Way Back When, I Had a Birthday...

My birthday was March 12. I'm so old that I can barely remember the day...thankfully I have some pictures to help me out. haha


This is what I got from Brody on March 11th in an email:


JILL'S  BIRTHDAY ITINERARY

7:30 - Rise and shine to Starbucks Tall Nonfat Caramel Macchiato (w/1 Splenda)

 8:30 - Family Breakfast at LaMadeleine at Northwoods__________________

10:00 - Return home_________________________________________

10:10 - Leave Daddy and kids at home!!!____________________________

10:30 - Hair Appointment!_____________________________________

11:15 - Jill's FREE!!!  LUNCH, SHOPPING, NAP, HAPPY HOUR, WHATEVER!_

8:30 OR 9:00pm.ish - Murder, She Wrote with your hubby, with the company of Champagne and Ice Cream and Strawberries :)

Weather Forecast for March 12: Mixed clouds and sun, warm, high of 80.  Winds 15-25mph so dress appropriately!!!

Of course, schedule is tentative and subject to change :))))

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!  Have a wonderful day!!!

Including the weather forecast is so "Brody" and just cracked me up! 

outside LaMadeleine

I got my hair done, met my sister for some shopping and later ended up going to eat dinner that night with some new friends I've made at Clark's MDO. Their kids are in Clark's class and we've really hit it off. The picture is TERRIBLE-the poor waiter at least tried.

I had so much fun out with these girls that by the time I got home Brody was fast asleep...so no ice cream or champagne for me. ha~


Somehow I managed to stretch my birthday out the whole week! :) Jaime and Jenn took me out to La Fonda. It was kind of a comedy of errors...Ben came home under the weather, the food menu had changed, the waiter was bad, and then Jenn started feeling puny and went home early. SO...we will definitely need a re-do! 

another blah pic...it was with my phone

That weekend, Brody and I had a date. Jordan and Maegan were out of town when we had my family "party". I am using that word lightly because basically it was after church. We all got our own takeout, came over to our house, and let the kids eat some cake and run around in the backyard. Still fun, but very laid back.
Anyway...the four of us went to the JW Marriott. It was pretty busy because of Spring Break but we had a great time and enjoyed some yummy food!

I felt sufficiently spoiled on my day  week, and have been working to burn off all the calories I consumed with so many fun dinners out!

In her own words...

A while back, Scarlett told me that she didn't really miss me, but she didn't see me much any more. (cue my heart breaking into a million pieces!) So...I told her that if she could get "purple" conduct and finish all her work on time for one whole week, I would let her have a day off. Here is her day, in her own words:

Mommy and Scarlett's Adventure!

Mommy and I took Clarky to school. We walked in my old teacher's room. I hugged them because I  miss them.

Then after I took Clark to school, I played tennis. I was REALLY GOOD! 

 Daddy played doubles and I was eating cheetos and watching. I love cheetos. Daddy is GREAT at tennis!!

 I was with mommy and me.

I was eating Taco Cabana because Mommy said I could eat anything I wanted. I ordered chips and quesadilla and sprite. It was delicious!

After lunch, Mommy took me to Toys R Us. I got some Squinkie doo's.

 Then I took a picture.

We went and got Clarky. It was fun. My day off was just like an adventure.

It really was a great time. I was trying to think back, and I honestly don't think that Scarlett and I have had a day with just the two of us since Clark was born. I mean, besides just running errands together on a Saturday morning. Wait...we did go to American Girl for her 5th birthday...OK, so it was the second time since Clark was born. But still...I want to do it more. I'm pretty sure I had as much fun on our "adventure" as she did!

Loves, lately

I've been in a bit of a blog funk for a while, so I thought I'd post a few of my favorite things these days:

1. Date nights! OK...this picture is obviously bad and blurry...but Brody and I went to the JW Marriott for dinner the other night and I wanted a picture of the hotel in the background. 

 The pic below is what happens with the flash on, but the picture of me is blurry because we turned the flash off. I don't know what the solution would be on our little point and shoot camera. If you have pointers for me, please pass them along :)

2. Warm weather! I love afternoons out in the backyard. 

3. Peeps :) I'm actually more of a Cadbury girl myself, but I think these look pretty on the table and the kids love them!

 4. Samoas...need I say more?!

5. pretty nails. This is hard to read, but my new favorite brand is Essie. This color is "marshmallow" and I love that it's clean and light.

So, there you have it...just a few of my favorites right now. Share yours with me...I'm always on the hunt for a new great thing :)

Valentine's Projects

Here are a few projects I worked on for the month of love :) I've seen wreaths like these in lots of different places, but my friend Andrea makes really cute ones, so I thought I'd give them a try. Scarlett and Clark gave these to their teachers. 

We made marshmallow pops for the kids friends. I LOVE to hand make the tags, but Scarlett wanted store bought this year. At least Clark is still too young to know any better. ha~

This wasn't a Valentine project, but it could have been. I made this as part of my sister's birthday gift. I think it turned out cute, and may have to make one for myself. 

All That's Left are the Memories

So last Friday it "snowed". I say it in quotes because I think we got 1/4 of an inch. BUT, when you haven't seen snow in over 20 years, it counts! Scarlett had been "yearning for snow" and she was beyond thrilled to wake up that morning to see her prayers had been answered. She even told me it that her half birthday wish had come true! ( I had no idea we celebrated half birthdays. haha)

Snow Angels

 The kids tried throwing snowballs, but it was so fine and powdery we really couldn't make any. After about 20 minutes we were ready to come in and get warm. We are true South Texans!!

Hot chocolate with marshmallows really warmed them up :)

And this is kind of random, but after staying inside all day we needed a craft! I had seen these so Scarlett and I got to work. They were easy and fun, and I think they look so cute in her window.

Yee Haw Y'all!

Clark had Rodeo Day at school last week. He had a great time getting all dressed up! At school they took pictures  at the same backdrop that they used when Scarlett was there. I love that I will have pictures of the kids at the same ages doing the same things at preschool :) He came home with a pony the teachers helped him make out of a yard stick. It was so cute, and a really fun day for Clark and his friends!

Great Getaway

...and all I have to show for it are these three random pictures. 

Last weekend I went to our church Ladies Retreat. I love love LOVE this weekend. OK, so it's more like an 18 hour getaway and not a full weekend, but it's still great! I always come away feeling refreshed, which is ironic because we stayed up until about 3am and then woke up around 6:30. I was so tired I had to skip my Murder, She Wrote and go to bed at 8:30. Guess maybe Jessica is rubbing off on me!

Jaime and Jenny at the beginning of our night

Jaime and me...my eyes look so tired, but it was well worth it to me

this one I stole from Jaime (hope you don't mind girlie)

Jenn, Jenny, Martha, Mom, and me in front of our lunch spot

Brody and the kids had fun too...tennis, ice cream, trip to the park...fun for everyone!