Nash is 6!

My baby boy turned six last week. He's a little excited. The next day he walked up to everyone he knew and announced, "I'm six!"

Thanks to a kind friend (Apryl!) with an extra ticket we got to bring Nash's buddy, Timmy, for an evening traversing Disneyland and California Adventure. I love the genuine excitement on their faces in this picture!

 I don't know what's cuter these boys or their pirate ears.

I had to make this pic bigger so you can see both Emma and Dedan's head sticking out of their Autopia cars. Fortuitous picture! 

My babies will keep growing up, but at least I'll always have someone to go to Disneyland with.

Mr. No Name

Sixteen years ago I was at an activity for the young single adult members of the local branch of my church. The person(s) in charge of the activity totally slacked their responsibility, so we were just sitting around. I decided to be productive and introduce myself to people I hadn't met yet. A few minutes later I came to a young Marine...who would not tell me his name. His response to my request, "If you really want to know, you'll find out."

He was right.

Nowadays I call him lots of things:
Father of my children
Babe
Har (sometimes Haaaaar!)
CARPEN'R (when he's not listening to me)
Sweetie
Boyfriend (the kids hate it when I use this one)
Perv
Husband (lucky me!)

but today we all can all call him...
The Birthday Boy!
He's 37.
Yes, that's younger than me. I'm good like that.


Opening gifts with his helpers



Happy birthday, my love! (Ooo. One more for the list)

Change of Heart

Years ago my husband made me a promise: He would be moving out by the time our sweet little Emma became a teenager.



2002 making Dedan's 1st birthday cupcakes



2003 Ponto Beach



Teenage years filled with emotional girly drama terrified him. He didn't want any part of it. As the years have passed he has stuck to his guns. Last year on her 12th birthday Emma pointed out that he only had a year left with us. He agreed with more enthusiasm than she expected.

Alas, November 19th, 2010 has come and gone. Harland is still here. Perhaps he saw this beautiful young lady that Heavenly Father graced our family with and realized he could handle anything she is going to bring on. He'll probably even enjoy her teenage years...not that he'll admit it.

Emma's post birthday self portrait

...or maybe he changed his mind a few months ago when I told him if he was leaving he'd be taking the boys with him. Either way, I'm glad he stayed. Life's better with him around.

Happy birthday to my favorite teenager!

39...for the first time

I'm not one to lie about my age. I say embrace your age...well, in theory. Last week, Rachel, my BFF, turned 39 (sorry to out you, sista). We had a rip roaring weekend where she got to eat whatever she wanted and not make any plans (yes, this is what is exciting to us these days)! Tomorrow is my turn. We're grilling (after church) and will have a fairly mellow "party" with just my family hanging out...like most Sundays around here.



I'm not against turning 39, but I'm not looking forward to it either. With some introspection (I didn't make that word up. I have a big vocabulary...or maybe I heard it on The Big Bang Theory) the thing that bothers me about being 39 *sigh* is that my next birthday...oh, I don't know if I can say it...I'll ...turn....*choke*....FORTY! 365 days until I am in my forties.

Why?! Why does it bother me so? My wonderful grandmother, Beth Fenton, used to tell me all the time, "Don't get old, dear. It's awful." Thanks, Gram.

But what am I worried about? 40 isn't old! I have friends who are in their forties. Fabulous, cool, funny, women who I admire (or is it "whom" - whatever). So, next year I could celebrate my 2nd annual 39th birthday....

...but instead I have 365 days to embrace the milestone that is coming my way. If I'm going to embrace it then I want a big party. I'm not talking a couple of my close friends at Chili's either. I'm talking throw down, all out, everyone I know is invited celebration of AnnaBeth.

Next year. Put it on your calendar, especially, if you are one of those women I love in their 40s (and if you are reading my blog, then I love you). I want every wonderful woman in her 40s that I know to come and share your secrets, share all the things you love about your age.

June 6, 2011.
Party.
My house.

da baby bruder

My Nash is not a baby. Just ask him. I do.

Me: Nash are you my baby?

Nash: Nooooo. I'm da baby bruder!

(getting tattoed @ his party)

Well, now my not-baby is 4. Four. FOUR!

Don't get me wrong. I am so over (ala Rachel & Ross) diapers, midnight feedings, carrying car seats, and smelling like puke all the time. My neighbor thinks this is the best time in their young lives and I'm starting to agree. No diapers. No school schedule. He can entertain himself, but still likes to snuggle. He can ask for what he wants and I'm strong enough to restrain him when the answer is no (even if there are occassionally black eyes). His curious little mind is focusing more on letters, numbers, books, and he LOVES preschool days. He can go on playdates...to someone else's house.

His birthday party was going to get rained out, so we took it indoors...to the church. Turned out to be a great location. We had a cheetah theme (I'll have to post the story of Nash's fascination with them). Of course, my mom made a fabulous cake....that we still have leftovers of. Come over. I'll fix you a plate.

Heather Kiel took this - my favorite photo of the party. I love all the kids lined up by height in the background waiting for their turn.

...and the madness that ensued.

Thanks to all Nash's good friends for making his party...well, his whole birthday, FANTASTIC!

THE BIG NEWS

It's not that these lovely Beehives welcomed Emma by "heart attacking" our house the night before her birthday, or that she was so delighted (that was a given);

It's not that Emma got to be with her very best friend, Caitlyn, exactly where she wanted to be at her actual birth time on her actual birthday: Pirates of the Carribbean;

It's not that there are reindeer at Disneyland (who knew?!);

It's not that Nash is already shaving (I love bathtub pictures);

It's not that we let Emma have 3 friends stay over Friday, so we could go to the earliest Saturday showing of New Moon OR that Dedan likes to act like a vampire OR that we loved the movie and all agreed it was better than Twilight;

It was something we discovered at the theater though: There is a movie coming out (The Lightening Thief) and one of the main characters has my name! Well, it is a great name.

Why is this so hard for me?

Emma, my baby girl, turns 12 on Thursday. The Primary sang a birthday song to her yesterday in church. I started crying. I felt like an idiot for crying but I couldn't stop...until Dedan came over to me crying. Poor kid got my crybaby gene.

"I never cried for my sister's birthday before, Mom. I'm just so sad that she's leaving."

"She still lives with us, babe. She's just going to Young Women instead of Primary."

"I know! But I'm so sad. I will miss her in this class."

Me, too, baby. Me, too.

Great to be 8!

Happy Birthday, my beautiful boy!Things I love about Dedan:

~ He has the best sense of humor...even when the rest of us are serious.~ I always know what he wants to eat: chicken, french fries & chocolate milk...even at the Olive Garden. (Thanks, Grandpa, for a great dinner!)

~ The boy can tell a story.

~ He can be a very patient, loving, fun big brother to Nash.

~ He is always trying to improve his skills. This week it's doing wheelies on his bike.

~ He can fall asleep anywhere.

~ He is a great snuggler.

~ He makes friends everywhere he goes.

~ We have a neighbor we call "The Cranky Lady" and he is always suggesting nice things we can do for her....maybe I should listen.

143, Son!

Nash turned 3! We had a small celebration at our house after church with Nash's favorite neighbors, Mike & Dejah. Nash directed Grandma J.R. in every aspect as she made his birthday cake - the cake he had talked about EVERY DAY for a month. Notice all the sprinkles. Nash loves sprinkles.

Then he played so hard that he banged his head and got a small but deep gash. Mike helped convince him to put a bandage on by wearing one himself. We love Mike!

On his birthday Har & I took Nash park hopping at Disneyland while the big kids were in school. He got to pick all the rides and activities without having to sit around. We saw the Playhouse Disney show, stayed cool in the 100 degree weather and best of all got to meet Mater!