The Hubby Turns 50!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We flew home from Las Vegas on Steve's birthday. And my children made me so proud. We returned home to a clean house and a wonderful birthday dinner party for Steve. Few things in this world make a mother happier than when she realizes her children are carrying on the traditions she began and holds dear. So now Steve has caught up with me...for a few more days that is!

Madison made dinner...Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes.

And Peyton made Steve's favorite cake...

Chocolate with Peanut Butter Icing!

Steve Had A Birthday So We Had Cake

Not that we need a reason to have cake around here, but in this house, when it's your husband's birthday, you must have chocolate cake with Peyton's homemade Peanut Butter Icing. And his very favorite dinner, which I forgot to photograph...but trust me. It was delicious. But first...

Right after Flynn and I finished school, we got busy setting the table.

And in case you were wondering, I was aware of the wrinkles in the tablecloth.

I was going for a more cozy, rustic look.

O.K. Maybe not.

But Flynn was so excited about decorating, I didn't have the heart to take it off and iron it. : )

After we decorated, we wrapped some presents. And Flynn arranged them.

All by herself.

She was so proud. : )

My In-House Baker Peyton made his favorite cake.

Happy Birthday to the man I chose to walk beside me every step of every day.

One of my better choices, I must say.

My mom, my sister Margie and her husband Chris came to celebrate...

As did his sister Sally and her hubby Greg.

This is the sister I mention here often.

Sally is ten years older than Steve, and was to him what Peyton is to Flynn.

A second mother.

I love to hear the stories they tell about when Steve was younger...

Greg tells the best ones about when he was dating Sally and Steve was a little pain spying on them!

We are so blessed to have these two in our lives.

Steve and his kiddos.

We were happy to have Princess Jasmine join us for the party.

And don't worry.

Jasmine has nothing on Flynn's love for Cinderella.

I was sad that Madison wasn't in the picture...

Greg quickly took care of that!

Dinner was Steve's mom's recipe for Lasagna...which Sally and Greg both hadn't had for years and years. And both said I replicated it perfectly!

I was so glad, because it is Steve's favorite.

After dinner and presents, Steve made a wish and we sang and then he had some royal help blowing out the candles. Not 46 of them, but close enough.

Happy Birthday to the most awesome husband and father.

And a pretty cool guy. : )

Recipe for this delicious lasagna here!

An Ordinary Day For An Extraordinary Guy

My hubby had a birthday this week. He turned 45, babe that he is. ; ) We like to plan for months when our children have birthdays...picking a theme and the perfect decorations and cake. For ourselves though, those special days seem to creep up on us, intertwined with all the other blessedly ordinary days. And perhaps that is how it should be.

In any case, our little family of six threw together a special day to celebrate the most extraordinary husband and father ever. Madison had the idea to send him a Candy Bar Bouquet to work...flowers are highly overrated, you know...and Flynn worked on the most perfect card, while Peyton whipped up his most favorite chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. And in a sweet touch of love and learning from his father, Rhett treated us all to Dairy Queen the night before without even being asked. : ) We ended the night with my annual call to his mother, thanking her for having that seventh one...that just one more...and for saving the best for last!


Steve is a good man. He is the rock that steadies me...often. I am blessed beyond measure that in him my girls see the model of what a future husband should be, and my son, the husband he should become. I met this man when we were but babies...16 and 17 years old. And I see in him today that same man I fell in love with...and so much more. A few gifts, a slice of cake eaten after singing with the four souls you both brought into this world...that could never be adequate enough to capture the love and thankfulness I have for my man. His beard is peppered in grey now, as are his temples. And honestly...he looks more handsome to me than ever. Because behind all that are the years we have shared together, the laughter, the tears, the babies, the joys, the losses, the reality of life. And there is no one I would rather spend it with than my Steve. Happy Birthday, hubby!

 

 

 

Have a wonderful September weekend, friends!

Weekend Plans

Remember how a few weeks ago I wrote about our slow, nothing- to- do, free of commitment weekends? Me neither. Anyway...here is what we have planned for this first weekend of September.

Friday night is free, with the exception of Rhett working at the theatre for a few hours. I think we will have an easy supper and spend some time outside. The weather is calling for a perfect fall afternoon and evening. : )

Saturday we will start morning chores. Since I am a bit busier during the day lately, I thought it would be a good idea to enlist some help with a few small chores on Saturday mornings. I also think it is important to give the kids some responsibility as well as teach them basic life skills for when they grow up and leave me. Because I have heard that is what kids do. Imagine that! ; )

Saturday evening I am planning on a favorite meal of hamburgers on the grill with French fries for dinner. We have late Mass on Saturday evening as Rhett is serving. After that, I am hoping Steve makes a stop at our favorite Dairy Queen to get a treat from my sweet Madison.

Sunday is a busy day. First and foremost it is my hubby's birthday! Yep...he finally catches up to me in age. Happy 43rd Steve! : ) I think to celebrate I will have him cook some barbeque chicken on the grill for lunch. And have Peyton make his favorite side dish, a broccoli and stuffing dish. I am so good at delegating. After that we travel for the first soccer game of the season. We are hoping for a birthday win! Once we return from the game, Madison has her first Confirmation class, followed by Steve's requested chocolate cake with peanut butter icing. Which will be followed by me collapsing on the couch. : )

And that is what we have planned this weekend. I hope yours is crisp and cool and yummy too, whatever your plans may be. As always, thanks for visiting! : )

One last time for the stars and stripes dress this summer... Labor Day Weekend Mass. : )

A favorite picture of my "middle ones"...

and here they are altogether. Big sister was not quite ready...surprise, right? ; )

Enjoying the late summer/early fall view from the backyard these days...

Enjoying our annual Back to School lunch at our favorite café...

where I was so proud of myself for ordering this yummy healthy lunch...

that I celebrated with this huge piece of Chocolate Cream Pie. : )

A little phone shot of me and my oldest gal at my sister's house during our pizza and wing fest...

Speaking of food...my lunch one day this week...a bowl of pasta with fresh garden tomatoes. All is right with the world.

Look what we found! Fall has arrived!

One final shot of our little Kirby...who has adjusted to our new school schedule just fine. He lays under Peyton's desk all morning!

Have a happy weekend, friends!

Weekend Plans...Father's Day 2013

Father's Day Weekend already...my own father used to tell me when I was young that the older you get, the faster it goes. I think I understand now exactly what he meant...Friday evening we will be returning from a three day getaway with the kids. More on that soon!

Saturday morning will find me happily sorting and washing laundry from the trip, because sadly that does indeed make me happy. As much as I enjoy going, I enjoy being back home even more. Saturday afternoon my sisters and I are taking our father out to an early dinner for Father's Day. He has recently returned to the nursing home for an undetermined amount of time, and we thought it would be nice to surprise him and break him out for a bit! After dinner, we are planning on attending late Mass before heading home for the night.

Sunday is Father's Day! I plan on having Steve sleep late and have the kids help me prepare a favorite breakfast of his...Blueberry pancakes with sausage and fruit. Then we travel to the final soccer game of the season. Hoping for a Father's Day win! Steve would like to cook on the grill for dinner, but I don't want him to do too much, so I am thinking a pork loin with baked potatoes and broccoli and cheese.

Well, that is what's up here this weekend. I hope yours is happy and sunny and restful, whatever your plans may be!

Happy Father's Day!

Warm summer weather means lighter dinners...this is one of our favorites...fish, white rice, and these green beans from my bloggy friend Tricia. They are delicious!

Summer also means there is always a big bowl of this in the refrigerator!

My oldest and my youngest! : )

Homemade cinnamon rolls made a perfect Saturday night snack.

My lilacs finally bloomed! The smell reminds me of my mom's so many years ago...

Happy Father's Day to the man who has held our children's hands for all these years. I love you!

Weekend Plans

The weekend is here already! Ours is a busy one, but one filled with lots of family and fun. Friday night, Steve and Rhett are heading to camp for a quick sleepover and work session. The girls and I are staying home and having our own sleepover with my sister and my mom. We always have a lot of fun during these girls nights!

Saturday has us going in different directions during the day. Madison cheers at an away game during the afternoon. Steve and Rhett are planning on attending. I am going to enjoy my weekly coffee visit with my dad in the morning. After that, I will be helping Peyton prepare for my sweet husband's birthday! Yes, Saturday is Steve's special day. He asked Peyton to make his favorite cake, and she is more than excited. He requested a simple Texas sheet cake. Peyton puts a thin layer of peanut butter on top of the cake under the chocolate icing. We are all about chocolate peanut butter here!

We usually attend late afternoon mass on the weekend, but Rhett is serving the late mass Saturday night. We are so excited that he is serving on his dad's birthday! For dinner before mass, I am having a simple supper of sloppy joes, cheesy potatoes, and the last of our zucchini.  After mass, we are having a small cake and ice cream party for Steve. My mom and sister and her husband are joining us.

Sunday is Rhett's first soccer game of the season. Steve is his coach, and they are excited! The game is in the afternoon, so we have Sunday morning free to relax.  I am thinking about making some homemade pumpkin spice waffles with fresh fruit for brunch. After the soccer game we plan on a simple supper, baths, and jammies and then...our beloved Steelers are back! Yes, they have a night game on Sunday. I love night games because everyone is home and settled and we can just relax and enjoy. I don't love night games because I am usually asleep by halftime. : ) Well, thanks for stopping by.  I hope you all have a fun family weekend yourselves, whatever your plans may be!

Happy Birthday to the best husband and father I know!

And one more...Flynn's favorite toy this week! She hasn't let go of it!