Happy Birthday Gary!!!

Gary went to a gun range the other night with a few friends to celebrate our friend John's Birthday! Look at the end of the barrel of the gun! AMAZING timing of the bullet coming out!!! I would also like to point out if you blow up the pic my hubby's amazing accuracy of shooting! Way to go Gary!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!!! YOU BLOW ME AWAY!!! hehe!

Makenzie's Birthday pics!

Here are the pics from Makenzie's Birthday! We didn't have a big party this year at our home...we decided to throw her a birthday party in Buffalo this summer with all her cousins back there! We had a great time celebrating our little girl this year! The 4 of us went to San Fransisco for her actual birthday and had a blast! And she felt very special when Shayna and Kevin came to celebrate her early the weekend before (and to visit with us!)! THANKS for coming guys! You know how much we LOVE having you and how much your little bro and little sis LOVE being with you both!
Enjoy the pics from her Birthday!

More to come later this week from our time with Shay and Kev...
I'm 4!!!!

Yum! We had cupcakes (purple!) for dessert after breakfast!

Ladies are just so much neater...

nap time in the city!

Merry-go-round in San Fransisco!

They were so excited about lunch at the Rainforest Cafe! And DESSERT! Of course we had the VOLCANO! ;)

Chowder bowls at Boudin Bakery!

Makenzie is 4!

Wow, where does the time go?! I have been wrestling with "time" for the last few months...actually several months. I can't believe my baby girl is 4! I can't believe I'm 30! I can't believe I've been married to my best-friend for 9 years! Seriously where does the time go??!!

If you would of told me about parenthood in detail with what my days (and nights!) would look like after children...I would of told you it sounded like a prison sentence! I mean seriously who in their right mind would give up most of their hobbies, favorite things to do, favorite places to visit, long relaxing weekends, freedom to travel, spontaneity, long chats on the phone, long showers in the AM, a clean house, a quite house, a career outside of home that you get to dress up for, etc...all for a little person who needs everything from you to survive. Not just food and shelter but EVERYTHING. Love, cuddles, time, encouraging words...It is so funny how my perspective has CHANGED...I DON'T look at it at all like a prison sentence but I do look at it as a PRIVILEGE. I am privileged to "die to self" everyday for my children (and hubby!)...do I miss my past freedom, sure...daily at times! But I wouldn't change my current circumstances for ANYTHING else this world has to offer! I am exactly where I want to be...caring for and loving my kids (and hubby!), I am so grateful we decided long ago that I would stay home with them. Gary and I are very like minded in this area...I don't actually think we ever even really discussed it. It was just a given...and for that I am thankful!

Maki-Happy 4th baby girl! We love your tender, sweet, caring heart...Thank you for changing my life in the most incredible way with being your Mommy.

A few cute things from this week that she said...I really should post all of her cute little hilarious sayings!

"Are we having Mommy-Mommy tacos?!?" aka...mahi-mahi tacos!

"I don't want to be a fireman or a baseball player when I grow up...I want to be a Mommy! I can't wait to take care of Zach!" Ok, so she was a little confused about Zach not growing up too...she is so dang cute!!!!

Pics to come from her Birthday celebration!!!
xoxo!
Dani :)

A parenting article!

I hope you enjoy this article on parenting and perspective as much as I did!