My Birthday Dinner

This past Saturday Brent and I got together with our friends for my Birthday Dinner. We went to Rudy's Red Eye Grill in White Bear Lake. It was a fun dinner.

Blowing out my candle

Kristi and Me

The girls

Being silly. Sonja don't hate me for posting this photo. 

Rog, Lanee and Troy

I feel like I have the best group of friends. It has taken me a while to realize who is important in my life and to let go of the people that just don't care. We have all had our share of fights but in the end we will always be there for each other. We are a family and families have their share of drama. The the 20+ years I have known these girls a lot of friends have come and gone. Through it all they still remain the most important people in my life. I love you all.

Jake's 3rd Birthday

Jake turned 3 on February 17th and we decided to bring him to the Eagles Nest indoor playground and then out for pizza at Adagios Pizza Factory. I can't believe that Jake is 3 already. Here are some pictures from the day.

Jake and Taylor playing on the slide

My Nephew Tony

Taylor was the best baby sitter. She hung out with Jake and kept an eye on him the entire time. 

My Niece Leah playing in the toddler section. She is so cute!!

Jake coming down the slide

Jake loved his cake

Family picture

Blowing out his candles

Time for presents

Hi Mom!

Jake's Cake

Happy Birthday to me!!

Jake,

I can't believe you are 3 years old already. You are growing up so fast but you will always be my baby. You are a very sweet kid. You love giving hugs and kisses and you know when to use your please and thanks yous. You love to play with your cars, balls and you LOVE to color. You make us laugh everyday. You love to dance and to play with your dog Gizzy. You are so smart and can count to 10. WOW!! You are also learning your colors. We are so happy that you are a seeing colors so well and we think you have them down. You are an amazing kid. You love your big boy glasses and we think they have opened a whole new world for you. I love you and can't wait for every moment I get to spend with you. Having you was the best thing I have ever done in my life. You have changed me for the better. I thank God that he gave me you.

I love you my little Man.

Happy Birthday!!

Mom

New Glasses

Jake broke his glasses a few months ago and I had to suck it up and get him a new pair. Although I wasn't happy about having to spend so much money I knew it was time to get him a big boy pair of glasses. He also had a new prescription. Because Jake doesn't have lens in his eyes he doesn't have the ability to change from seeing far away to up close on his own. So his doctor prescribed bifocals. It's strange that a 3 year old has bifocals but anything to help him see is ok with me.

CHEESE!!!

He is doing so much better with these glasses then his old ones. He no longer pulls them off any chance he gets. Which makes me think that they are really working and the old ones were just not the right fit. I can't wait until he can tell me what he can see. I'm hoping that he doesn't break these ones because Mamma can't afford to fork out the dough for a new pair.

101 Photos To Take 2012

Everyone that follows me knows that I've been MIA for a long time. I'd be surprised if I still have anyone that follows me. Needless to say 2011 was a very tough year for me. It's slowly starting to get better. I found a great idea on pinterest and thought it would be a great way to get me to use my camera again. I love taking pictures but it's been a while. So in 2012 I am going to take 101 photos from a list on a blog called SNAP.

Join in if you would like. The list is hard to read from my page so go to Snap and download a copy for yourself.

Have fun

Christmas 2011

It's been a crazy few months and I am just now taking time to post all my Christmas photos. We had a lot of family functions so this post is going to be just a hodge podge of all my photos from the holidays.

My Niece Leah. This was Christmas at my Dads

Jake opening gifts at my Dads

Leah climbing on the gifts

Cheese 

My Nephew Tony and Niece Leah

Jake being silly

Christmas Eve at my Mom's. Jake playing the drums with Uncle John.

Our Tree

Jake opening gifts on Christmas morning

He loved the bows

Not another photo MOM

Race Track from Grandpa Ken and Grandma Marcia

Leah on Christmas Day laying on her new blanket

Cousin Courtney showing Jake how to play the piano

Cousin photo on Christmas Day

Cousin Courtney and Jake

We had a nice Holiday season even though Brent spent most of it in the hospital. We are looking forward to a happy and healthy New Year.

24 Question Christmas Survey

20 Question Christmas Survey

 
I saw this survey on couple different blogs and thought it would be fun to do. I need all the help I can get to get out of my blog funk that I've been in for a few months.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? For the kids I like to use wrapping paper because it's more fun. For the adults they usually get gift bags.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I'm very particular about my tree so I use an artificial tree. When Jake gets older we will probably get a real tree for the experience of cutting down or own tree.



3. When do you put up the tree? I put my tree up the day after Thanksgiving.



4. When do you take the tree down? I take my tree down the week of the New Year.


5. Do you like eggnog? I'm not sure.



6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably my cabbage patch kid



7. Do you have a nativity scene? No I do not but I would like one. I do have a Christmas village.





8. Hardest person to buy for? This year my family decided to only buy for the kids but in years past my Mom was the hardest.



9. Easiest person to buy for? My Niece Jessica



10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I don't send out Christmas cards. I should and I want to but I never have enough time.



11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of anything. Any gift to me is great.





12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf



13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  I still haven't started but all I have to buy for is Jake and my Nieces and Nephew so I'm not too worried about it.



14. Ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope.



15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies cookies cookies



16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? White lights.



17. Favorite Christmas song? I don't have a favorite


18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?We are heading to my Aunts house in Becker. 



19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? No



20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have a bow on the top




21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?Christmas morning




22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Nothing I love everything about the holiday season.



23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? I stick to a theme. Last year my tree was silver, baby blue and blue. This year it's red, lime green and white.


24. What do you want for Christmas this year? I just want Jake to have a great Christmas. 

Cookies With Santa

Every year NAPVI  (National Association for the parents of visually impaired children) hosts an event called Cookies with Santa. This is their 3rd annual event and our 3rd time. This is a great place for Jake to get to be with kids just like him and for us to talk with other parents. Jake also gets a chance to meet Santa without the long lines. They had Santa, reindeer rides, crafts, food and gifts for the kids. Jake was a little wild because he didn't get much sleep the night before. All he really wanted to do was run around and explore which is just fine. We had a hard time getting him to want to sit on Santa's lap but we did get a good family photo. It was a really nice time and great to see all the parents and kids. Here are a few pictures from the day. I didn't get many because I was busy running around after Jake. Check out his first Cookies with Santa here.

Family Photo

Jake and Santa

Jake reading his book he got from Santa

Jake's friend Emily. She is such an amazing little girl. She always makes us laugh. 

Jake loved listening to the kids sing.