Birthday's...not what they use to be

So I have been meaning all month to do a Birthday post seeing as my birthday was March 4th...I am a bit behind.

You know I really don't look forward to my birthdays anymore and the older I get the more I just want to skip the whole thing....

So this year was just a really weird birthday. 

I woke up after having crazy dreams all night long about my mom...they seemed so real. I wondered if it was her way of saying Happy Birthday to me. :)

I woke up super emotional though, which is never a good thing. Then it was just kind of business as usual. Getting up, making kids lunches, kids off to school....just the norm.  

I drove to the gym still crying about my mom then my brother called and I cried even more...love you Wade!

So then I got to the gym and my sweet friend Carmen had decorated my spin bike for me and the guy at the front desk thought he would be funny and write Happy 40th on it...I am sooo not 40 yet! 

So then my sweet friend Julie came to the gym and picked up Sienna for me so I could have the afternoon to myself which really...there couldn't be a better gift!

So Carmen and I spent the afternoon shopping...so much fun.

Carmen (sorry I cropped out her husband because I stole this picture...)We didn't take any pictures on my birthday.....

Then the kids got home from school and it was back to the norm...homework, practices, etc.

Then lucky me...Jackson had his school play that night. So I spent the evening in the school gym watching a sweet rendition of the musical Rats.

I know...seriously....could I have loved being anywhere else as much? :)

Then Conwey and I went and grabbed dinner at Sweet Water Tavern and then home to bed...

It really was a weird birthday. We did have icecream cake too.....

I was so emotional all day long. I think I just needed to go to sleep.

Anyway before my birthday I was able to go out with my sister Rach for a night..she was out of town for my actual birthday so we went out shopping and to dinner before.

It was lots of fun and she treated me to a yummy dinner at Cheesecake Factory.

So then this past weekend my great girlfriends took me out for a very fun evening filled with pedicures, dinner at Coastal Flats, and a movie. It was a lot of fun....

So thanks everyone for a great birthday....well as great as a birthday can be these days!

Is it a girl thing?

Every single time I turn around Sienna has completely taken every stitch of clothing off!

I don't remember my boys ever doing this. The other day the missionaries were picking up some food and out runs Sienna... nothing on.... they weren't sure what to think....plus it was freezing outside.

I am hoping this is just a stage....do all girls go through this or just mine?

I think she has also started the terrible two's....let's hope it ends before she turns three. (May 23rd)
Okay I know that is wishful thinking! I love her to death and she can be the sweetest, funniest, little thing, but oh my goodness the drama and meltdowns that have been coming out of her lately.... Sheesh!

Some nights I fall into my bed completely exhausted from just her! 

I am sure this is nothing compared to the teenage years. Oh my! Calgon take me away!!! 

(remember those commercials?)

Freezing Time.....

This morning as I watched Cooper and Jackson get on the bus together and head off to school I got this overwhelming sad feeling.
My kids are growing up and there's nothing I can do about it.
Ever since Jackson and Cooper have been in Kindergarten they have had a brother with them at school.
Next year none of them will have each other at the same school.
Hunter will be in his first year of High School...how is that possible?? Wasn't I just in High School? Cooper will be in his first year of Middle School....Jackson at the Elementary...and Sienna in Pre-school.
How can I freeze time? If I could freeze it, I would right now. I love all their ages....
I don't want any of them to get any bigger!



Sienna Feb 09

Jackson and his buddies Feb 09


Cooper Feb 25 09

Hunter this morning....I made him sit down and take a picture on his way out the door...even if it's a bit of a sarcastic grin.... He just sat down and did it because he knew that was the only way to leave. He just got out of the shower which is why his hair is all wet in this picture.
Love him...he's such a good kid!

Hopefully I will remember this feeling I am having this morning tonight when I am counting the minutes till they get in bed!

Anniversary's...

So Christmas, Conwey's birthday, Jackson's birthday, Valentines Day, and then our Anniversary all within about a month in a half!

So by the Anniversary...well I am out of ideas and steam which always makes me feel bad.

Yesterday was our Anniversary and I got another basket of fruit... which I love. This one came with fudge so that's even better! Way better than flowers if you ask me.

We all ate about half of it by the time dinner rolled around.

Then Conwey and I headed out for dinner at Clyde's....

We bumped into and sat right next to our friends the Roney's there...which made us all laugh because it always happens.
I made Conwey take a few pictures to remember and he even smiled for me!

And even kept smiling when I made him take a couple more....


So the next holiday is my birthday..woot woot! Can't wait!!!

Oh and it was also Conwey's dad's birthday as well yesterday...

Happy Happy Birthday to Ed! We love love love you.

Seriously???

Some girls get jewelry, some flowers, some chocolates....
I walked downstairs yesterday and this is what I saw. Yes your eyes are not misleading you....I got a new toilet seat. I had a good laugh though.
See I have been bugging Conwey to replace the toilet seat because the old one somehow got a crack in it...(no pun intended) and you know I will take what I can get...if its for Valentines Day...well at least it's done. I did love the candies and magazine with it...the balloon starts singing every time it gets bumped and I am about to go pop it if I hear the song "How sweet it is to be loved by you" one more stinkin time!


And to Conweys defense I am not the biggest lover of Valentines Day. I find it a bit cheesy.
I do love giving my kids Valentines on their beds every year, but I don't need a day for Conwey to tell me he loves me. Everyday is Valentines Day in my house! (and for those of you not sure, that is a joke...)

And to top of my Valentines Day weekend...Hunter came home from Basketball practice with this...


This picture really doesn't even show how bad it is though. It blew up like a balloon.
Poor kid. He was so sad because he felt it was his fault for not tying his shoes tighter. He will miss a few games and that is a good lesson for him I guess. Tie your shoes!

Jackson is 9!

Jackson is 9 years old today! Man oh man where did those 9 years go?

Well it was a good day for Jackson even though he had to go to school...

The day was filled with love and lots of sugar.

Started off with doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls for breakfast at Jackson's request.

Lots of candy...and a lot of love for J-man. 6:30 AM.


Then off to school...but Sienna and I went in and brought him lunch...his request...Subway.

Jackson does not like to smile for pictures.....I think I said 100 times today....please smile.


Unless it was candid...



So then right after school we loaded up and went to Target...see Jackson couldn't decide what he wanted for his birthday so I decided to let him go look and boy did he look at everything....




Sienna did some looking too....

Finally after all that....he decided to just keep the money I was buying him presents with so he could buy something off ebay.....crazy kid!! He did use his own money though to buy a couple of things he had been wanting.

So then we were off to dinner at the Steakhouse that Jackson chose to eat at.
Games, TVs with sports on them, and ribs...what more could a 9 year old ask for?

Sienna was busy working away.....and chatting away...



Till we told her to get off the phone and eat her dinner!


Yes I have been super sick all day...you can so see it in my eyes....I just like this picture of Sienna with her little smile she is trying so hard to do.....

So then we are off to go home and have his cake and ice cream...does it seem like a lot of eating has gone on today...it does to me!

So Sienna decided to dig into the cake and I don't know if you can see it very well in the picture but it wasn't a pretty sight. We tried to slap some more frosting on there to cover it up.

Jackson said he didn't mind though....

I think Sienna thought it was her birthday today! She has been talking about her birthday every single day for a month now. Every time we talk about someones birthday she says "what about my birthday...can I have a birthday too." So I tell her.."yes Sienna it's in May." Well let me tell you she has it all picked out....Tinkerbell cake... Tinkerbell party...Tinkerbell presents.....it will be a Tinkerbell day in May!
But today was Jackson's day...and even though he hasn't had his friend party yet...that's to come...I think he had a pretty good day. I will now go fall into my bed in exhaustion!

Oh but before I do I want to list 10 things I LOVE about Jackson.....in no particular order.

1. He never even hesitates when I ask him to run and get me something...he does it and does it fast!
2. The first thing he does when he walks in from school is find Sienna and play with her.
3. He is awesome at all the sports he plays. He is an especially good snowboarder. (even though he broke his leg snowboarding when he was 4!)
4. He makes his bed everyday without me reminding him.
5. He gets really good grades.
6. He is fun to play basketball with.
7. He is really fun to play tennis with.
8. He always reminds us to be kind to each other.
9. He always reminds us to have Family Home Evening.
10. He says awesome prayers and never forgets family that might be struggling with things like illness or whatever. He ALWAYS remembers them in his sweet prayers!

I am so lucky to have Jackson Edward Casillas as my son! I love him so so much!!!!
Happy Birthday J-Man!