Birthdays

My 38th Birthday was a couple Sundays ago. I couldn't possibly do a birthday post about myself like last year's 100 List. For one, I didn't take Jill's advice about keep a running about me list so I'd have another 100 things to list. Most importantly though, how could I blog about MY birthday when my girls feel really gypped that I never blogged about their birthday's last June.

So, better late than never. Let me take you back to June 2009...

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY

TO REAGAN!!

Reagan wanted a pool party for her birthday. It's always risky the first weekend of June in Buffalo, NY. You never know if it's going to be hot enough yet. As it turned out it was a nice warm day, though the pool was pretty icy. They managed to get in for a little while anyway.

First item on the party plan was- making rag tied flip flops. Cute. Fun. Simple.Reagan wanted a flip flop cake- my first time carving a cake out. Not my best experience with a cake. Ok, it was my WORST experience with a cake!! It ended up ok, but I think I'd rather just stick to drawing on the cake with frosting. The kids also had a water balloon toss,spent some time in the pool, lots of time warming up on the patio, pinata, presents, etc... I won't post more pictures though. I always feel weird taking pictures at these parties because of the girls who come in little bikinis. What's so wrong with a one piece anyway? :)
I should also mention that on her actual birthday she got to pick where we ate dinner and she picked her favorite place that she rarely gets to go because it's not very near us...

Reagan....

1. Reagan graduated from 5th grade and elementary school and was confident going into the middle school.

2. Reagan is not a drama queen. Even tempered, down to earth. If she does get overly emotional ever, we know some thing's not right.

3. Reagan chooses friends who are nice, good girls who are not drama queens.

4. Reagan continues to LOVE music- singing and playing her cello more often.

5. Reagan doesn't get nervous when it comes to performing. She doesn't appear the least bit nervous when she is singing a solo or duet or playing her cello to a crowded room.

6. Reagan's favorite sports are gymnastics and basketball.

7. Reagan's favorite shows are Wizards of Waverly Place, Phineas and Ferb, True Jackson VP, and Hannah Montana.

8. Reagan really loves being with her church friends and going to Activity Days with them every other week.

9. Reagan is very excited to turn 12 next summer which means going into Young Womens, going to Girls Camp with Jillie and I, and getting her own cell phone!

10. Reagan LOVES clothes and shoes. She LOVES to go clothes shopping, try on everything, and hope that someone will buy her everything!

11. Reagan is helpful and loving and an important part of our family! We love her SO much!

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HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY

TO JILLIE!!

It's hard to believe we have officially entered the teenage years! Jillie's birthday celebration weighed heavily on her mind and heart for months leading up to the big day. Oh the drama of middle school! She wanted to have a party, but some close friends refused to get along with other close friends, so who does she invite? And then there's the church friends too... Greg decided to offer her a birthday trip with him instead of the party to make the situation easier. She was happy about that, although when it got closer, she did invite a few school friends to come over to swim and have a mini party on her actual birthday.

Again, I won't be posting lots of pictures, because of the whole scantily clad/bikini situation.

Another day she had a couple of church friends over too. At least these weren't big planning parties, just some friends hanging out. In the end she had 2 unofficial parties AND a trip with her Dad to Disneyland in California. Um, how did that happen?! :)

Jillie...

1. Is more responsible everyday. It's so nice to be able to leave the kids home and know that all will be well because she's in charge. Anyone need a good babysitter? She's for hire! :)

2. Jillie's confidence is growing and it shows. She is so impressive and comfortable when she sings or speaks in public.

3. Jillie's singing voice is so nice. She loves to sing whether it's popular music, show tunes, or hymns.

4. Jillie has taught herself to play the piano a little and enjoys trying to learn to play the hymns. I noticed this year that that is what she often turns to when she's in a bad mood. I'm glad.

5. Jillie prefers to be called Jillie over Jillienne or Jill. I always wondered what she would choose for herself and I wonder if that will ever change.

6. Jillie loves to play basketball.

7. Jillie's favorite class in school is Spanish. She excels in it. She was chosen at the end of last year to take 9th grade Latin at the high school this year. She ended up turning it down because it conflicted with her anchor position on MSTV.

8. Jillie always looked like a mini me- BUT all of a sudden her body is not like mine ever was. She is so tall and skinny now and wears the same size shoe as me. I wonder when the growing will stop. Size 1/2 skinny jeans are loose on her!

9. Jillie loves clothes and shoes and shoes and shoes and clothes and accessories and bags and accessories and clothes and bags....

10. Jillie enjoys filming and editing her own movies.

11. Jillie is a facebook fanatic.

12. Jillie is in tune with the spirit and really loves being with people and in places where she feels it the most.

13. Jillie is funny and mature, helpful and loving. We LOVE that she is ours!!

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Oh, I'd better not forget the one other child I didn't do a birthday post for this year! Now we will go back to July...

Happy 5th Birthday

to Jackson!!

I hardly remember what we did for Jackson's birthday. That's probably because I hardly planned a thing. At the last minute we asked his best friend Cole to join Jackson and Kobe at Rolly Pollies for an hour of running and jumping and climbing and just having fun.

(In this picture you see Cole running down the trampoline, but in the mirror you can see Jackson running behind him and Kobe climbing in the corner.)

Jillie and Reagan got the house decorated including turning these red paper plates and a black plastic table cloth into Mickey Mouse plates.

The kids played outside and the rest of Cole's family came over for dinner and cake.

The cake. I asked Jackson what he wanted on his cake and he said, "J-A-C-K-S-O-N." He also said he wanted a 5 on it. It didn't hit me until it was done that it says "Jackson 5". It is fitting though because he is a BIG Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 fan. :)

On his actual birthday we asked him what he wanted to do most and he chose playing at the elementary school playground.

Done. We also ate dinner at one of his favorite places- Taffy's.

Jackson...

1. Jackson makes us all laugh every day. We don't know what we would do without him around here to entertain us!

2. Jackson is working hard on building his muscles now. He has had a really good attitude with his therapists (Speech, PT, and OT) and enjoys playing with them. He had to say goodbye to his long time therapists this summer and now is starting with the school's therapists.

3. Jackson is a whiz on the computer. He LOVES playing on preschool sites especially Webkinz Jr and pbskids.

4. Jackson's favorite toys are cars from the Cars movie, "G" and "JJ" his Webkinz Jr puppies, basketballs, and Wii games.

5. Jackson loves his family and tells us often. We just love him like crazy too!

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Well, there we go! Birthday posts complete for 2009. Except for mine. Stay tuned. I'm cracking myself up over my next post already!