Somebody's 30!

Happy Birthday Steele!

There's a lot of celebrating to do when someone has been on this earth for 30 wonderful years! And celebrate we did.

There's a whole story behind this brand new 2015 Toyota Tacoma I won't bore you with, but I will say Steele outdid us all with this gift to himself.

It's a beauty! And well deserved.

 Happy Birthday baby brother! I love you!

Paris? Oui! Oui!

I'm starting this post with a confession. . . . I'm a procrastinator. A huge procrastinator. If I can put it off I will. I need to wash my hair, "I can stretch it one more day." Laundry starts piling up, "I'm not wearing my emergency underwear yet." Payday means most people pay their bills. Not me. I wait until the very last minute. You would think that the fact that I live with my hairdresser I would never have an embarrassing amount of regrowth. It is what it is. I accept this about myself.

Why am I telling you all this? Because we celebrated Mom's birthday last month and I'm just getting around to editing pics and writing this post. Usually I procrastinate a post so long that I just forget it completely. Not this time. We worked too hard not to share.

If you know my Mom, she LOVES all things French, more particularly, Paris. While we would love a trip to the City of Light, financially, we'll just have a theme party.

I can't take any credit for the planning, that was ALL D.D. I just did as I was told.

 Backdrop for photos! All this work and I wish we had taken tons more.

Berets!

The birthday girl!

Presents.

The cake survived the two plus hour car ride in a box on my lap. D.D. did a FABULOUS job!

Why use candles when sparklers are so much more fun!

 

We had a super fun, long weekend full of laughs and fun! Happy Birthday Mom! We love you so much! You are an inspiration to us and we are so grateful that you are our mom.

Happy Birthday Sister!

I have the World's Greatest Sister. No joke. I'm so lucky. And last weekend, while most people were celebrating the first day of Summer, we celebrated the day Desiree Dawn was born.

Truth be told, we try to extend the celebration as long as possible. Birthdays are a big deal in our family.

We planned on keeping the decorations low key, but then Mom remembered that she still had all my stuff we used for Grandma's 90th surprise party and she got to work.

We're getting really good with all this party decor. The only thing purchased was this AMAZING looking baby's breath. Have you ever seen it look so gorgeous?

I'm not the only person who thinks my sister is great! Her friend Matt, proprietor of La Maison Gray, created a soap in her honor.

 I FINALLY got around to finishing this necklace. Desiree had the initial inspiration for it (a couple of years ago), we just didn't know how to finish it off. Done. And she was surprised!

The weekend was filled with fun, food and family. What's a birthday without sparklers?

Homemade mint ice cream pie. To die for.

Happy Birthday D.D.! I love you!

Everyone Should Make Their Birthday a Full Weekend

It's no secret that I have the most amazing family. This year we have tried extra hard to make each birthday person feel how important they are and how much they are loved.

 

This is the scene I woke up to birthday morning! 

 

Hand lettered birthday banner!

Macaroons!!!

 

Woke up Saturday, home in San Diego to another FANTASTIC birthday display!

 

 

Two more days filled with family and yummy food! It was a little strange celebrating without Dad. The next few months will bring about a lot of painful firsts. I'm so blessed to have such a caring bunch of people around me! 

 

 

There is a Man

There is a Man

He is honorable, humble and honest.

He demonstrates strength and courage.

Faith and hope.

He stands for integrity, truth,

and righteousness.

He shows unconditional, selfless LOVE

each and every day.

His competitiveness knows no bounds.

There is a time and a place

for everything.

There is almost nothing a chocolate chip 

cookie cannot heal.

There is nothing you can't create

if you put your mind to it.

Work can be fun, 

sometimes fun is work.

Music makes everything better.

Breakfast is the best meal.

Sleep is always optional.

If the task is worth doing,

it is worth doing well.

I know no better man.

He is my HERO.

Happy 60th BIRTHDAY Daddy!

Love Always,

natalie

Feliz Cumpleanos Muchacho

Today is my baby brother's 26th birthday!

I remember the day Steele was born like it was almost yesterday. From day one he was smothered, maybe mothered too much, spoiled, picked on, given preferential treatment, dressed up as a girl, teased, but above all loved more than any brother could ever be. As the only boy he was outnumbered, but the man he has grown into is strong and sensitive; fun and thoughtful; athletic and musical; studious and silly. I love him more than words can say.

Happy Birthday!