bi"11"ie

When you are busy making memories,

the time floats away on a cloud.

I can remember her birthday like it was yesterday.

We (my body especially) waited for a whole long week.

July 10th was just not going to be her day.

at 12:35 am on July 17th you took your first breath.

Now she is 11.

always a friend

the most creative person I know

she is becoming a plan maker

a risk taker

a neighborhood socialite

a fashionista (with her own style)

She asked for just a few things for her birthday.

They were very well thought out.

A new bike to ride to middle school.

Justin Bieber movie.

(she's 11 enough said)

We had a few friends for a weekend sleepover.

I kept if simple with homemade individual pizza's,

individual chocolate strawberry filled cakes

(which we ate at 11 pm because daddy had to work late)

and Pink Sodas

I *think* the girls finally went to sleep at 2:45.

We love you Ugly Bug!

I broke up with Book Face

I love LOVE reconnect with people.

I am my father's daughter, and i love LOVE visiting with people.

I love LOVE sharing ideas, my day, my "brilliant" spurts of information.

I love LOVE bragging that I made a homemade veggie lasagna from scratch. TODAY.

but I also love LOVE:

Playing the piano

updating my Project Life

updating my Blog

baking Mocha Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies with my kids in the kitchen,

working on a little sewing project i want to finish this century

playing my bassoon for the first time in 10 years (yes I have 3 working reeds and not terribly squawky either)

hanging outside with my kids and my neighbors

grocery shopping with coupons

reading a fun summer novel

keeping up with the laundry for a family of 5

So something had to give for a while.

I did it cold turkey, no grace period.

Maybe someday we can be friends again.

(on Book Face that is)

And really I have been cheating on bookface with pinterest for months.

Like i told Bill:

my mom knows where I live

my true best friends text me

my friends email me

and everyone else who might care, find me here.

For 3 days, it has been VERY liberating

Highlights of June

*Both Billie and James won their classroom award for

Wise Choices

at the end of the year assembly

*Afternoon Sonic happy hour.

*Family Cultural Project

*5th grade continuation...bring on middle school.

*Father's Day cinnamon rolls and chocolate milk

*Please, please, please mommy...aren't I so cute!

*Hanging out in the corner on his ipod with a blanket.

I guess this is what teenagers do.

*Evenings with the fire pit, smores, and our awesome neighbors

*Stylish pre-teen vacuuming with our slippers on

Etc, etc, etc....

These last two months have been such a whirlwind of activities. The month of May I spent three out of the four weekends in the car between Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Utah.

So here are the highlights:

My friend Pam had an amazing spread at the "Wedding Viewing Party." We had a great time looking at all the hats, trying to figure out who all the British upity ups were and brunching on cucumber sandwiches, tartlets, croissants, champagne cupcakes and more.

We celebrated Grant's entrance into Teenager-hood with a fine meal at our local Japanese Habatchi Grill. (I can't believe that I am young enough to have a teenager!)

Trying out his new fly fishing rod. Better learn how to cook other-than-salmon fish!

He asked for a marble chocolate chip bundt cake.

And see how well I plan ahead for candles!

We took off for a week at Grandma & Grandpa's early morning on his birthday.

As part of his gift he got to choose our fast food lunch destination. Plenty to choose from when you hit a KFC/AW/Long John Silvers joint.

More birthday sweets that we shared with the whole extended family.

Grant asked for something with strawberries in it.

Playing outside in the beautiful spring weather.

My mom got a new bike for her birthday and she rides around town for the mail and such.

Couldn't resist this picturesque view of small town living at its finest!

We celebrated Mother's Day Brunch with grammie and mom's siblings.

The next week we drove to Wheatland to exchange Billie

for her week at G&G Daniel's place.

The boys were thrilled!

(But James missed her dearly by the end of the week)

We took the opportunity to drive up to Keystone SD on our way to pick up sister. It was only 30 minutes longer out of the way, and we got to stay at the most quaint lodge that our friends just acquired. Keystone is beautiful in the spring and we can't wait to go back for another visit.

The 4 cousins together at dinner with Bill's family.

We stayed at a nearby hotel so the kiddos could have some swim time.

James missed his sister and they went right back to their

fun,

imaginative

play time.

They are shown here sporting their sticker masks.

Hippity Hoppity Easter

This year instead of dying eggs,

we made white chocolate covered oreos instead.

Grant took his turn, painting the design

(shirtless, because that's what boys do, or so I keep hearing.)

James, and his cookies...

(James NEVER has his shirt on,

first thing off when he gets home from school every single day)

Billie girl helped me to the end.

She did swirly designs and mixed the two colors.

We were fresh from baths, hence the messy hair!

I would say the cookie substitute worked,

because the big E.B. found our house.

Billie couldn't understand why he dumped all the eggs on the floor...

That silly E.B.

We had a little brunch hunt with several of our neighbors.

Grant and Billie hid the eggs for the younger kids.

It was a chilly day but we just love our neighborhood and our neighbors!

Happy -th Anniversary of My 29th Birthday

We did some seriously good planning, accidentally!

Bill's Birthday is in March,

My Birthday is in April,

G Bubba's is in May,

Girlies is in July and Jamers is clear in Nov.

Okay so we didn't do too well with the last two but 3/5 is pretty good.

I felt seriously spoiled this year. I had mini celebrations for days.

Easy Painting class with my friend Pam

Sushi at a local joint on Saturday night

Yummy~ Love love love eel!

Major League Baseball on Monday night.

Seriously cold, glad I wore my winter coat

and so glad that we had seats at club level

so we could go inside and warm up.

The kiddos loving the rain and rainbows!

A double rainbow that showed up right after dinner for us.

It was beautiful!

Cinnamon Swirl Cake from Nothing Bundt Cake.

My favorite store bought cake.

And a baby Lemon bundtlet for breakfast. :-)

And the best gift of all (besides spending time with my fam OF COURSE)

Bill is taking me to see Josh Groban in Concert when he tours here.

Sigh!

My two favorite men in one room.

Celebrating Life

With Cupcakes we Celebrated the day that you were born.

35 Balloons representing all the great years!

We cooked a meal that was fit for our king.

(blue cheese steak, sour cream mashed potatoes and texas toast)

And a grand party with friends, xbox, food on the grill, and your favorite

coconut cream pie cake (8 layers this year)

This year is shaping up to be the best yet.

We love you Bill for all your many talents,

your amazing work ethic,

your funny sense of humor,

your knack for knowing how to handle any situation,

and

for just being the best you that you know how to be!

Happy Birthday!!