Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mom!

She turned 60 on Saturday! Party planning has been in full swing around our house and my sister's house.

We had pictures up around the house from each of the decades between 1951 and 2001. Since we are so early in 2011 we left that one out. We also had "fact" sheets by the pictures that included little tidbits about things that came out those years, advertisements, prices of items, etc. An example: the sharpie pen was first introduced in 1961. I think my sister had the most fun finding out all of the information in her search. If you are wondering, it's the light shining above her lip that is messing up the picture.
Naturally we had "60s" decorations all over the house. We couldn't let her forget how old she is. When I went to get pictures for her invitations she told me, "Don't be throwing me a party. There is nothing great about turning 60." I thought that was so funny because I had already decided to put on her invitation, "Turning 60 is Great. Please Come Help Us Celebrate!"

We bought a scrapbook for keepsakes from the party, and we decided to put a picture of everyone who came and let them write her a note. Her older sister who lives in Virginia sent a note for her to read aloud. It was about "The Way We Were" and "The Way We Are." Mom had fun reading it and telling the stories from past and present that went along with the note. We sure missed you Aunt Diane.

Mom had lots of help blowing out candles. I couldn't get ALL of the kiddos in the picture from where I was standing.

Then the most fun part of opening presents.

And one of the party favors for everyone to take home!

We hope you had a great birthday, Mom. We had lots of fun with the planning!

Instructions?

Instructions? Who needs instructions? Surely the three of us can figure this out on our own!

John Reagan and Evie got a trampoline for Christmas. It was not put together for Christmas morning, and John Reagan had to stare at the box for a week. When my dad came to visit on New Year's Day, Uncle Brad, Greg, and Pawpaw Donnie put the trampoline together. And according to Greg they HAD to use the instructions. The above picture was actually them getting their game plan together.

When the pieces started going together Evie had to do some womanly supervising. She was out there, "Pawpaw Donnie! Pawpaw Donnie!" She was more concerned with Pawpaw Donnie's attention than the trampoline.

Too bad this is not a close up. Just thought I would let you see Greg with a beard. The beard is gone now and so is the gotee. That is a story in itself that we will have to tell you about later.

Evie could have cared less about the trampoline, but the 3 boys were anxiously awaiting the finished product. Bless their hearts as soon as the men got the trampoline together we had to run off to Monroe.

This is the best picture I have of the finishing details. I still haven't gotten a picture of John Reagan jumping on it. Naturally after it got put together the weather around here decided to act like "real" winter weather. It has been too cold to worry about the trampoline.

Evie jumped on it once or twice. She was not a fan. John Reagan has enjoyed it as much as he can in the winter time mixed with stitches in his "boy parts" as he and Evie would call them.

The fun of parenting a boy and a girl are starting to begin. We have already separated bath time, but Evie is now on this kick of, "See my "burl parts (girl parts)!" Joy! Joy! Greg is freaking out about it. I wish I could have gotten a video of the discussion between her and Daddy about her "burl parts" the other night. Let's just say I was sitting in the chair cracking up while Greg was trying to be as serious as possible.

Good times are ahead!

Happy New Year!

In an attempt to start the new year off better than I ended the last one, I am actually blogging 4 days into the new year.

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and were as blessed as us at Christmas time.

We are excited about the new year and know that many changes are in store. We pray blessings for all of you in 2011!

Averi-3 months

John Reagan-4 1/2

Evie-2 1/2

I feel like I should be catching you up on the happenings around here but can't think of what all that might be. We are back to the daily grind, and things seem to be back to as normal as they are going to be for now. So...

Happy New Year from the Hasley's!