Hey Love,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I love you so much, here is a stroll down memory lane, for your  birthday.

Our first concert together... Collective Soul. Best ever!

The Hogle Zoo... still dating.

I still can't believe you married me, but I am so glad that you did. 

Back of ladies, he is my handsome fella.

I love everything about you!

Even your nerdy side, 

your goofy side,

your hairy side,

your silly side, 

but especially your spiritual side.

I'm so proud of you in so many ways.

For graduating,

getting in to medical school and doing awesome there,

 and for being an amazing dad.

Thanks for playing board games with me.

Thanks for introducing me to new traditions, like the Hardy Boys Game on Christmas Eve.

Thanks for the fun vacation memories.

Even if we are just two goofing off in the woods!

I love you Ryan Stephenson, and don't you forget it!

*sigh*

Its snowing again... at least its not sticking... yet.

Did I mention we're poor?

All the cool kids on campus are sporting Pitt Med hoodies, ya know the ridiculously overpriced ones that they sell as "fundraisers" for who knows what, and I couldn't let my sweetheart feel left out... so I whipped up this for his birthday!

I know, it is not as cool as the real thing, but at least he can sport it around the house and pretend to feel cool. Oh, and it wasn't the big surprise that I wanted it to be either... Ryan caught a glimpse of this photo on our camera and the whole surprise was ruined... oh well. 

Now he can wear it on our date Friday for his birthday...hehehe!

Anywho, for those of you who care to know, here is how I made it.

So what I did to make it was download the "Boton Medium"  font that Pitt uses and print out a size that I thought would work (I got really lucky and guessed perfect the first try). Then I cut out each letter and traced it out on to some fusible web... see... even took pictures, cause I'm a nerd like that.

Then I ironed it to the wrong side of my scrap of fabric... which this scrap had a floral print on the right side, (I actually ironed the right side for my wrong side because I wanted my wrong side to be right...how's that for confusing), but nobody will be able to see it, right? (Just don't tell Ryan its girly fabric under there).

Its kind of a cute pattern don't you think... I have a bit left over, you may see some yoga pants for Abby in the near future.

Then I cut all of the letters out the fabric and they were ready to place and iron onto my clearanced Sweatshirt that I got at Wally's World, I love sales, remember the $1.00 dresses from THIS post?

So viola! Simple schmimple! Right? It was a lot of small cuts and took quite sometime to do. But worth it, ya know, in a nerdy kind of way.

PS - I was going to sew around all of the letters, but I was worried that it would make it look too homemade (as if it isn't TOTALLY obvious as is). What do you think? Should I be brave and do it?

When its late at our house...

the GIGGLES take control!

Why I love Saturdays

Abby thinks it is the best game to chase big sister, she will giggle forever!

Sarah's Birthday

On Sunday we had a birthday celebration via webcam. Sarah was excited the whole day, and got insanely crazy after her cake was made. I think it was 20 times per minute that she asked me if she could blow out the candles and eat her cake. Crazy girl!

It was really cute how Sarah acted while opening presents while the grandparents watched. I think she has finally caught on to the whole webcam thing and realizes that unless she shows the camera, Grandma can't see the things she is pointing to. Thanks family for "being there" to celebrate Sarah's special day. 

On Sarah's actual birthday we kept things pretty low key. We were already a little sick of sweets after the fairy village so we did a Little Debbie cake so that she could blow out candles on her actual birthday. I think she liked it just as much, after all, its cake!

Then we did the big reveal of a Birthday present. Sarah loved it, and I am so glad. Sarah is easy to please, but I still was nervous that she wouldn't get excited about her castle. I think her face said it ALL!

Happy Birthday Sarah! 

Hope you enjoyed your special day. 

PS - For those of you who counted the candles on the cakes, yes there are four, we always do a "one to grow on" candle in my family, so there is always an extra candle on the cake. 

Sarah,

I can't even believe that it has been THREE years since I first held you in my arms. You were so perfect, tiny and new. I had waited so long for you and I was so excited. You were my first, my first tiny little baby girl. I was so nervous to drive on the snowy roads with you, you were so tiny in your little car seat. You were an angel baby, just what Heavenly Father knew I needed. 

You started changing so much everyday, I couldn't take pictures fast enough of all of your first moments in life. Smiles, giggles, baths... crawling, standing, toddling all about the house. I was so excited for each new thing you learned how to do, I didn't realize how fast my little baby was growing up, and then you were ONE!! My little girl had gotten so big!

You loved to play and climb, no matter how many times you fell and bumped your head you were always got back up and started where you left off. Your smiles and laughter are rays of sunshine for my soul. You bring me so much happiness. You kept growing, and growing and before I knew it you were TWO!!!

Now you're THREE, I can hardly believe it! You have grown up and changed in so many ways. I love how excited you were to become a big sister, 

and what an amazing big sister you are. 

You speak so kind to her and always watch out for her, I know you are going to be the best of buddies forever. You have learned to speak so politely and I love to hear the phrases you come up with. The best part of the morning is having you come crawling into my bed to wish me a good morning. I love your big hugs and kisses, I can't get enough of them! I love what a big helper you are and how happy you are to help me clean up and organize things. You are my precious Sarah Bear.

Sarah I love you so much. Thanks for loving me back no matter how cranky and ornery I am. You'll always be my sweet baby girl, no matter how big you get. I love you to the moon and back Sarah. 

Happy 3rd Birthday Sarah!

♥/Mom

Blasted February Funk!

Yeah, I know, I have been a terrible blogger... ever since I've gotten back from Utah. I'll blame it on the February Funk (and the enormous amount of snow that is giving me and the girls cabin fever, and thus not allowing me anytime to sit down and blog...)

So, here are a WHOLE LOTTA PICTURES!!

(the only good thing about the blog)

Its amazing the fun a kid can have with a boring old box!

Sarah Mailing herself to Grandma!

She is such a big girl!

Pink curlers!

"Talking" to G'ma Lisa.

Abby needed some curl too.

She has my heart!

Sarah playing with her marble set.

My fashion diva!

I love her laughter!

What good buddies, look at how Abby adores her big sis!

View of City from Mt. Washington

Goof-ball!

Just waking up from a nap.

What a cuddle bug.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sarah's heart shaped Valentine's Day hairdo.

We did Abby's hair too!

Abby's hair was always in her eyes, so now she has bangs.

Ryan up in our attic to scope out the roof leak. 

She is eating solids now! Wahoo!

Oh... I just LOVE it!

Attempting to get a cute sister shot... HA!

Always on the move!

Mwah!

Why can't she just sit in a chair! My little climber!

I love these moments, never can take enough picture of them. 

Well, there is the past month for you. I still have a few specific events to update... you know, more tea parties and the such. Hope you enjoyed the pics!