I absolutely love getting out and doing things with my children. I love to be excited to experience anything big or small and getting to experience that with my kids thrills me. I hope to pass on this enthusiasm to them. In life, I definitely sport a pair of cranky pants now and then. And I also own a pair of "My-Patience-Is-Getting-VERY-Thin" shorts as well... but over all, I want to be happy. I want life to be good. I want things to appropriately be exciting, thrilling, magical, fun, happy, relaxed, loving. Worthwhile.

Down moments? Sure. Of course. But I want them to know that those "bad" moments aren't all encompassing. You can move on. You can choose not to dwell. There is something brighter just a few steps ahead if you are willing to take the steps towards it.

Jump!

lv,
Court

 Look, Gray! That is a camera and this is how we vlog.


I was cleaning off my memory card and I have my filming devices set up to automatically take still shots as they record. You get a lot of awkward pictures this way (think: mid-sentence mouth, half blink eye, funky expression) but you also get a lot of gems. Genuine moments captured instantly.



That's right. He gives kisses now. And he gets a death grip on your face before forcefully pulling you in and planting that juicy number right on whatever part of the face he can get to.

 You can't see it, but we are nursing here. So sweet.

Gray and I are buddies. No one gets him like I do. I am so glad he came into our lives.

lv, Court

So it happened. I just celebrated a BIG* birthday. It insistently thrust itself upon me the way birthdays do... whether you are ready for them or not. My birthday always marks the end of the holiday season. In my family, it is game on from Halloween through my birthday (the 3rd).

We quietly celebrated with dinner out and cake/gifts at our house. I plan on having an actual party at the end of this month... something fun with a pretty cake. It has to be PRETTY, I instructed to Kyle. I learned a long time ago that I am the only real party planner on both sides of the family. If someone gets a neat, thought out party... I'm involved. It used to hurt my feelings because I would put a ton of effort into all the little details and such that make an event really special... but my birthday would arrive with no agenda, no thought out plans, no real effort. You know what that equates to in your mind... no one cares enough to put in that special effort. I am a pretty dang positive person but year after year, this would get to me. I would feel sorry for myself. BUT... I decided a couple of years ago to get over that and not be so sensitive about it. Now I know if I want something more special, than I can make it happen myself or nudge someone in the right direction... and that is TOTALLY okay. Plus, I get to be involved in the planning, which I enjoy. =)

So, long (whiny) story short... I told Kyle: We must play games. They (the games) must be mindless so that we can all talk. It must involve black and white attire. And pink. But not a dumb shade of pink. It must contain a photo "booth" room. And it must have a FANCY PRETTY CAKE.

Why am I being so demanding? Because, like I said, this is a BIG birthday. You know... the milestone kind. 

Tangent:
Sophie sang and/or wished me happy birthday starting 2 weeks before my birthday. "Happy Birthday, Momma!" So sweet.

Sometimes birthdays don't seem as big a deal when you get older, but I don't like or agree with that. They should always be a big deal even if the celebration is low key. They're important, just like you.



lv, Court