Skating Party

This year we decide to combine the kids' birthday parties for one skating party at Interskate. The kids had their own cakes. Jenna's wanted cupcakes and unknowing to even Mom trick candles were placed on her cake.


Jackson wanted a Star Wars cake (that would light up)


Jenna celebrated her 9th birthday


Jackson celebrated his 6th birthday


And what would a skating party be without the hookie pokie. And yes, that orange tall person out there is Jason.



The kids finished the party with a visit to the money box. Jackson was more interested in the paper coupons while Jenna walked away with three dollar bills!

Jenna's Grown Up Room

For Jenna's birthday this year we decided to update and redecorate her bedroom to be more age appropriate. No longer are there ladybugs and all the little girl stuff. Now it definately has a more tween feel to it. It also allowed for me to purge lots of things out of her drawers and closet.

Happy 9th birthday Jenna!

Happy Birthday Reese!

Yesterday we celebrated Reese's 5th birthday with a dress up / make-up party. Happy 5th birthday Reese!

Jennifer's Birthday

The week of my birthday I had the opportunity to be off from work. I didn't log in to anything work related so it really was a vacation. My goal was to purge through several bins of things before the holidays are upon us. So I was working but I tried to do something for myself each day. I had dessert, walked places instead of driving, got my toes done, got my hair done, went to the movies in the middle of the day with Jason and slept in a few days.

We went to dinner on Macaroni Grill and my kids were good which is really the only gift I needed but Jackson scored me some free chocolate cake! Jenna took the very close up picture so I have like four chins.




The kids drew me birthday cards while we waited for our food.

Birthday Pictures (30 days later)

With the birthday parties and 2 business trips we had a little bit of a challenge getting birthday pictures scheduled in March.





The kids did ok but seriously one day it won't be a hassle for 2 kids to smile and look at the camera at the same time. These are pretty good but I am going to have to invest in Photo Shop so that I can make the pictures look the way they do in my head.

They are a little grainy - our scanner is acting up so please excuse the quality of the scans.

One Busy Weekend - Color Me Mine

Jenna wanted her birthday party at Color Me Mine. She loves crafts and anything that involves painting or drawing.


All the kids had a great time and they were quiet as they painted.






Happy Birthday Princess!


A week later we picked up the finish product. Even Barney likes her spotted dog.

One Busy Weekend - Hanging with Grandma & Papa

Sunday was Jenna's birthday. We went out to breakfast and just enjoyed some Grandma and Papa time.

Jenna and Grandma played checkers while we waited for our food


Then Jenna went to see Alice in Wonderland with Grandma and Papa



When they got back it was a family effort to get all Jackson's legos from his party the day before ensembled.

One Busy Weekend - Lego Party

On Saturday we had Jackson's birthday party. It was a Lego theme. Normally we have his party at a park or outside but with the crazy winter we have had we decided to rent a room at the Community Activity Center.

We had lego bingo



Lego building contest


even Uncle Brad got into it


Happy birthday Jackson!

One Busy Weekend - Sweet & Sassy

The first week or so in March are a little crazy. If you saw my calendar you would know that a good handful of my family and Jason's are born in March. So much so when we had to pick a day for Jackson's birth there were only a couple of days that wouldn't fall on someone else's special day. Last weekend we had a busy weekend celebrating a few of these special days.

First, my niece Reese celebrated her 4th birthday. She had her party at Sweet & Sassy. It was right up her alley and she loved being the princess for the party.



She was even so brave to get her ears pierced after the party.



Rylee decided that she was ready to have her ears pierced too! It is ok, Rylee, Aunt Jen couldn't find courage on some things without her baby sister either!

Happy Birthday Jackson!

Five years ago today my son Jackson Ray entered our lives. His birth was much easier than his sister's. It was a planned delivery which means no labor and allowed for me to plan a little more. For Jason that meant they weren't rushed to get in surgery that the drape was fully up and no Jennifer insides were visible.



Two weeks to the day Jackson's cousin Luke entered the world and thus started the similar attire. Luke is on the left and today has light blond hair.



At 3 years old Jackson walked his first March of Dimes Walk America with us. He was the hit of the walk and hammed it up for all the cameras.



Jackson doesn't warm up to strangers, especially those in costume very well. First there was Mary Poppins at Disney World. As you can see he is hiding under the table.



He did seek out Buzz Lightyear



But not Santa



He keeps our life exciting and God is teaching us so many things through him. He is a loving, caring boy who loves to help. Happy birthday sweet boy!

Happy Birthday Jenna!

Today mark's the birth of my sweet little girl. Eight years ago, I was working on a Wednesday morning when suddenly at about 9 am I started having this back pain. Getting a car wash at lunch and work related stuff seemed more important than inquiring whether or not I was in labor. Someone informed me after I could no longer hide the fact that I was in pain that I was probably having back labor. A trip to the hospital at 9 pm, labor stopping stopping at some point, a 105 degree fever and emergency surgery later, Jenna Lauren entered our world at 5:55 am. She was tiny with very little hair but she was beautiful.



When she was little she was a girly girl that loved dressing up and pretending she was a princess. I loved her super curly hair and refused to cut it for fear it would no longer be there.



She indulged in our love for the Longhorns. Here she is at the National Championship Celebration in Austin in 2006.



And this year at her first game with Mom



Happy birthday sweet girl! May this next year be full of promise and love.

Birthday Pictures

With one day to spare we managed to get the kids in for their free portrait session before the coupon expired. It was dead in Grapevine Mills and we were the only ones in the studio. This allowed for the Jackson to take his time to smile. We got some great shots and you can't even see the Happy Meal toy in Jackson's short's pocket.



I decided Sunday night that he needed a haircut and it turned out a little shorter than I intended. Oh well - saves me some money from Sweet & Sassy. (Yes, I take him to Sweet & Sassy because it is just easier to do two at once. When he is older he can go to a man's place like Sports Clips.)



This is one of my favorites because you can see all the missing teeth.



Don't they look like they love each other?

Gymnastics and Easter Eggs

This weekend was full of events. First thing Saturday morning we had an early soccer game. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal except that it was 30 degrees with a wind chill in the 20s. The girls braved through it and I even gave up my gloves for one of Jenna's teammates that didn't have one. It was the right thing to do but by the end of the game my hands were numb.

Later on Saturday we went to Reese's birthday party at Little Gym. The kids played on the equipment and we got to eat cake.



Sunday was our church small groups' annual Easter egg hunt. The weather was nice enough that some of the kids were able to wear shorts. They had fun finding eggs, playing at the park and having a sack race.