Celebrations!!!

We have some celebrations!!!  Hadassah had a birthday yesterday and Mike and I are celebrating our 12th Anniversary today!!!

Every year, we juggle these two celebrations as good as we can.  We always want to be present for Hadassah's birthday, so anniversary trips or events need to sometimes be done earlier or later.  We don't mind.  We are just blessed to have a reason to celebrate!!!

Because Hadassah's birthday comes first ... then that's where I will begin.  She's always been a girl that loves gifts!  I mean which kid doesn't, really, but she's been persistent in asking every day last week if I bought her a birthday gift yet.?.  She nicely made me a list of five things and she's not trying to be 'give me or that' ... she just wants to make sure I remember to get something for her.  :)  With so many reminders ... how could I forget.?.  Plus, she is our daughter and would never forget to bless her on her 'big day'!!!

Her cute birthday list ...

A delivery came first thing Friday morning for her.  She was already off to school but she will be tickled pink to enjoy it when she comes home!  (My mom always sends a fruit bouquet to the kids as part of a gift.  Just saying that maybe that's whats setting in the fridge waiting for her!  :)  )  And, she also did get some things already.  Mom delivered her gift early because she's in Florida today.  She gave her a Twister game that wraps around your leg and you jump with it.  Some cool art stuff too.  Mindy sent her a gift card to Target and Jody already gave a gift card to Children's Place.  Hadassah is very much looking forwards to some shopping soon!!!

She shared her fruit with Ashlyn and Matthew ...

Hadassah requested a birthday treat for school.  Soft Pretzels and Iced Coffee!!!  Said.  Done.  I love to make my kids their birthday treats!

  

Mike and I decided that we would make Friday night our night out for our anniversary.  We were planning to go to the Cheesecake Factory, but because of the icy roads, we stayed a little closer and went to El Serrano.  It's a good Mexican restaurant but after thinking of the Cheesecake Factory all day long ... it just wasn't as yummy.  Going from thinking of fresh fish and a good salad to actually then eating burritos and chips ... well, my mind had to make a switch over.  The dinner out with Mike was fun and well worth it though!  Love you, Babe!!!

Saturday, Hadassah woke up ready to celebrate her big 11th birthday!  She's growing up to be a little lady and she's being more and more helpful around the house!  When she was born, she changed my life forever.  Becoming a mom was the best gift ever!!!

We gave her her gift and she loved it!

 



Her wish was to go ice skating somewhere, have cousins over, go bowling as a family, eat pizza and then watch a movie at the very end.  (Only kids can come up with a list of activities like this one right???)  I crossed off the ice skating idea pretty fast because I wasn't about to pay for ice skating AND bowling.  But ... when the weather turned so cold and the ponds froze up, we decided to go find a pond to slide around on for FREE!!!  No better entertainment than that!!!

Jeff, Jeremy and Bobo came for the afternoon and we had sandwiches and a big cookie for lunch.  Then we went to a pond (Thanks Amey and Marty!!!) for an hour for outdoor, cold fun!  We warmed up with hot chocolate and drinks from McDonald's before sending the cousins back home!  All was so much fun!  (I was kept busy with the camera and even enjoyed being outside myself!!!  :)  )

Her homemade cookie/cake!!!

Added a bunch of candles for fun!!!

Here we are on the pond ... hold on tight to the rope and swing and slide!

 Hadassah and Jeff loving it together!

 They wanted to compete with Jeremy and Matthew on a snow fort ...

 Instead, they ended up eating some snow.

 Here Jeremy and Matthew worked on their snow fort ...

 ... they ended up playing with wood instead.

 Matthew taking a turn on the rope swing/slide.

 This was them ... Jeremy and Matthew can't do anything together without doing some kind of prank with it.  :)  They ended up all twisted in each other so many times.

 Jeff and Hadassah tried to come up with some games to play on the ice.  Jeff pulled Hadassah and then when they switched ... well, let just say that game didn't last too long.

 All FIVE of them!  COUSINS in the snow - photo edited in 'winterland'.

 Bobo and I warmed up with hot chocolate from McDonald's.  The others decided to drink milkshakes.  :/

Last night, we went just as a family for pizza and bowled two games and then rented Dr. Doolittle 2.  It felt so good to hang out with the kids and Mike and EVERYONE enjoying the moment!

Happy Birthday, Hadassah!!!  We love you so much!!!