Triple Surprise Birthday - {Just for Fun!}

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Dan saw Mandy making cupcakes, and thought we were celebrating my Ben's birthday. My Ben saw me making cake balls and thought we were celebrating brother Ben's birthday. Brother Ben heard a few things and thought we were celebrating Dan and Ben's birthdays. None of them had a CLUE it was for them! Each of them. :) And oh man, it was SO much fun putting it all together with the girls.


It started when Mandy had the idea to get Dan a keyboard (he is an amazing pianist!) for his birthday, and wanted to give it to him when we were all together. We realized my Ben's birthday was only a few days before Dan's, so we should do a joint party! And then we remembered that brother Ben was in Iraq for his December birthday so we should add him to the fun too. So the plans fell into place!


Dad and the boys had a "man day" that afternoon so the girls could get all set up! We all met up for dinner and then the girls rushed home afterwards to finish setting up and getting in place to get pictures. Mandy chose a cowboy theme, which was PERFECT, and picked out all the decorations. 

Loved the table set-up! A little cowboy hat for each of them. :)

All Together...Finally!

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Yesterday, my sister asked me for a copy of a family picture we took a couple weeks ago. It made me realize how amazingly far behind I am on editing and blogging (and facebook posting!) all of my pictures. So, this is just a quick post, but after opening up the picture last night, I remembered how much I absolutely love it, and I had to blog it.


A couple of weeks ago, on Friday, April 22nd to be exact, our whole family was together for the first time, EVER. There are no words to describe how much we had ALL looked forward to this day, and it went by too quickly...but we know there are many more to come! So, how is it that we have never all been together? Well, let's see...in the past couple of years, we have added 3 new members to our family, and let me just say, they are a PERFECT fit. Since all 3 came into the family, however, there has always been someone missing from our family events and get-togethers:

Annual New Years Nags Head Beach Vacation (we like to beat the crowds): This 2009 vacation was right after Dan and Mandy started dating (and really, right before they got engaged--yes, it was that quick!), and almost everyone was able to go...but Jarrett ended up having to work, thus leaving the family total at 8.

Mary and Jarrett get married! Mandy flew out from California to come to the wedding as she was already part of our family, but her fiance Dan was deployed in Iraq during this time. Although he was able to Skype in to the wedding, it just was not the same...thus, leaving the family total at 8. (Well, 9 if you count Grandma)

Photographer, Kim Wilson of Wolfcreek Photo

Dan and Mandy get married! We all flew out west (well, the parents RV'd it across the country) for California's biggest wedding of the year! Unfortunately though, brother Ben was now deployed in Iraq and could not even join us through Skype...thus leaving the family total at 8.

Photographer, Karri Koenigs

And then comes April. Brother Ben gets his 2 week leave from deployment, and we all plan around him. It was a short evening, but oh it was wonderful...we were all together...the family total was at 9. Life was good. :)

We took a couple family shots that evening to capture this momentous occasion! 

This first one is totally a Christmas Card picture...the "us" that people think we are. :)

Who am I kidding...THIS one is totally the Christmas Card picture! This is the real us! Crazy, weird, fun, a whole family. One of my favorite shots ever!

(Even our 2 pups made an appearance in the picture!)

I love my family!

Happy 26!

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Today is my little brother's 26th birthday...Happy birthday Danno!! I remember when we were this small, playing school together, and me bossing you around:

My parents always called Dan and I "the students" and Ben and Mary (the 2 youngest) "the squats". This started when Dan and I were old enough to be in school, but Ben and Mary were still too young...and it stuck! For years. (I think the term "squats" came from the fact that it looked like Ben and Mary were always squatting because they had such short little legs).

Danno, I love you and am SO glad that we got to celebrate your birthday with you this year! It's been way, way too long! I loved seeing you with your pinata buddy, Pokey, and super excited for your new keyboard!! Out of all the kids, you definitely retained the most from our piano lessons.

Oh, and have I mentioned how proud I am of you lately? Because I am! Look at you in that army "outfit". :)

25 sure treated you well, and I pray that 26 is even better!! Love you brother!

Happy 28!

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This morning I woke up with a sense of excitement brimming...today is my husband's 28th birthday and it is such a beautiful day! I love to celebrate the day Ben was born, because it is ultimately a day of thanksgiving to the Lord for all of His perfect plans! Psalm 139:13-14 says, "[Lord], you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." God is great! He knew exactly what He was doing when He created Ben, and I could not be more grateful, because I would not be where I am or who I am without him. I thank the Lord for my husband, and I love that we get to celebrate another year of life together! 

We started the celebration last Friday night when we (my sisters, parents, and I) threw a surprise party for Ben and both of my brothers. They each thought we were celebrating each other's birthday, so it was fantastic to watch their faces as they walked in and each saw their name on the table and realized it was for all of them! Brother Ben was in Iraq for his December birthday, Dan's birthday is coming up in May, and my Ben's birthday is, obviously, today! So what a fun time we had! I'll blog more about the party later, but here's a quick peek of the three boys at the party. :)

Ben, I chose this to be my first post because you are the reason I am even at this point of having a blog! You are the one who pushes me, encourages me, and supports me as I pursue a dream. So thank you! I hope and pray that your 28th year will be truly blessed and God will continue to guide you in every aspect of your life. Thank you for keeping life entertaining, for being someone I look forward to coming home to at the end of every day, for loving the Lord with all your heart and living your life for Him, for making me laugh (like when you tried to creep and crawl through this wheat -- read, weed -- field), and for loving me so well. I love you!

Isn't he just adorable? Sorry love, but you are!

Happy birthday!!