Already???

 11 years ago today I was pacing the waiting room of a local hospital waiting for my child to be born. That was weird, I had never had to sit outside before and ask how things were going because I always knew. She finally arrived and I got to carry her to the nursery. She had a head full of hair- something else I had never experienced before. She was calm and quiet and it was rare for her to cry or make noise.

Boy have things changed.

She still has a head of hair and I have no clue when it comes to fixing it. But that is about all that is the same.

She has a collection of Tiggers and a personality to match.

She has a collection of soccer balls and always thinks she needs one more.

She no longer has a collection of junk because I threw it all out. But now she has room you can get in without signing a waiver.

She is not a frilly girly-girl and that is ok.

She loves to read.

She has the world's best sense of humor, very dry but very witty. She cracks me up almost every day.

She hates getting up in the morning and tried to get of going on our morning hike because, "you didn't have to hike on your birthday". But she went anyway (like she had a choice)

She choose what cake she wanted last week and we bought the stuff for it while grocery shopping. Yesterday she decided that she didn't want me to make it, but that she and Jess would do it.

This is what she wanted:

My house only has a swamp cooler that doesn't work very well and the hotter it is, the less it cools. Unless you are standing right under it. It was almost 100* yesterday so you know my kitchen was Muy Caliente. And the girls didn't realize that they should put the cake in the fridge after they cut it and before they frosted it. Or that the frosting should probably be cooled in the fridge as well. I did try to help her rescue it after I took these pictures.

Not bad for a first attempt.

Even if it did slide apart right after this picture and now we have what looks like a smashed watermelon on the cutting board.

Happy Birthday, Brandi1

I love you and am so happy you got to be in our family. 

---

Indeed.

Where has the time gone??

I remember it like it was just yesterday. It feels like it was just yesterday. But it was, in actuallity, 24 years ago that after 24 long excruciating hours of pain I held a tiny 8.5 pound bundle fresh from heaven and felt pure love for the first time.

In those 24 years there have been numerous trips to the emergency room for all kinds of bumps, bruises, and stitches. There have been snips and snails and puppy dog tails. I have learned about dinosaurs, scouts, camping, mountain biking, airplanes, boot camp and war.

I have learned that when I am replaced as first in a child's heart, it can be a good thing and I can love my replacement as much as my child does, and a daughter in law can be a great friend to have.

I have learned that Grandma love is just as pure and heart enlarging as mother love. But different. More. Better.

There have been bad years. Times that I have learned to pray harder than ever before. Years that I questioned my decision to have children. But then the light came again and joy returned with the good times.

And I would do it all over again.

Happy birthday, Donovan. I love you.

---

Indeed.

Lucky, lucky me

I was getting ready for the day today and lamenting the fact that every single thing takes twice as long as it should. I don't understand that, it is just my foot that is bandaged, but for some reason, it makes getting dressed, moving from room to room, whatever, hard to do.

But then I remembered something. I really am a lucky gal because of a special birthday today. 24 years ago Kristina was born. She and Donovan have been friends for I can't remember how many of those years, it just seems as if she has always been a part of our lives. And 4 years ago I was the lucky mom that got to have her as a daughter in law. No one could ask for a better daughter in law. Thank you for joining our crazy family and bringing such joy into our lives.

I love you and Happy Birthday Sweetie!!

More joy that Kristina has brought into our lives:

Jordan waiting for Santa


Hunter and Brandi as Santa came in

Jordan was mesmerized by Santa

She just watched and watched him

Jordan and Santa

Hunter wasn't so sure at first

Not so bad after all

Brandi and Santa

---

Indeed.

15 years ago

Today the sun is shining and it is warm enough to go without a jacket and walk to church. 15 years ago today it was snowing. Hard. Roads were closed all over the state. How do I remember the weather on an exact date from 15 years ago?

Because I was in the hospital, close to death, in fact I almost did die- twice. But it was worth it. That near death produced something wonderful in my life. One of the best parts of my life.

From this, at 1 week, weighing him every single day to make sure he was gaining weight because he was 6 weeks early and only 4lbs

To this, 15 years old and a wonderful, handsome, kind, caring young man. Who will be getting his learner's permit this week. Yikes!!

Happy Birthday Jacob Hardy!!

I love you son.

---

Indeed.

Celebrate

If it were your birthday on April 18th and you were in San Diego with your family, this is how you would celebrate.

Matt & Whitney


Matt

Happy 18th birthday Matthew!! Hope it was a good one

---

Indeed.

Sweet Pea

I used to change her diapers- and that was before disposable diapers. I also hung them out on the clothesline and folded them and put them away.

I babysat her when Mom had to run errands.

(and here is proof that it does snow in southern New Mexico. But I bet this picture was taken before noon.)

I read to her every night.

I called her Sweet Pea.

She cried when I moved 2,000 miles away to go to college. (I cried too, but we won't tell her that).

She brought me back a cool wooden cat box from her cruise to the Bahamas and Mexico.

Today is her birthday.

Happy Birthday Tawnya!!

---

Indeed.

Holidays and Celebrations

I have always thought that I am glad I do not have a birthday that falls on a holiday. My birthday is in June and falls around the time that the city I live in has it's city celebration. I tell my kids that the entire city is celebrating my birthday with a parade, a carnival, rodeos, strawberries and cream. They used to believe me, but now they are older and wise to me, I mean wiser.

Brandi's birthday is in July and we brought her home from the hospital on the 4th. I tell her that the entire nation celebrates her birthday- a parade, carnivals, fireworks. But she is older and wise to me now too.

I have a friend who's birthday is Dec. 24. She says that it was no fun when she was younger as the presents and cake etc. always got rushed through in order to get ready for Santa. She says that sometimes they even got combined. She never really fell for the combined celebration either.

But if your birthday falls on New Year's Eve, does that mean that the entire world celebrates your birthday? You know, parties, streamers, noise makers, fireworks, a countdown and crystal ball in Time's Square - the whole shebang? Or is it the countdown to the end of your birthday?

Whichever it is, do you get to have it all to yourself, no sharing with others. Is it easier to get friends together for a party? Especially if you want to stay up and celebrate the actual time that you came into the world- sometime around 11:30ish?

Or are you just afraid that your big sister will tell everyone in blogland how old you are? Well, I won't. I will just say--

Happy Birthday, Sharon!!! I am so glad you are my sister. Hugs and kisses all around. Hope it was a good one!