{january & february birthdays}

What fun to get together with my family tonight to celebrate the January and February birthdays....Jillsie, Mama & Charly. We had intended on getting together in January, but illness hit quite a few of us and we chose to postpone the party until this month. Unfortunately, illness struck again this week and my sister Pulse and her little family were unable to make it as a result. Pulse...you were all missed. It felt literally like HALF of our family was missing. It never feels quite right when anyone is missing. Still, we had such a wonderful evening.


In combining months, we also combined favorite meals.....Dad's homemade pizza for Jill and Charly and homemade lasagna for Mama. I was happy to contribute Mom's homemade lasagna and the chocolate cakes tonight. It was so nice to have Jeff there with me...with us. It was especially awesome to see how comfortable he is becoming around my family....particularly around the little ones.

I'd be lying if I said that the picture below of my niece Charly giving Jeff snuggles didn't completely tug at my heartstrings.... ;-) Such an awesome moment. So glad I was able to capture it.

I know what a transition it can be to be "the new one" in any group and am so grateful that he is always so happy to come with us. I've never liked the saying that someone "completes" you. That would suggest that WITHOUT them, you are INCOMPLETE. I am whole..and want a man that is whole as well. Jeff and I are two whole people....that are even STRONGER together. However, I can't quite explain it. When he ISN'T around, it just....I don't know...it just doesn't "feel right." Anyway....we had such a wonderful evening together. Kaden took a few pictures of us and I couldn't decide which to post....so I posted all of them. Hit it! :-)


Both Jill and my mom seem to be a little more difficult to shop for than the other members of my family. Mom has so many things and not much room for more....it's hard to find something she can really use...and/or has room for. I settled on OVER THE TOP COOKIES and a Barnes & Noble gift certificate for Jillsie. She seemed to really appreciate it...which made me happy. For mom, I was at a loss for a while. Finally, I came up with an idea. My mom and I are so much alike. Truthfully, I could go without a single gift for the rest of my life and be completely happy. However, I couldn't live without being able to GIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE!!!! My Mama is the same way. And so...I decided on a more unique gift this year...that I introduced with a little poem (nothing award-winning.....written in about 87 seconds this afternoon. LOL!)....

"For the woman with everything, what do you get?
I searched and I searched, and I started to fret.
But then I remembered, my Mama's like me..
And there's one thing that always makes us both ha--ppy.
And so, this time around, I found just the right flavor...
Of gift that comes more in the form of a "FAVOR."
'Twas your BOOK GROUP and BUCKETS that were in mind for this GIFT,
For I know you enjoy giving OTHERS a lift."

I purchased a set of really cute glass jars with black and white polka dot lids that she can fill and use as party favors for her book group and/or another group she gets together with on a regular basis...referred to as a "Buckets Group." They were really cute jars...and she was so excited about them. Kristin and Jill were equally interested...it made me happy to see their excitement about Mom's gift as well. Happy day.

Love these pictures with Seneca in "dress up clothes" from the play room. This particular dress happens to be one of MY old clogging costumes. Fun to see my Baby Girl wearing it.:-)



All in all, we had such an enjoyable evening tonight. I love my family and it was such a blessing to be able to celebrate three beautiful women in my family tonight. So much love.....