Bowling with our Boys

For Christmas we gave all of the boys an “experience” gift. Now that February’s almost over we finally got around to pounding out one of them. Braddock and Bridger got to pick a place for dinner (Foxes Pizza to cash in on the free pizza Braddock earned from reading at school!) and then we hit up the bowling alley for a night out on the town. It was fun to change up dynamics a bit with just two kiddos in tow, and get more one on one time with them. Before we left they both carefully did their hair and made sure they were all ready for their date night with Mom and Dad! SO cute! And it was adorable to watch them cheer each other on and help each other bowl. And I can officially say I’m a BIG fan of experience gifts! We’ll definitely be doing more of these in the future! 🎳 🍕 

Twelve

It hardly seems possible but this incredible kid turned a whopping 12 years old today!! Tanner is smart, hard working, driven, thoughtful, quirky, and curious. His passion for learning knows no bounds and we have no doubt life is going to take him places! We’re so grateful he’s a part of our family and we love him like crazy! Happy Birthday bud! 🎉

Tanner somehow convinced me that I should check him out of school early for his birthday, so Bridger and I picked him up at 10:30am and went shopping for the rest of the day.  He picked out his own sushi for dinner, and managed to snag a couple gifts as well.  He's now sporting new cologne and a set of acrylic paints on top of the other gifts we had already purchased.  Apparently that kid still has me wrapped around his little finger at 12!  It was fun getting to spend the day together and then we partied all night with the family. 

Snow Much Fun

Yesterday we woke up to phone calls from the school saying that school would be delayed 2 hours, but it didn't take long until they just decided to cancel it altogether.  We finally got our first real snow this season, and the boys spent much of the day shoveling and playing outside in it.  Landon made a goal to help shovel our snow and Grandma and PapPap's this winter, so he was excited to finally get his chance to help.  The roads were pretty bad, so we decided we'd wait till this morning to brave Raccoon Creek State Park to go sledding as a family.  We ended up staying for hours and had so much fun.  We had the whole place to ourselves and raced down the hill over and over again.  Bridger had no fear and it was fun to watch him fly down all by himself.  Grandma and PapPap gave Tanner his birthday gift a couple days early because it's a snowboard sled and they wanted him to be able to use it.  Everyone had a blast trying it out and Dean managed to show everyone up on it, making it all the way down to the bottom without falling over.  It was great to reconnect as a family and reconnect with nature.  Snow always has a way of making the world magical and we loved every minute of it.

 

My 35th...

I woke up at 6am to this beautiful sight....

Some of them were a little more awake than others. Haha!  Braddock had us cracking up.  They all treated me to delicious crepes in bed (raspberry, banana, and strawberry! my mouth is watering just thinking about them!).  They also gave me flowers, a hilarious card, and a target giftcard.

Once Braddock woke up a little more he came in with this cool card he made me.  I'm still trying to focus on the sweet gesture and not the pile of paper scraps left behind on the couch.  Haha!...

After getting all the kids off to school, Bridger and I had a relaxing morning snuggling on the couch watching TV and not feeling one bit guilty about it.  We got ready in time to meet Lisa and Lauren Mitchell for lunch at New Sheffield Cafe.  And of course we had to pop in to Salvation Army on the way home where we scored some good deals.

After school Tanner made me several yummy drinks from his Soda Stream with the new mixes I got from Scott and Laura's family for my birthday.  Then we had the perfect dinner for a cold, rainy day of chicken taco bowls and chips and queso.

And if I wasn't feeling spoiled enough by the packages, cards, texts, messages, phone calls, and gifts, Dean came home with an ice cream cake from Brusters....

And a birthday door...

 I went to bed feeling so overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and kindness shown to me for my big day.  I am one incredibly blessed woman, and even though I'm starting to feel my age, it also means I've made a lifetime of connections and I'm so very grateful for what 35 years on this earth have brought my way!