Another trip around the sun

It's that time again! Celebrating today with birthday cinnamon rolls, a pedicure, dinner out, Red Velvet cake, and presents. Oh, and of course, my fabulous family! I am grateful for this life of mine.

Blink

It feels like February just began a couple of days ago, and now we welcome March. Though winter seems long in some ways, at other times the days speed by. My daughter turned 18 over the weekend, a big occasion! And my son will be 21 in just two days. Two milestone birthdays in such a short span of time...it makes my head spin just a bit. Can you believe these two little ones are now adults?

For me, the birthday celebrations each year signal a shift in the seasons, too. I can begin to imagine warmer days, sunny skies, green grass. But with graduation looming and more changes afoot, I think I'll be happy to let time move along at a slower pace...for now.

Party on!

Put a bucket on your head and celebrate with me...it's my birthday! Or just eat a piece of cake. Either way, enjoy the official first day of summer and the longest day of the year, too!

Life is what happens

It's birthday week here! My daughter celebrated her 17th on Friday, and my son will turn 20 tomorrow. Crazy, huh? Just like all moms (and dads), I have a hard time remembering where the time went. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were giving baths, reading bedtime stories, leaving teeth under the pillow for the tooth fairy? And what about all those soccer games, concerts, and music lessons?

These milestones remind me that life moves too quickly. All those little, daily things? The tiny moments, the small victories? Those are where the real living is. And I don't intend to miss an minute of it!

Make a wish

It's here again! Time to blow out the candles and celebrate.



And yes, I still love sweets. Some things never change!

Celebrate

It's been birthday madness at our house, with two teenagers celebrating birthdays within the past week. First it was our daughter's Sweet Sixteen, complete with lots of pink decorations, a fabulous cake, and a house full of friends.



Then it was our son's turn, commemorating his 19th birthday a few day early at home with gifts and a homemade cheesecake, before returning to campus for a rather ordinary day of classes and school obligations.

And now it's March, with the hope of spring and warmer days lifting my spirits. This week I'm on the hunt for green, and happily I'm seeing lots of it!







Celebrating birthdays and the arrival of spring reminds me there's much to be thankful for. What are you celebrating right now?

My new toy

So you know by now I had a "big" birthday over the weekend. What you don't know--yet--is that I got a nice "big" gift to match. (I confess, I chose it for myself. Sometimes a girl's gotta give hints to get exactly what she wants.)

So now I'm the proud owner of my first digital SLR!



It's a Canon Rebel XSi, the new sibling of the XTi that so many of you seem to own and love. I have to confess, it's a little intimidating. So many bells and whistles, so much for me to learn. But it's also a great challenge, and I love the idea of learning some new photography tricks. (They say learning new things keeps your brain young, so even better!)





These are some of my first captures. Not too bad! I think this camera will have a permanent home around my neck for a while as I continue experimenting and learning. If you have any tips or tricks to share, I'm all ears!

They say it's your birthday

It's my birthday, too, yeah! I've always loved being a summer solstice baby. I get to have the longest day of the year to celebrate.

Here's a look at some birthdays past.


Turning two


Presents and a fab hat


Siblings and cousins (I'm the tall one!)

So today's the day I move into a new decade. Yes, a big zero at the end of the number. Another leap forward, another shift, yet so much the same inside. I'm blessed beyond measure and this birthday reminds me of that. It's gonna be great to see what lies ahead!