Happy Birthday Hijacking Post

This is the first time that I, Andrew, have ever written on our family blog after 7 years and over close to 500 posts from Kelly. So, I’m basically hijacking the page. But I wanted to hijack it to honor Kelly, who, today, is celebrating her _____^rd  birthday (I’ll let you guess the blank ;) and list out some things I’m thankful for and love about her.

____________________

I’m thankful for a wife who thinks outside of herself and her needs, always eager to serve another person even at the cost of her own convenience and ease.

I’m thankful for a wife that is generous. She has taught me to not be so stingy in many areas of life.

I’m thankful for a wife that is like a rock emotionally, not emotionless, but strong and confident in God.

I love the fact that she rarely cries and laughs at me when I tear up at the end of Undercover Boss.

I’m thankful for a wife that is willing to care for 4 very young children full time, 24/7 when she could easily be out doing many other things.

I’m thankful that she’s always planning ahead, thinking of important details.

I’m thankful for a wife who is one of the hardest-working people I have ever met, working up to 3 jobs at once during our seminary days at the beginning of our marriage so I could work part-time, go to school full-time, and finish school debt-free....and she still runs non-stop today, mothering full-time, teaching piano, running a mom's group, and a gazillion other things.

I love that she started the Pittsburgh Momtourage which represents both her industrious nature and care for others.

I’m thankful for a wife who is an extremely gifted pianist but serves in a self-effacing manner in our local church.

I’m thankful for a wife that is different than me and for the way she has taught me that my ideas aren’t always the best.

I thankful for her hospitable spirit, caring more that her home serves others well than it serves her well.

I love her creativity in the kitchen…even when the result is kale chips. :\

I’m thankful for a wife who is realistic about life, parenting, and marriage, not expecting things to always be perfect and full of warm fuzzies.

I’m thankful for a wife that respects me but isn't necessarily impressed with me, being willing to tell me when I'm wrong or being stupid.

I’m thankful for her incredible patience with me, putting up with my inconsistencies and extending grace over my sin.

I love that it's hard to articulate all the things I love. I love you, Kelly. Happy Birthday.

Snowman Par-tay

I know I'm super lucky that so far I only have to plan one birthday party a year! Graham & I had fun looking back through his previous parties last week. Even though he doesn't remember year 1 & 2, he still thought they were pretty cool! This year, the right theme just wasn't coming to me...and then out of no where....it was snowmen! It was a fun theme, and gracious, so, so easy! You can do a lot with cotton balls & marshmallows. :) This was probably the easiest & lowest stress birthday we've done! Since we don't have family nearby, (although we were SO excited that aunt katie flew in for the weekend), Eden got her 2 friends, and Graham had 4 friends. It's so convenient that 2 of Graham's friends have little sisters. :) We were excited to include some of our neighbors this year who Graham plays with outside all the time. And his buddy Zephyr (from our Momtourage group), they've shared each birthday together since they were 1!

What to do with leftover invitations that you'll never use again?

Make a welcome banner!

I will have to share my sweet potato cupcake recipe very soon...so yummy!

The kiddos had pb&j snowmen and the adults had sloppy joes.

 

We had just enough snow to go sledding in the backyard - love being able to do an outdoor activity, even in February! And then they wrapped Andrew in TP like a snowman.

*Note to self: expect that using a marshmallow centerpiece will result in it being half eaten. :)

A fun day and thankful for the friends that made it special!

{and thanks to Katie for the pretty pics!}

Happy four.

Whether he is.................

doing flips

 loving his game time with mommy & daddy after Eden goes to bed

 Super Owl

learning to play piano

 loving his sister

(opposite moments happen as well, but he is a good big brother)

 reporting for duty & making a lot of arrests

 playing

 drawing

 dressing like dad

(he always puts on a tie....and when was the last time Andrew wore a tie?!)

asking every day when "his brother" is going to come share his bunkbed

 or LOVING the snow

this boy always manages to stay busy! We have very few dull moments since this one joined our family.

Funnies........
*Dad said I couldn't have gum for the rest of my life.

*told his friend, "You need to be patient. Only the Lord can help you with that." Mmmm, he is occasionally listening. :)

*told me "let's play the rhyming game, I'll give you a word and you tell me a word that rhymes.  Here's your word: Albuquerque." Say what??

Here's his list of birthday questions for this year:

1. What is your favorite color? blue & black and other colors that are bright

 2. What is your favorite toy? Buzz Lightyear

3. What is your favorite fruit? every kind

 4. What is your favorite tv show? Dumbo

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? ham & cheese sandwich 

6. What is your favorite outfit? Big Ben shirt (go Steelers!)

7. What is your favorite game? Candyland

8. What is your favorite snack? graham crackers (ironic.)

9. What is your favorite animal? Barf Boo. (his dog and I don't know how this name came about)

10. What is your favorite song? b-i-b-l-e

11. What is your favorite book? Curious George

12. Who is your best friend? Avalon

13. What is your favorite cereal? granola & yogurt

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play in the backyard

15. What is your favorite drink? juice

16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  his Bee

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? granola & yogurt

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? ham & cheese sandwich and no vegetables.  Although he eats his veggies very well, we may be able to comply for one meal. :)

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a dad

We love you Graham Owen, you make us laugh every day and we love seeing you grow & learn. Happy Four!

happy birthday.

Birthday mania has begun....as in 3 birthdays in 12 days!

Andrew's day was pretty low-key. I and the kiddos have been battling sickness for about 2 weeks. It appeared to have cleared up for the weekend and then Monday we all got hit hard again. So beside not feeling well, we've both been up a lot at night with Eden who sleeps terrible when she's not feeling well. :-/

I am so, so thankful I had made a lasagna & breadsticks last week to take to a family with a new baby and said baby had not arrived yet (although ironically, the baby was born on his birthday!), so I was able to pop his favorite meal right out of the freezer. I am sure God knew I was going to need that for this day. :)

But we managed to make Deep Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cake with a yummy Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting. Although the inside did not look exactly like the picture. Pinterest shocker, I know. :)

 Graham's card says, Dad, You the best. You are special. I love you. Happy Birthday to you. And he signed all our names. :) Graham & Eden LOVE their daddy. As soon as Eden hears a key in the turn she starts squealing "daddy!"  G's favorite thing is to go somewhere with daddy. Daddys have a big responsibility being in the hero category. The post-dinner nap lasted about 30 seconds. I think Andrew would have preferred longer.

Happy birthday. To you.

Birthday Fun

Double birthday bash - ice cream style

To make the Ice Cream Cones - Cake style:

cake balls: 1. Bake a 9X13 cake of your choice (either from a box or from scratch - any flavor will work). 2. After allowing the cake to cool completely tear up the cake and put it in a LARGE bowl. 3. Add a tub of icing (you can use icing from scratch as well but the tub icing tends to hold things toge...ther better - any flavor icing will work). 4. Squish the frosting into the torn up cake until it is fully incorporated (it will be play-doh consistency). 5. Make balls by hand or by using a small ice cream scooper. 6. Allow cake balls to dry overnight or for several hours.

I put the cake balls in the fridge overnight in a 9x13 pan and then assembled the cones the next day.
Waffle cones from walmart. I used the spray can frosting for the topping & topped with a cherry. I let them sit in the fridge until it was party time to make sure they were good and set.

So simple, but so great. :)

{If I do say so myself.}

Some fun personalized items from Birthday in a Box

looking so grown up!

some fun items from a favorite, Shop Sweet Lulu

doing her smash cake was so fun!

yes, she thoroughly enjoyed it!

so sweet!

Thanks Studio S Photography!

a few snapshots of the birthday fun...............

We had a fun time on Saturday celebrating Graham's 3rd and Eden's 1st birthday!

We had decided to do them together and go with the age/friend guideline.

So Graham got to invite 3 of his friends. Conveniently, one of them had a baby sister who is Eden's little friend, thus her +1. =)

I was so hoping for the kids to be able to go sledding, but we've had very little snow this winter. However, it ended up snowing for much of Friday & Saturday ~ perfect timing!

We went with an ice cream cone theme with bright blue & pink for colors.

This is quite hilarious because it looks like G is wiping away tears (of joy?) during our happy birthday rendition.....but I believe he was just caught in a funny moment!

I made cake balls, topped them with frosting & a cherry.

The kids kept asking when we were going to open this "present"!

excitement!

 Who's standing on a chair....again!

Mike Mulligan & the Steam Shovel - such a fun book!

Zephyr wasn't quire sure what to think of these moves of Eden...but he was sweet!

pink toes!

A couple of months ago, a local photographer had contacted me about doing some promoting for her and offered to do a photo shoot for our family. I immediately thought of the upcoming birthday party and how great it would be to have some nice photos of that.

Hopefully I can post some more when they're done.....but go here to see some of the great pics she took!