Happy Birthday, Emily

Last year on this date I wrote a post about sweet little Emily Elizabeth. This year I did a phone interview with sweet, a little bigger Emily and I enjoyed every minute of it. Here it is, complete with pictures in completely random order!

So, Emily, are you excited to be turning 14? Not that much, but I guess I kind of am.
Why? Because I've been 13 for too long and I'm tired of it!
What was the worst thing about being 13? The fact that I wasn't 14!And what do you think will be the best thing about being 14? Learner's permit.
(Really, they can get there learner's permits at 14 in her state?!!!)

Do you like school? Ummmmm, kind of.
What are your favorite subjects? Art and Communications.
And your favorite sport? Definitely, volleyball.
You're in track now? Yes, but I don't like it.
Why not? I fell over two hurdles yesterday.
What's your favorite pastime?
Hanging out with my friends.
What do you want to be when your grow up? An Orthodontist.

How do you like being the only girl in your family AND having two older brothers? Ummm. It's not that bad I guess. I don't really know what I think of that. I'm used to it. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a sister but I really don't mind having two brothers.
Who do you feel closest to in your family? Definitely my mom.
Do you have a favorite cousin? Katie
What's your favorite holiday? Christmas
Why? Presents... and I get to see all of my family and stuff!Would you consider yourself a bit of a fashionista? And, if so, why? Ummm yeah 'cause I'm obsessed with clothes and buying clothes and wearing clothes and putting outfits togethers.
What else can you tell me about yourself that I've forgotten to ask about?
I love going to the mall. I like animals and my favorites are horses. My favorite color is probably hot pink. And Lurlene McDaniel is my favorite author.
So you enjoy reading? I only like reading good books.
So Emily, here's wishing you a very happy birthday and hoping that 14 is your best age yet!

You Capture - Pink

The subject of Beth's You Capture this week was Pink. And when I say was, I mean was. I'm only three days late here but since I worked to capture these pinks, then I think I should publish these pinks.

For the first Pink picture, we gathered all the pink eggs and put them in this antique bread bowl. Isn't it incredible that there are only two eggs that really look pink!?

There's no doubt about the pinkness of this one and I especially liked it nestled up against the purplish peony shoots.

Then there was the magnolia. The hard part is choosing which Pink pictures to include:

But my favorite Pink of all is the pink in Noah's mustache. The kids put on a skit and, wouldn't you know it?, the mustache was pink. It looks very handsome doesn't it?


For more Pink, visit Beth at Ishouldbefoldinglaundry.

Happy Birthday, Sarah

Our baby girl is 33 years old today! Who knew that 33 years was such a short time span? Sarah was supposed to be born on her brothers' birthday but she had other ideas. After starting what seemed to be true labor every night for several nights, she was finally born on the 21st and the reason for the delay was apparent. Sarah was born sunny side up - looking at the world with wondrous eyes from the first moment of her life.

When she was little, we called her Sarah Smiles because that's all she did. What a sweet loving little girl she was.

She was always on the small side for her age and with five older siblings, she had to be smart and tough. They all love to talk about when they'd con her into riding her bike to the gas station down the street to fetch treats for them but Sarah knew what she was doing. She was happy to perform such an easy task in exchange for free treats for herself.

She's always had a quirky, fun personality. Here are some examples:

A prom picture:

A picture taken after her college graduation ceremony that had people thinking for years that she was valedictorian:

The birth of her sister's first baby when the room was so cold you could almost see your breath:

Her wedding shower where SHE was the entertainment:

Yep, this is her:

And the shows that she and Beth entertain us with every New Year's Eve:

She played volleyball in high school and college:


She was a starter on the state championship volleyball team. Here she is in the parade where her team was honored:

After attempting to have her first child without an epidural, she changed her thinking for subsequent babies and turned the birth experience into an art form. Here she is a few minutes before her second child was born.

And if you're ever planning an event and need a helper who's hard working and hardly dramatic at all, be sure to invite Sarah:




See what I mean? Could she be quirkier and funnier?!

Seriously though, she's a precious daughter, a loving wife and mother, and a much loved baby sister. In addition, she's a great cook, very crafty, and her forte has to be party planning. No one's better.

So, Sarah, I wish we were with you today to plan a party for you, but since that's not possible, we're wishing you the best birthday ever!

You Capture - Spring

Beth's You Capture subject this week is Spring. Right now it could be called the Spring that breaks our hearts because it just keeps feeling like winter but you can't tell that from the pictures. So here's Spring at my house:

Sorry, I couldn't stop. I just love the Spring flowers that we've accumulated over the years. And, since it's not warm enough to wander around outside and enjoy them, I'll just enjoy them here on You Capture.

For visions of Spring all over the country, visit Beth at Ishouldbefoldinglaundry.

Happy Birthday, Dan and Dave

They're 38 today and that doesn't seem possible. Just yesterday:

They were a couple of the cutest, sweetest boys you'd ever want to meet. They were adventuresome and funny. However, no one ever has or probably ever will make each one laugh like his brother can.

They were boy scouts and good citizens. And they were hard working. No one that hired them for anything was ever disappointed. In fact they were well known for how hard and fast they worked.

They were (and are) athletic and good sports. Someday some of their baseball pictures will surface and I'll include them in a post. Now I'll just include this photo indicating their current sport of choice.

Both have varied talents and interests. Dan is a gifted photographer and plays the violin and guitar. Dave plays the kidtar:

and rebuilt a jeep - top to bottom - a few years ago.

Their Army career so far has been stellar. They were both members of the cadre at the military college they attended.

Here they are after a water exercise at the Army advance camp at Ft. Lewis Washington:

Here they've just graduated from Airborne School and completed the required parachute jumps.

And here they are the first time they met up at the Baghdad International Airport after the drive to Baghdad where each led a company of engineers as their battalions fought their way there.

They're both on the promotion list and should become Lieutenant Colonels in about August.

And they're so much more than the sum totals of their military careers. They're devoted fathers and loving husbands. Nothing is more important to each of them than their families.

They've both extensively renovated their homes and their landscaping. And they even spend some of their very precious leave time helping us with our home. A couple of years ago they completely replaced the roof on our house.

Right now Dan is in Florida after spending a week at Disney World with his family. He just returned from his deployment to Iraq in March.

Dave is in Afghanistan and with things getting chaotic over there, please remember him in your prayers.

Their sisters claim that their father and I favor them but of course that's not true. I will say though that their sisters adore them and so do their nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and a lot of their friends. But what's not to adore.

They are a couple of the cutest sweetest men you'd ever want to meet.

Happy Birthday, Dan and Dave. We're so proud of you!