. Now does anyone have a boot for Daddy?"
Sophie: "I have a cowboy boot right here."
Mom: "Josie, do you have a pretty box we could put this boot in for Daddy?"
Josie: "Uh-huh." (pretend wrapping, rolling of the arms, ribbon placement and the addition of sprinkles commence)
Mom: "Now, what kind of cake do you think Daddy wants?"
Sophie: "A boot cake, but not in the shape of a boot, just with a boot on it with icing."
Mom: "Ok we need 3 cups of flour. Josie, do you have any flour?"
Josie: "Yeah!" (pours into imaginary bowl Mom is holding out)
Mom: "Ok now we need 2 eggs. Sophie do you have some eggs?"
Sophie: "Here you go!" (cracks eggs into bowl)
Mom: "Alright, we need some vanilla. Josie do you have any vanilla?"
Josie: (pours in vanilla)
Mom: "And two pinches of salt, one from each of you." (a pinch added by each)
Mom: "Can you whisk it for me?"
Sophie: "Sure!" (crazy stirring with lots of sound effects) "Let's put it in the oven." (slam!) Ding! It's done."
Mom: "Ok, take it out but be careful, it's very hot. Daddy I think it's about time for you to go in the hall."
Dad: (I do)
Mom: "Ah! I hear Daddy. Let's hide. (they duck down and cover their eyes) One, two, three. Surprise! Happy Birthday Daddy!"
Me: "Oh! Thank you!"
Mom: "Would you like to open your presents Dad?" (Josie hands over the squeaky pancake then Sophie hands over the boot, insisting that I try it on)
Mom: "Are you ready for birthday cake?" (Mom, Sophie and Josie all sing Happy Birthday to me)
Mom: "Now make a wish and blow out your candles." (I do) "Sophie would you like to cut the cake?"
Sophie: "Sure! Here's one for Josie, one for Mommy, one for Daddy and one for Sophie."
Mom: "Did anyone else come to Daddy's party?"
Sophie: "Oh yeah. One for Grandpa, one for Grandma, one for Eulie dog and Julia-n-Jessica. Dad, my cousins came to your party!"
Me: "Hooray! Thank you both so much for my presents and wonderful party."
We usually read books to the girls, but last night we stayed up later than usual eating popcorn and watching The Lion King so we had a make-believe birthday party instead. This is a nap-time routine that Brandie & Sophie have developed together, and it usually involves Snow White, Mickey Mouse or some other celebrity (at some point or another I think every one of our long-distance family and friends has been the subject). Last night I was the guest of honor, a rare instance where Sophie didn't have to take on the role of the guest mid-way through. Here's a rough transcription of what it's like:
Mom: "Ok whose birthday is it?"
Girls: "Daddy's!"
Mom: "What do you think he would like for his birthday present?"
Sophie: "A new boot!" (just one)
Josie: "A pancake!"
Mom: "Does anyone have a pancake?"
Sophie: "I do! It's a squeaky one!"
Mom: "Ok let's wrap his present! What color box should we put it in?"
Sophie: "Brown!" (looks at me) "Do you like brown?"
Me: "I do."
Mom: "Oh I only have a white box. Does anyone have some brown paint they could color this box with?"
Sophie: "I do!" (pretends to paint the box)
Mom: "Here, hold your finger on this ribbon and help me tie the bow. Perfect. Now does anyone have a boot for Daddy?"
Sophie: "I have a cowboy boot right here."
Mom: "Josie, do you have a pretty box we could put this boot in for Daddy?"
Josie: "Uh-huh." (pretend wrapping, rolling of the arms, ribbon placement and the addition of sprinkles commence)
Mom: "Now, what kind of cake do you think Daddy wants?"
Sophie: "A boot cake, but not in the shape of a boot, just with a boot on it with icing."
Mom: "Ok we need 3 cups of flour. Josie, do you have any flour?"
Josie: "Yeah!" (pours into imaginary bowl Mom is holding out)
Mom: "Ok now we need 2 eggs. Sophie do you have some eggs?"
Sophie: "Here you go!" (cracks eggs into bowl)
Mom: "Alright, we need some vanilla. Josie do you have any vanilla?"
Josie: (pours in vanilla)
Mom: "And two pinches of salt, one from each of you." (a pinch added by each)
Mom: "Can you whisk it for me?"
Sophie: "Sure!" (crazy stirring with lots of sound effects) "Let's put it in the oven." (slam!) Ding! It's done."
Mom: "Ok, take it out but be careful, it's very hot. Daddy I think it's about time for you to go in the hall."
Dad: (I do)
Mom: "Ah! I hear Daddy. Let's hide. (they duck down and cover their eyes) One, two, three. Surprise! Happy Birthday Daddy!"
Me: "Oh! Thank you!"
Mom: "Would you like to open your presents Dad?" (Josie hands over the squeaky pancake then Sophie hands over the boot, insisting that I try it on)
Mom: "Are you ready for birthday cake?" (Mom, Sophie and Josie all sing Happy Birthday to me)
Mom: "Now make a wish and blow out your candles." (I do) "Sophie would you like to cut the cake?"
Sophie: "Sure! Here's one for Josie, one for Mommy, one for Daddy and one for Sophie."
Mom: "Did anyone else come to Daddy's party?"
Sophie: "Oh yeah. One for Grandpa, one for Grandma, one for Eulie dog and Julia-n-Jessica. Dad, my cousins came to your party!"
Me: "Hooray! Thank you both so much for my presents and wonderful party."
A big congratulations to Danny and Trina on the arrival of their beautiful little baby girl Ava! She was born in the wee hours of the morning on May 20th. She arrived weighing 7lbs 15oz and measuring 22 inches long.
We can't wait to meet you Ava!
This weekend is the 48 Hour Film Festival here in NZ, with less than 10 hours remaining things appear to be reaching a fever-pitch. I've seen lots of planning and coordinating going on and expect we'll see lots of people out on the town this weekend - good luck to everyone!
A big "Happy Birthday" shout out to Grandma Sue and Grandpa Denny, whose birthdays it was - I tried to post some video singing from the girls but had some difficulty without our setup at home. Very soon all that will be remedied, we hope.
On the home front, we're finally getting internet service today so we'll be seeing more posts from Brandie and she'll be able to reply to all those emails sitting in her inbox! I know she's been feeling disconnected from all her friends so be sure to send her an email to welcome her back online - have a good weekend everyone, we miss you!!
A big "Happy Birthday" shout out to Grandma Sue and Grandpa Denny, whose birthdays it was - I tried to post some video singing from the girls but had some difficulty without our setup at home. Very soon all that will be remedied, we hope.
On the home front, we're finally getting internet service today so we'll be seeing more posts from Brandie and she'll be able to reply to all those emails sitting in her inbox! I know she's been feeling disconnected from all her friends so be sure to send her an email to welcome her back online - have a good weekend everyone, we miss you!!
We're celebrating it on his time zone, as it's actually tomorrow here already! Hope you have a great one, enjoy the Saranac for Chris & I along with spring in upstate New York - we miss it!
