30th Birthday

I must first start this post by saying that I love birthdays and not just mine. I love the idea that we celebrate the birth of each individual. It is the one day during the year that is all for the person celebrating that day (well except for those that share their birthdays). Acknowledging a person for a day out of the year can be so special.

I go all out to make sure that everyone in my family feels special on their day. It doesn't always involve huge presents. Usually the special things include the birthday banner, breakfast in bed, homemade dinner of choice, cake that represents something they are currently "into," and if time permits an activity that is enjoyed by the birthday person.

Audrey asked me what I wanted to have for my birthday. (So I thought of something she would like to have) I told her I would like a toy porcupine. She wasn't sure how to pull that off so she and Nathan decided to draw one for me. On my birthday morning Nathan and Audrey both recognized that they should be serving me breakfast in bed but instead I was packing lunches for both of them and Ryan. I just love that they are catching on to all of the traditions. I hope that they will be excellent orchestrators of all of the birthdays they will celebrate in their families some day.

Last year I began the tradition of giving myself a birthday gift - a clean house and shaved legs! I kept that tradition up this year and I think I will for years to come. Well, maybe until I get a bit older and a little smarter and then I will hire someone to give me the clean house instead of doing it on my own!!

Audrey's 4th Birthday

Here she is. The twinkle in our eyes. She may only be 4 but she has matured beyond her years. Audrey's birthday is September 28th.

This year we began a breakfast in bed tradition. Audrey loves nothing more than to eat breakfast with Nathan. Because she sleeps later than Nathan most days she often misses eating with him. So, we had to include Nathan in Audrey's birthday breakfast in bed.

Audrey loves Star Wars and animals. I didn't really want to give Audrey a Star Wars birthday cake before Nathan gets one so I decided on animals. My mom and Sandy had animal candy molds so we made some animal candies to decorate the cake - this is truly the extent of my craftiness and creativity.

Audrey received nearly all of her gifts early. Luckily G & G Beadle hadn't given her their gifts early so she had something to open.

Happy Birthday Nathan

Good Morning and Happy Birthday Nathan

Breakfast in Bed

Special tray made with old birthday cards and wrapping paper.

Lego Cake complete with Lego Guys

Strangest #7 candle (almost looks like a 1) and not facing the correct way to Nathan

Lots for Start Wars toys!

I recently attended a conference and one of the classes I took was on Traditions. I picked up a few ideas that the kids were really excited about. I now have a birthday banner that I can use for all of the kids each year. We will continue the breakfast in bed tradition (though it isn't much fun when Nathan was awake an hour before and I told him he needed to get in bed and pretend he just woke up) - though we had a HUGE delicious breakfast a little later, quiche, bacon, fruit and pancakes ! For dinner Nathan picked homemade macaroni and cheese and burgers. Grandma and Grandpa Beadle were able to be here and they brought cousin Alaina. After breakfast Nathan, Audrey and Alaina went swimming at the YMCA. We came home, played, had dinner, went to YaYa's Frozen Yogurt, presents and cake. It was a good day.

Nathan's 4th birthday was August 20. He decided he wanted to go bowling. Bowling is one of the things he enjoys but as evidenced by this video, he still has a little ways to go to attain his goal of a 300 game!