Another year gone by...

This has been one of the best birthdays I've had...and I owe it all to my family and friends! It started Tuesday night when my mom came over to watch the kids so Michael and I could go eat at my favorite restaurant ever...Genghis Grill. Michael came home with a dozen red roses for me, and the kids got me a pretty little mini rose plant too!

Today, I woke up to my sweet husband making me breakfast (my favorite....yogurt with fruit and granola!). I got several sweet cards from my two babies. And my wonderful mom watched Nathan all day so I could have a day to myself! I got a massage (thanks to Donna!), went to the library and got a new book, went to Target, Subway...and then sat outside and read my new book in the gorgeous weather (well, minus the wind) enjoying a Hershey's bar with almonds that Michael got me!

Then, I picked Madison up and we headed to the park - where a surprise birthday party was waiting for me. I feel so bad that I almost didn't show up (I had no clue!). Cupcakes, balloons and good friends. I've got some of the best friends ever.

Had cupcakes again. Madison was so excited to sing happy birthday to me!

Being silly with the icing...

To end my perfect day, I laid in bed with Madison reading books and then said our prayers. I tucked her in and gave her a hug, and she started crying. Lots of tears. I asked what was wrong and she said, "I just love you." She is my sweet emotional little girl...it melted my heart when she could do nothing but just hug me tighter. All day she was so cuddly and affectionate and told me a million times that she loved me! Can't ask for more than that.

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family and such great friends who care about me! It was a perfect day...absolutely perfect.

Our first trip back to the Arbortetum after the cold winter!

Today was our first time back to the Aboretum after the winter, and it was a GORGEOUS day. The winds finally died down, the sun was shining, and there were no clouds in the sky. It was a perfect day to enjoy outside, and we had a great time with Kyle and Tracie!

First on the agenda....the playhouses. These two boys love going from house to house, especially the ones with doors and ladders!

Playing in a tee-pee!

I was in awe of the all the beautiful tulips everywhere...they are my favorite!

Taking a little break by himself...

Very interested in what was in the water!

Fun stuff for Mommy & Me day today...but the boys weren't interested in face painting, we missed KinderMusik, and the line for the petting zoo was way too long - so that left crafts! Anything having to do with glue, and my boy is happy!

We had two worn out boys on the way home....and two worn out mommy's too! We had a great time together though!

A fun-filled day with Kyle!

We watched Kyle today so Tracie could go on the 1st grade field trip...and the boys had so much fun together! They played Nathan's favorite game...Hungry Hippos!

Nathan took a break to read some directions on putting together the train track.

They raced down the slide....over and over and over...

Trains entertain these two FOREVER....

Distracted smiles at McDonald's...

Boys and their cars!

Then we went to the park since it was so pretty outside!

The boys found a basketball, and they had so much fun with it! They mostly used it as a soccer ball.

Sweet little buds...

I know I write this on every post about Nathan's friends....but I just love seeing him develop friendships like this! This is the sweetest age - just watching them turn into little people.

Miss smarty pants...

Madison was "teaching" me what she learned yesterday, and I really did not understand it! They are learning how different vowels together make different sounds, and she was spelling all kinds of words using these new rules. The way she was explaining it to me was confusing...but I thought, if she understands it then that's all that matters!

She looks at me with this confused look and says, "Mommy, didn't you learn this in kindergarten? Didn't you have a teacher come in your class in the afternoons and teach you this?" Hahaha, I guess not.

How in the world am I going to help her with homework if kindergarten stuff is over my head?!?! They are learning about landforms and solid/liquid/gas and rectangular prisms and....gosh, stuff I didn't learn until third grade!!!

I am very proud of my little smarty pants though....she definitely loves learning!

Who knew we'd get so much use out of these "rainboots" before Spring?

We woke up to another winter wonderland! It would normally be a happy thing, but our 2nd day of spring should not include almost 10 inches of SNOW!

Michael and I would've been perfectly happy staying inside where it's warm, but the kids wanted to go out and play in the snow. And since this is a "twice" in a lifetime deal, we thought we'd let them enjoy it!

Still fascinated with eating the snow...

I think this is becoming old hat to us...the kids didn't whine at all when we had to come in. It wasn't near as exciting as the first time it happened! Although, it could've had something to do with the bitter cold 20-40 mph winds we had!!! I still can't believe we were saying last time, "this is a once in a lifetime thing!" and now here it is again. Two days after it was sunny and 70 degrees! Crazy Texas weather.