Celebration Party

Despite everything going on, I went ahead with my plan to have a party to celebrate Mandy and Ken's birthdays. We had some of friends over for a laid back party, and we had a blast. To top off the festivities, we were joined by Norm! I know that Ken was dealing with his grief from the loss of his grandmother, but it was so important for us to celebrate his life and Mandy's.

Ken and Mandy were spoiled with their gifts. Michael wanted to be sure that each of them got something special from him.

I was so glad that I can capture this picture. I simply adore that I can do things to have Ken smiling like this. This picture also shows the amount of fun that we have with our friends.

I know that this was Ken's gift from Ermanno and Barbara, but not only is it a great bottle of bourbon but the box and packaging are gorgeous.

It is always important to celebrate with cake. There is just something about making that wish that adds something special.

You would think that Norm was the guest of honor! He so enjoyed being over to our house and hanging out, and we all loved having him around.

This was the scene around our table as everyone talked laughed and enjoyed each other's company. Taylor is trying so hard to be a grown-up, so she sat in the wings the entire evening. At one point the conversation turned rather raunchy and Taylor piped up, "You guys know I'm still here right?" I told her she going to go to bed instead of hanging out with the adults, and she replied, "No! This is way more interesting!"

Taylor turns 13!

I'm seriously not sure where the time has gone, but Taylor turned 13 officially today! She managed to squeak through the day without getting any birthday spankings, and she was fortunate to be called home from school early today.  She was even more excited that her brother, Sean, stayed as long as he could so he could wish her a happy birthday before returning to college.

After she completed her homework, she got to take her new (pre-paid) credit card and money to Target where she shopped to her heart's content. She picked and chose her items clearly thinking about the importance of the purchases, and I really wish that I could have taken a video of her dancing up and down with joy at purchasing her very own hair straightener - WITH.HER.OWN.MONEY!  (I hope you're getting the idea of her giddiness.)

Once we were done shopping, Taylor and I went to her restaurant of choice - Applebee's - and had an appetizer while we waited for Dad and her sisters.  She was going crazy at the booth giggling and acting very strange. She has suddenly figured out that I will sit quietly and just watch her because she hates the quiet and will talk about anything and everything.  Taylor sat up straight and looked at me with serious admiration and wonder, "You're just sitting there letting me tell you all of my secrets!"  Yep, she is learning that I am an evil genius!!

Ken showed up with Mandy and Jordan after Taylor and I had been there for an hour already. She was complaining she was bored, but then she and her sisters went berserk in the booth during supper.  

By the time the waiter brought her the birthday sundae, they were all crazy!

The girls were totally hyped up on energy, but Taylor said that we somehow managed to make this the best birthday ever. She said she was amazed because each birthday is incredible, and she can't figure out how Ken and I manage to make them better and better.  Awwwwwwww! 

It's great for me to watch the wonderful young woman that she is turning in to, and I just keep crossing my fingers that it keeps going so well!

Taylor's party

Taylor had her birthday celebration today. It didn't go entirely as she wanted, but her failure to complete chores resulted in Dad and Mama having to hold firm on their threat, "if you don't, then you won't." Well, she didn't, so we couldn't.

Basically, Taylor did without inviting her friends over for her birthday, but the family and family friends came over. The girls had a great time with Samantha's niece and nephew, and she did get presents, so it was a good birthday to her.

There are still 4 days before Taylor will officially turn 13.  Holy cow! I will have a teenager!! When did this happen?? Isn't she still a tiny baby that I'm worried will not survive?? Once again, here is what Taylor did to me when she was born.

And here she is today:

Who would have thought she would come so far? She's so bright, compassionate, caring, and intelligent. She loves to make everyone comfortable in a room and to entertain. It's hard for her to be in the awkward stage, but it's been great fun for Ken and I to watch her go through it - it's more material for us to poke fun at her.

Taylor did well in the gift department: a beautiful necklace with a T and some gems and lots of money. 

She's looking forward to her actual birthday when we will go out to eat at the location of her choice and have it all be about her. I'm sure she'll be able to go use some of that money before it burns a hole in her pocket.

Father's Day & Birthday Weekend

Ken wanted to make sure that I had enough attention for my birthday since it fell on Father's Day this year. So, rather than separate them or celebrate at the same time, we made the celebration go all weekend. However, the morning of Father's Day was Ken's, and he wanted to spend it together at the Lucerne Valley Gun Club Action Pistol Shoot.  


I was grumpy having to get up early on my birthday to accompany the family to the range.  I really tried to NOT be grumpy, but I really hate mornings.  Ken was cool with me choosing to not shoot. I did not want to be a total bitch all day because I can't control my competitiveness, so I took my camera and shot pictures instead.

The girls were really happy to be there with Dad, and Ken's new wagon was a hit! It was very nice to move around with all of our stuff in one location and we didn't have to use our own bodies to lug it everywhere. That's not including my happiness at having an umbrella and chairs to sit on while I waited for them to shoot!  


Ken loved that I was able to get some great shots of the day.  These are the highlights:

I still have so many pictures to clean up and go through from the shoot, but it was a great morning, and Ken was so excited to have spent it on the range.


When we got home, the girls gave Ken his Father's Day gift before we went into the pool.  I had already given him the gift from me which was an awesome Weber Smoker that he had been wanting.

After he had gone through all of the fishing gear the girls bought him for our trip next month, we went into the pool so we could to cool off! The temperatures were hovering around 100* all day, and it was miserable.  The boys came over and jumped into the pool as well, and Ken just spent the time smiling and watching all 6 of his kids together at one time again.  He loved every moment of it.

Once we had cooled off and turned into shriveling prunes from being in the water so long, Ken started the BBQ.  He had been craving grilled salmon, and the entire time the girls were ooohing and aaahhhing over the idea of it, the boys had never joined us for salmon before.  They were pleasantly surprised by the dish.

The boys gave Ken some cards for Father's Day, and they did manage to find a Father's Day card about farting. I cannot get away from dealing with bodily functions in this house.

The boys stayed quite a while for Ken.  It was a really great day for him, and I was very happy that the boys made such an effort.  


Now, since it's my blog, I spent most of this time discussing Ken's Father's Day, but I know he'll be upset if he doesn't read about my Birthday.  I turned 40, and unlike Ken's reaction to 40, I was totally excited about it.  I feel that I am finally to a point in my life where not only am I totally comfortable with who I am, but I think people may take me a little more seriously because I'm "mature."  I know,  Hahahahahahaha.  But seriously, for someone who never thought they would live to see 18, turning 40 is really rad!


Prior to leaving for the Beach vacation, Ken gave me my birthday present from him.  I am completely in love with it!!!!

My old wine cooler was starting to have difficulties again, and we found that it was always too small, so we paired it with a dorm fridge.  Now, I have all of my wines in one location AND I still have room for a few more bottles.  Yay!!!  To add to my birthday, Ken allowed me a purchase while we were at Camp Pendleton.  Once I saw the serving items, I HAD to have them!! Ken indulged me and I have been using them as much as possible around the house.

Yesterday, Ken and the girls took me to lunch.  The girls made sure to tell EVERYONE that it was my birthday, so I got the sundae which I happily shared with Ken.

After Ken opened his Father's Day items, I got to open my Birthday cards.  I received a box of Skittles to munch on, and then I not only enjoyed reading the perfect birthday card from Ken, but I received the Stefon keychain!  YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!

Ken and I love to watch Saturday Night Live, and one of my favorite (recent) skits is the City Correspondent by Stefon.  It is always crazy, and I get such a great laugh from the skits.  Sadly, Bill Hader, the guy who portrays Stefon has now left SNL, and by the time that we learned he was leaving, all of the merchandise was sold out from the SNL shop online.  I was heartbroken because I wanted the keychain, and I wanted it badly!!!  Ken always find the most perfect cards for me, so I was getting teary-eyed and choked up while reading it, and then I saw my gift.  He was very proud of himself for this little gift of heaven.  


When Sean arrived, I was showered with three pounds of coffee with Happy Birthday written on them.  Very nice!!  He knows that my love of coffee knows no bounds.

After supper, we enjoyed my birthday cake, and we used the number 4 candle and pretended that a sunflower was the 0 for "40." Despite the fact that Jordan had sung "Happy Birthday" to me all day all weekend, I endured one more singing of it.  I love that Ken got the perfect cake for me (even though I had to send him a text message with the picture of the cake I saw 2 years ago that I liked).  He ordered it before we left for the beach, and I still loved every bite of my piece.

All in all, we had a very busy weekend, but it was great fun.  I adore that Ken celebrates me so much, and that he didn't mind sharing his special day with me.