12 posts tagged “birthday”

Much of the time I feel like we are in our routine and doing our best to keep plugging away. We have our big ultrasound next week and are all looking forward to that. We might all get the flu shot while we are there as well, though I'm still debating. So far things with the pregnancy seem to be going well. I'm feeling baby move pretty regularly, and Andy's even felt the baby kick too, something he was never patient enough to feel with Stephan. The other day in the car Stephan asked me if he could hold the baby when she came out of my tummy. He's such a sweetie. He thought he could hold the baby in the car, and I assured him we have a special seat for baby.

Last weekend on my birthday Andy took me up to Estes (we dropped Stephan off at nana & papa's) and we enjoyed a nice evening watching All About Steve, which ended up being a great movie. Saturday morning we had a yummy breakfast at The Egg & I and after checking out of the hotel we wandered around downtown Estes for a couple hours before we ate an awesome pizza lunch at Bob & Tony's and drove back to Loveland to do some more shopping and pick up Stephan.

The first "big" thing I figured out how to do in Photoshop is stitching photos together into a panorama. With no clue where to start, I ended up searching the web and finding a step-by-step process. When I started that I noticed that when you create a new file in Photoshop, there are these "Photomerge" options, one being panorama. Um. Yeah. Can you say easy? Here's my Estes pano:

Stitching photos together is a great thing when it comes to scenery, so I'm glad to have found a simple way to make that happen. I think as I figure it all out, I'm going to love Photoshop as much as my sister.

I very much enjoyed playing with my GPS on the trip, and that my mom was able to order it with her Amazon prime so it came in time. Also great that Amazon sold the GPS for $100 cheaper than just about anywhere.

More birthday deals came in the form of a few dinners out and I was able to use the gift card from my in-laws to get a chain for my necklace pendant. I don't know if I ever blogged about it, but one day a few weeks ago when I was picking Stephan up from school I noticed I had a chain, but no pendant. Freaked me out since it's the necklace Andy & Stephan had gotten me for Mother's Day. I freaked, figuring it could be anywhere, but then, as I was leaving the school with Stephan looked down and saw my pendant on the floor. I decided not to wear it again until I got a new chain! Thankfully, I was able to find a chain with the right length at Kohl's and it was on sale on top of our coupon and my gift card paid for just about the whole necklace.

My parents both sent me some money and pooling that, I was able to order Photoshop. I've been wanting a new photo program and HP sent a deal for $20 off after we got our new printer. After ordering, Adobe gave me a rebate for another $20 since I downloaded it, another added bonus! While I have no clue where to start with the program, in time I'll figure things out. Next week is fall break, so I should at least have some time then.

Today we are stuck waiting around the house for UPS. While I sincerely loathe having to wait around for them ALL DAY, I'm very excited to be getting my new phone, so aside from being a little impatient, I'm dealing with it. Yet another new thing for me to have to figure out, but as long as I can find a solid replacement for my beloved HandyShopper program on my Palm, I think I'll be one happy camper. I've got one I'm going to try and start with that I've read some positive reviews on, we'll see if I like it or need to go on a hunt for another one. I'm pretty much over carrying around my PDA for just the shopping list program.

The last thing I just want to whine about a little is work related. We have to create two objectives every year and this year my department is mandating one, the other we do with our school. I feel overwhelmed most of the time with what I have on my plate right now and don't want to be adding any more to that, I think I should be able to create these objectives around what I am already doing. On top of that I'm out in March when the baby is born. I'm feeling pretty stressed because they are saying we need to do these with 30 students and I just can't add that kind of additional work to my already loaded plate. No idea how to finagle my way out of this, but I'm sure going to try.  The one thing that helps is knowing that it's not tied to my pay, like it is with some people. That would probably make me really freak out. At least the one at school I can work around the student amount. At least I think I can, we'll see.

I'm exhausted right now. I want to pull out the Wii Fit and get in some exercise, but I don't think I have any energy. This morning was a bit rough. I usually love Friday mornings with Stephan. He still wakes up pretty early, but will watch Praise Baby sitting in our bed and let mommie get some more rest. Some mornings include more rest than others, but usually it's a nice time ... and I get a few snuggle moments with Stephan too.

This morning he came and crawled in with me a little after 7am, and just wanted to cuddle. He went back to sleep. Then, after maybe 15 minutes, when I was just about to get to sleep myself, I heard Andy's alarm clock go off. Or so I thought. It sounded really odd, like no other alarm I'd heard, since usually he wakes to a cd. The sound was almost like the ring of a cell phone. Then I started to hear chirping. Different from the nature sounds on my alarm clock. The whole time I'm just thinking, "Please stop that noise. Don't let it wake up Stephan." Course then it starts getting louder. That's when I realized it was a freakin' woodpecker. And Stephan woke up. And was scared of the noise. I got him settled with a Praise Baby and some cheerios and cup of milk and thankfully, by that time, the woodpecker had gone on to torment someone else. I eventually did get some rest, but it wasn't the greatest of mornings.

Add to that Andy and I staying up late to play LEGO Indiana Jones and I started the day out a little wiped. I'm so glad that I went out yesterday to get what I needed for Andy's birthday. After a bowl of cereal (if you haven't tried the new chocolate mini mini wheats you sould they ROCK!), Stephan and I started work on "daddie's birthday." He loves to help in the kitchen and most of the time I enjoy his help. We made the batter, got the cake in the oven and then I washed all the dishes. It is his birthday after all, and who wants to do a bunch of chores on their birthday. I'm hoping that will make Andy happy! While I think the cake may have spent about 5 minutes too long in the oven, it looks great. Thanks to Pam spray with flour, the cake came out of the pan PERFECTLY! I've never been that lucky! After getting Stephan set up to decorate daddie's birthday card, the UPS man came with my package from Old Navy.

We then finished up coloring and stickering and started trying on all our new clothes. All the shirts fit me fine, I shouldn't have to worry about them shrinking in the dryer either, since they are all a little loose. The pants were another story. Usually ON seems to be small so I got the pants in a size 20. The good news is that they are quite large on me. I'm hoping that if washed in hot water and dryed on hot, that they will shrink and fit me. I'm glad they don't fit, but bummed since they were clearanced and I can't just order a smaller size and exchange them. If they don't fit me, even after the washing and drying, I'll pass them on to a friend or my sister and see if they work for them ... or maybe take them back to ON. I really hope they work though, since they are cute. I guess I could also try taking them to a tailor since one pair was $3 and the other pair $10. But I'm not sure if that would be worth it or not. Stephan loved trying on all his clothes too. We got him four shirts and three pants in size 4T for next fall/winter. He also tried on all the clothes we got on clearance at Kohl's. Should be pretty much set for next winter. We'll just need a warm coat and maybe we'll be able to find him some winter boots. He wanted to show everything to daddie, so I told him we'd do a show for daddie tonight.

After that, and getting the wash started, I intercepted Stephan smashing my softened butter for the frosting, got him cleaned up and started on lunch. Made him macaroni & cheese and gave him some corn to munch on while that was cooking. Kid loves corn now. Frozen. Right out of the freezer. Cracks me up. I put some in the bottom of his bowl and he said, "mommie, fill it up." He certainly didn't need to eat a bowl full of corn, but I did give him a little more. He also wanted one of my baby carrots, so I cut one up for him.

Lunch ended with some chocolate for Stephan, he loves 3 Musketeer bars. We then made the frosting so it could chill in the fridge during naptime and while I cleaned up all those dishes, Stephan played.

Then he crashed for nap.

All that before 1pm. Phew!

I think I might just wrap this up and watch The City and maybe play Super Paper Mario before Stephan wakes up. Then I'll set him up on the Wii Fit and frost the cake and make sure everything is ready for dinner so when Andy's almost home tonight I can get that going quickly.

I hope Andy has a wonderful birthday. We love him so much!

Well I had an interesting day … urm … evening.

Andy and I took Stephan to the museum today to hang with the dinosaurs and then came home, ate lunch, put the kid down for nap. All the usual boring stuff.

Then a friend and I headed out for a little girl bonding. The plan: go to Jamba, even though it was chilly out, wander around the mall, and then go out for happy hour drinks to celebrate my birthday.

We had a great time talking and catching up and I got a new pair of sunglasses cheap because I had a birthday coupon from Sunglass Hut and found a super clearanced pair. What can I say I love accessories. I also found a cute shirt for Stephan next summer and a little tie for him to wear. Then we were off to happy hour.

AND …

My first surprise party EVER!

Andy got me good. I told him a couple months ago I wanted a party this year due to the whole 30-is-a-milestone thing. I also let him know I wasn’t going to nag him about it. I didn’t want to plan my own party. After not hearing him mention anything (he’s notorious for not being able to keep a secret!) I sort of assumed he’d forgotten and was a bit sad and hurt. (There was also the time last week Andy, Stephan and I were out walking and after a text from my friend Natalie I said something to Andy like, "Natalie wants to know if she was invited to my party," and he said, "oh crap." That pretty much made me think he'd forgotten and there was no hope for a party.)

Thankfully, he did remember and it was AWESOME!!

I’m still a little stunned. Apparently he Natalie and Shannon have been scheming on facebook. Little did I know their tactics were all to keep me in the dark and worked quite well! Natalie and I were walking upstairs where the restaurant has their happy hour and taco bar and I was wondering why she kept walking past all these empty tables … and then why someone would be taking a picture of the restaurant … and then realized that someone taking the picture was Shannon … and there were a lot of people I knew sitting around her. My first thought was, “what a coincidence that they are here for happy hour too.” Then I saw my sneaky hubby and another table full of friends.

I was so surprised.

A lot of little things started to made sense. Andy saying Uncle Dan was “in town” and coming over, telling Dan on the phone he wouldn’t have to worry about changing any poopy diapers. And I thought he was maybe planning a date. There were conversations and text messages that now make a lot of sense. As well as my friend Shannon not responding to my invite to the gym on Friday, for like three weeks. She was avoiding me so she didn’t spill the beans.

There were a good number of friends there too.  A few people couldn’t make it, but without me putting together any sort of guest list (which I’d thought about doing on a few occasions as a subtle reminder for Andy that I wanted a party) pretty much everyone I would have wanted to be included was there or invited but unable to come. The only thing that would have floored me more was having my mom or sister or some other family there.

I’m still reeling a little from the surprise and will post pictures if I get them from friends since Andy forgot my camera when he left the house.

I do have a Polaroid to scan of myself in a lovely sombrero hat with my little cake …

Turning 30 isn’t so bad! ... course I don't actually turn 30 till next week :)

So we finally had it, the kid’s 2^nd birthday party.

Everything went well. Aside from the 3yo who decided that she should “help” open presents and got a little miffed when I kindly shooed her away. I know young’uns are self-centered and all (do we ever really grow out of that??) but seriously, this is Stephan’s moment in the spotlight!

I wasn’t able to take many pictures, but it seemed like everyone else was taking pictures so I just need to snag those from them. Made it easier to enjoy the party and be in the moment. Andy did get video of the present opening fiasco.

We started out with pool time and some fun in the back yard, and then ate lunch. All of Stephan’s favorites: Annie’s bunny mac’n’cheese, hot dogs, strawberries & apple juice. The toddlers were in heaven … so were the adults J

After a little break to clean things up (Stephan was picking food off the girls’ plates and I wanted him to at least have a little room for dessert), we did presents. He did a great job opening them and letting us take them away while he did the next one. Then we did dessert. In line with all his favorites we had some homemade vanilla ice cream and 3 Musketeer bars. That’s right, no cake. Kid won’t just eat it.

On to wrapping things up and working on heading home for nappy. He totally fell asleep the instant his head hit the pillow. Nice, since I was able to open up and undo all his gifts so he’ll be ready to play when he wakes up.

 

1) My birthday falls during the month of October.
2) To celebrate my next birthday, I would love to enjoy dinner with good friends.
3) My dream gift would be to receive the new Treo 800w (but not from Sprint!).
4) But I'll probably end up getting clothes.
5) A famous person I share a birthday with is Angela Lansbury.
6) If I could be serenaded the "Happy Birthday" song by anyone in the world, it would be Barenaked Ladies, they'd make me laugh.

1. October, 2. My friends........ROCK, 3. treo 800w, 4. Washerman Spreading Clothes on Line at Yamuna River, Agra India, 5. Angela Lansbury, 6. Barenaked Ladies sing the Canadian anthem

This was our little celebration as his party is still to come on the 19th. Stephan had a pretty full day. Dr. visit to find out that Stephan's 28lbs and after remeasuring him he's 36" tall. Healthy, happy kid.

On the way home we dropped off the packet for the crib recall at UPS and went home for some pool time. He enjoyed himself and was tuckered out for naptime.

When he woke up we made ice cream and cookies for dessert after dinner.

 

Lots of fun licking the cookie beaters and then the ice cream. Kept him occupied while I washed some dishes and burnt the first round of cookies. Oops, that's why you set timers I guess!

Then comes the eating! Stephan took a few nibbles from a cookie, but really got excited for the chocolate. Loves those 3 Musketeers bars! And of course the ice cream he helped make that was still a bit on the soupy side just like he likes.

After getting cleaned up from the birthday treats he got to open his present from Great Gram, Great Aunt Charity and Cousin Joy. They scored big points with this one! Stephan adores stuffed animals as much as I do and always gives them big hugs. He says "aww" and sometimes adds "sweet, sweet" while hugging pretty much anything.

"Firework" came from Build-a-Bear too, so he came with a bonus present, the cardboard house ... which Stephan loved playing with. We hid Firework and he would open up and find him, over and over. We got a much longer video of that with the real video camera but it's not postable. When we ran out for a late-night dinner Stephan insisted on carrying the box out to the car with us. I think Firework will be joining us on our trek to Nana & Papa's house tomorrow!

Stephan's birthday ended with a bath and blow dry. After our haircuts last time he often asks for his hair to be blown dry after bathtime. He can be such a silly boy sometimes.

Love you Stephan! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I promise, we'll be better next year with surprises. Stephan's getting a much better memory so come Christmas we'll have to be better about shopping without him and sneakily hiding his gifts. Gone are the days we can show him something in the store, determine it's a winner, and bring it home forgotten.

We got one birthday gift early, out of necessity, for our trip to Santa Fe. The kid loves music and iPod shuffle's are just about indestructable and relatively cheap and work with iTunes.

Recently, Andy's guitar has become a huge deal for Stephan and he's always wanting to play. Sometimes he's a bit rough, which is so not cool with a $450 instrument! There's also no distracting him with toy guitars. In comes WalMart and their line of real instruments for elementary aged kids that don't break the bank. And another birthday present, this time only three days early. Stephan was SO EXCITED at the store about "my own guitar" and had a hard time waiting while daddie worked on tuning the instrument for him.

 

 

 

Playing his guitar made his day and then, daddie went and got his and they played some together.

Glad they have yet another thing to bond together with. We'll have to hunt down some father/son lessons or something in a couple years.

Lastly, here's a video of Stephan letting you know what he's got ("own guitar") and strumming a bit too.

Is our kid spoiled or what? ... Wait, don't answer that :)

Having no idea what I should put on my birthday wish list for my in-laws I decided upon an ice cream maker. Due to their trip to MPLS and then our trip there the day after they returned, my birthday celebration was put on hold for a while.

Not a big deal, I’m not five anymore so I can deal with the whole delayed gratification thing. However, when we met for breakfast this morning I was really hoping everything had shipped on time since I’m so ready for some fresh homemade ice cream.

Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book

Ben Cohen

We are home now and the bowl is beginning it’s first journey to frozenness and hopefully by tomorrow afternoon we will be enjoying the vanilla malt chip ice cream from the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream book. I’m also looking forward to trying out the frozen yogurt and sorbet recipes from the Cuisinart booklet that came with the machine. Think we’ll make a quick trip to Sam’s to get the big bag of frozen mango chunks so we can try the mango sorbet. I’ll try and remember to post recipes and pictures of what we enjoy.

I’m off to go rest and read since I feel like crap still and we have haircuts for all three of us this afternoon and Andy and I are actually going on a date tonight too so WOOHOO!! But I need some rest so I can be a good date.

Well, it was my birthday and the day started out great. My hubby got me a beautiful Coach purse that I’d been secretly coveting for a while … since I spent my graduation cash on my new car. Was great to have both he and Stephan wake me up and they both gave me sweet birthday cards.

 

Then I went off to MOPS, a little nervous about the potential embarrassment factor due to the birthday thing. They sang to me and then I won the on-time door prize. That was pretty fun. And it wasn’t intentional, but I did have an advantage, not too many people were there on time! Yay for me, I added a $15 gift card to my birthday cash from my parents.

 

I had all this loot and was SO READY to go shopping! … (and actually have money to spend instead of just drooling all over everything) … Unfortunately my first stop was a bust. They had everything I wanted, the pretty green devotional Bible and my new Yada Yada Prayer Group book. Even the $5 Hermie video for Stephan. I also had enough punches to get 25% off everything. Then I got up to the register and the Bible wasn’t on sale. I had gotten a sale flier in the mail that apparently does not start till Sunday. AAARRRGGGHHH!!! The manager seemed shocked that I didn’t want to get the stuff and I was like well I want to get the Bible on sale and I want to use the 25% on everything so I’m coming back on Sunday.

 

So I still had money to burn and need a new wallet to go with my new purse since the purse is pretty small and my huge wallet takes up most of the purse. We walked the whole mall and I didn’t find anything that I liked that was reasonably priced and smaller than what I had but would still fit all the essentials. Frustrating. I almost let that ruin a perfectly good day. Well that and the fact that Stephan didn’t nap much and was pretty crabby and I got into a moderately silly argument with my hubby.

 

The rest of my day wasn’t too bad. Hubby made great burgers and fries for dinner and we enjoyed some ice cream after putting Stephan to bed. Stephan also got me Colbie Caillat’s CD Coco and so I got that burned into iTunes and on my iPod. Course when I thought I was taking the CD to listen to in the car this morning it was still in the computer but my new KT Tunstall was still in the car so I coped.

new wallet

And today I found my new wallet. I had to pay full price cause it was new and but it’s green and I’ve loved every Fossil wallet I’ve ever owned and really just wanted a smaller version of my

old wallet

 old wallet in the first place. It’s also got some purple stitching which makes me very happy! Since I went conservative and classic on the purse I had to get a fun wallet!!

 

 Birthday Grateful 5:

1. I now own a Coach Purse.

2. Stephan and my hubby got me sweet cards that made me happy cry.

3. Won the door prize at MOPS on my birthday.

4. Now own Colbie’s CD.

5. Hubby made dinner and dished out some ice cream.

 

Thanks for reading.