happy birthday, nicole

happy birthday nicole, our first born.

dad and i actually couldn't believe what had happened to us 23 years ago.

what was this new, beautiful, perfect and precious plaything?

can it be real?  can it be ours?

we fell so in love with you and all that came with you. 

you made us parents, our favorite role in the world.

did you know......... that i only dressed you in white for the first 3 months of your life?

i know that sounds a little strange, but it just seemed right.

we love you and wish you happiness and joy on your day.

wish we were together.

what a fun weekend!

we had a very special family filled weekend......

first of all, paul is safely back home from argentina - hurray!!!

and my mom and my brother brian and his family are here from salt lake city.

they came especially for my sister's son, james' first communion.

they also came to gabrielle and sebastian's piano recital today...... 

sebastian performed an original piece - amazing!  then they performed a beautiful duet together.

mom is a wonderful pianist and loved being able to watch them perform.

after james' ceremony and the recital, alisa and jerry had an open house for family and friends.......

oh, and margo's friend andrew is visiting as well!

we love being altogether.

margo likes having you here, andrew!

my big, baby brother brian and his daughter kylie.

cute cousins and the hostess with the mostest!

grandma with her eldest grandson.

my favorite women.......

whenever alisa and i are together, people tell us how much alike we are.  i think it is mostly our expressions and the way we speak.  apparently we say the word, "weird" exactly the same as well - more than 2 people made that comment today.......weird.

i love this.......

i just had to share a very clever idea with you, created by my sister.

she has turned 2 horse water troughs into really cool garden planters complete with watering systems.

this idea came in an act of desperation as her neighborhood is overrun with rabbits and this clever setup makes things very difficult for those frustrating, furry "friends".

clever girl!