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Archive for the ‘birthday’ Category

04 Jul

Happy Birthday Mister Ty

Posted by Sandi in Tylon, birthday

We had the BEST day ever!

Dear Ty,

You have been making me crazy this week. Every single time I make eye contact with you, you get this crazy grin on your face and rub your hands together and say with way too much enthusiasm, "I WAITING!" And I usually reply with something smart ass like, "no shit you're waiting…." Or "I'm waiting too…. For it to be over!" regardless of what I have said in response to you, it hasn't/didn't keep you from repeating it at least thirty times a day.

You woke up this morning at the crack of dawn to go shopping. I think we were at Target by 9:45. You knew exactly what you were going to buy. We walked straight to the electronics department and you bought your fifth Nintendo DS. They last about… oh I don't know, maybe three months, if we're lucky. You are hard as hell on the poor DS'. Maybe this one will last a bit longer. The problem is, you take them everywhere because you are SO POSSESSIVE of your things. I realize in this family, you have to be careful, but honest to pete, you have issues!

We had the perfect day. Shopping in the morning and lunch in the afternoon at Farrells Ice Cream Parlor. You were so funny to watch in that place. You thought they were going to sing to you and I had a hard time not calling them over to do just that. Every time they pounded on the birthday drum, you insisted it was time to go home. You wanted out of there.

"I tired, I nap."

"You're not tired, you just want to go home and play your DS."

"take me home……NOW!"

and we finally did, but I was loving every minute of watching you squirm.

When we came in the house after lunch, the kids all jumped out and blew their whistles at you and shouted Happy Birthday. Then we sat around and ate the ice cream cake that Shaylee and Eric had made you. After that, we swam in the pool and grilled some burgers and corn on the cob. Tonight we watched fireworks off our deck. It was a perfect day! I want fifteen more birthday's with you buddy.

Every year I think of how amazing it is that you are celebrating this year of your life. You have outlived your life expectancy by fourteen years. YOU are my little miracle. I am so grateful for you and all your issues and all your bugging and all your crazy little quirks. I don't want to think about the day that you aren't hanging on me.

I love you with all my heart Ty.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY little MAN!

11 Comments »

20 Jun

up to my ass in alligators

Posted by Sandi in Brandon, Colby, Random, birthday, blogging, cosmetic surgery

I can't keep up. For all of you, through the years, that have asked me time and time again. "How do you do it all?" This is for you. I DON'T!

Colby's birthday was yesterday. NO POST!

Dalin's birthday was last week. NO POST!

Today is father's day- NO POST!

What kind of horrible mother/blogger am I?

This end of the school year is kicking my ass. Every kid has three or four big things going on. Plays, concerts, field days, final exams, lake trips, graduations, special dinners….. I can't keep up.

Since I was drowning in activities anyway, I figured I would just check out for a few days and scheduled surgery for Tuesday.

The way I see it, I just bought myself two free days to lay in bed and dictate to the rest of the world what needs to be done. I'll get up on Thursday when it's all over.

SWEET SWEET SUMMER!

***************************************

Happy Birthday COLBY MICHAEL-

Coco turned Twelve yesterday. The anticipation of the day is always 100 times better than it actually is. We went to Game Stop to buy games for his PS3. That took all of ten minutes for him to blow through his birthday money.

Then he wanted Chinese Food for his birthday so we went to PF Changs. He couldn't sit still. He was up and down and driving me crazy. He had new games to play. Every five minutes he asked, "Are we done yet?"

Brandon and I gave up. We came home… and we didn't see him for the rest of the night.

At bedtime, he said, this was the best day of my life.

So I guess we did something right, or he was stoned out of his mind from sitting in front of the PS3 all day. Normally there is a one hour limit of screen time, but on birthdays I close my eyes to it.

Colby,

You make me happy mister! I love watching you grow up. You are an amazing kid. I can't wait to see what this next year is going to bring. You meet every challenge that's thrown at you. YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE PERSON! I am so proud to be your mama!

Happy Birthday baby. I love you.

************************************************

Happy Father's day to the man of my dreams and the greatest father on the planet.

There is nothing sexier than a man with a baby.

Or a man in a hat.

I love you baby. Thank you for parenting this tribe with me. I couldn't ask for a better daddy for my kids. Seriously, when I found myself single parenting 100 kids, I never in a million years thought I would remarry and put my kids in the situation of having a "step dad."

I am so glad you came in my life and knocked me off my feet, because what you have given my kids and done for my kids is extraordinary. They are so lucky to have you as their daddy. I will be forever grateful for the example you are to them.

I hope you have the best day EVER!

*****************************************************

Happy Father's day to all you Dads out there.

5 Comments »

27 May

Happy Birthday Jazzi Hope

Posted by Sandi in Jasmine, birthday

Thank God it's finally here! You are almost as bad as Ty when it comes to your birthday. You have made and changed the plans so many times I honestly have NO IDEA what we are even doing today.

"I want a Limo ride for my birthday."

"I want to go to Disneyland."

"I want to go to school."

"I want to spend the whole day with you."

"I want to miss swim 'cause it's my birthday."

"i want to go to swim so Coach Mike will tell me happy birthday."

"I want to eat at Jersey Mikes."

"I want to go to Chili's."

"I want to go to Newport Rib."

"I want to get my nails done."

"I want to buy clothes."

"I want to go to Scooters Jungle."

At least once a day I hear you say, "I'm going to do that on my birthday."

I could go on and on and on all day with the things you have planned and what you want to do. You need a ten-day birthday to fit everything in.

Jazzi, you are a planner. You have your entire life planned out. Today you told me that you were going to try and be rich when you grow up so you can give me money. How sweet is that? You also told me that you would live in a mansion. I asked you if you lived in a mansion now and you said, "no, it (the house) has to be taller and longer and more sparkly."

You are a dreamer and have the most incredible imagination I have ever heard of. You may possibly be the next Dr. Seuss. Your world is as crazy, colorful, and nonsensical as his was. I hear about your dreams every morning. If I dreamt the way you did, I would be in the shrinks office once a week. Your dreams are magical and insane and always filled with chocolate. You love to share them with me.

You love school and love your teacher. My favorite things from this year were your play and your flag ceremony. You worked so hard memorizing your lines. You even saved the day at the play and said your friend's lines because she was absent. I was proud.

I love being your mom. You are a piece of cake to mother. You are sweet and helpful and obedient. You make my life very easy.

It seems like yesterday I brought you home. I can't believe it has been EIGHT YEARS! You were such a tiny little pea. You were the cutest little thing I had ever seen…. You still are. You are absolutely stunning. Just remember that being pretty on the inside is even more important than being pretty on the outside, though I don't think you need to worry about it, because you are a sweetheart. I just want you stay that way. Lord help us when you girls hit puberty. :)

Thank you for being my girl Jazzi. I can't imagine this family or my life without you in it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY.

I love you so much.

PS- YOU are my SUNSHINE!

13 Comments »

25 May

Happy Birthday Shaylee Nicole!!

Posted by Sandi in Shaylee, birthday

I can't even believe it.

Eighteen years ago?

WHAT?

Somebody told me if I wanted to go into labor I should walk around the block with one foot on the curb and the other foot off the curb. I tried it and had you the next day. It was fluke. You were born early because you had strep and got to spend some time in the hospital with an IV in your head. That was okay though because Bronson was at home with the chicken pox and the last thing I wanted was to bring you home during that little adventure.

They assured me you wouldn't get them. "I was nursing you and your body was filled with antibodies from me." Yeah right. At day fifteen you got the chicken pox!

Life has been the same ever since. If somebody tells you "no way possible," you say or do otherwise. I think you may get that from me. It's hard to beat your ass when I know how you feel. Damn genes.

I can't begin to tell you how proud of you I am. You have been a joy to raise. Easy peasy, because I know to leave you alone!

You have made me one proud mama Shaylee. Your grades are perfect. Your boyfriend is a gem. Your life is full. You are generous and caring. You are smart and happy. You are empathetic and a fabulous example to the little people in this family. Speaking of which, you are a great big sister.

The kids are so excited for you to come home. Kate and Jazzi can't wait to have you in their room. Hadley is equally happy about that little arrangement. I can't wait to have you home so you can control the Pickle Monster. I have started saying, "Shaylee is going to put you in time-out when she gets here." It doesn't do much, but I can't wait until you really do. You are incredible with her. I just can't figure out why she is so good for you and such a beast for me?

Nine days until I can wrap my arms around you. I am so excited to see you and can't wait to watch your graduation. I am so proud of you baby girl!

Happy Birthday Sheesh. I LOVE YOU!!

You haven't changed a bit. I love this picture so much. You are full of it! Look at that grin.

12 Comments »

15 Apr

Miss Kate is SEVEN!!

Posted by Sandi in Kate, birthday

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

Dear Kate-

You are the most beautiful little girl, inside and out. I love you more than words.

I was thinking about you yesterday day when I turned on the Laurie Berkner Band DVD. When you were little, and "We Are The Dinosaurs" came on, you would listen intently for the part that says, "We stop and eat our food, when we're in the mood, stop and eat our food on the ground," and every single time you heard that line, you would look at me and say,"Mommy, are we in the mood?" That used to crack me up. Today, when I thought about it, I choked up.

When I tucked you in bed last night and whispered in your ear that it was your last night as a six year old, I choked up then too.

I wish time went a little bit slower. It just seems to go faster and faster every year. When we were talking the other day about when I picked you up from the hospital, you couldn't seem to wrap your brain around the fact that I didn't pick you up, but instead drove your birthmom to the hospital and stayed through the labor and delivery and spent the next 24 hours there with you both. You looked at me and said, "How did you eat?" You didn't seem to care that I cut your cord and spent your first night with you in bed, you were concerned that I was starving. You crack me up. But I will tell you this, I ordered Fat Jack's Pizza from a place in Payson and stuffed my face with bread sticks while staring at your precious face. AND IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY!

I am so proud of you and so stinking happy that you are my girl. I would be lost without you. I know you know this already, but you are my VERY BEST HELPER! Thank you for that. Thank you for always talking to me and hanging out with me. I love that you do that. I love your hugs and your kisses and I LOVE how much you love me. Thanks for being YOU! I don't want you to be anyone else, just my Kate-Kate!

Happy Birthday

I love you forever

I like you for always

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be.

Dear J-

I have been thinking about you all week. I love you and I miss you. And the rest of what I am feeling and want to say to you…. Well, words don't do it justice.

You are one of my angels. Thank you for loving Kate as much as I do.

XOXO,

Sandi

19 Comments »

18 Mar

Happy Birthday Bronson

Posted by Sandi in Bronson, birthday

Bronson-

It's been a hell of a year! You have most certainly aged me. Here I thought that I just had to get you all to eighteen and I was home free….

Clearly, I was an idiot.

Honestly, I am so grateful for the things that have transpired this year. While it's been hell for sure, blessings have come from it. I have seen amazing growth and important life skills learned….. in myself. I think you have wised up a bit too.

I am so proud of you and the things you are doing. You have taken charge of your life and your future and are doing things that YOU want to do… for that I am THRILLED! Please follow your heart. Find your "thing" and do it!

I am blessed to have had you around this year. I have missed you so much. You bring such a fun spirit to our family. There is nothing more fun than watching Arrested Development with you and hearing your comparisons between our family and theirs. We truly are a sitcom. I love seeing you play with the kids and being such a good brother. You make me happy!

Everyone that meets you tells me how fabulous you are. Nothing makes a mom happier than hearing how NICE their kids are. I don't care if you are nineteen or two, moms like sweet children. I remember in 2nd grade when you let little Kathryn Wiscome beat you in 'around the world'. Mrs. Robbins sent a note home to tell me how sweet you were and I was overjoyed. That is one of the best feelings. I love being a mom to nice kids. Thanks for being that kid.

There are NO words to adequately describe how grateful I am for you. You are my heart and soul. I love you more than you will ever know.

Have a BLAST in Asheville. Be GOOD!

Love, mom

PS- Here is your song.

22 Comments »

06 Mar

Tang and Storm- ONE YEAR OLD

Posted by Sandi in Pets, birthday

Happy Birthday boys. We love you!

20 Comments »

10 Feb

TWELVE

Posted by Sandi in Jayden, birthday

JayJay-

How in the world can you possibly be twelve? I know I start every single birthday letter the same way, but I am truly shocked how fast time goes by. It seems like yesterday that I carried you off that airplane into a cold and snowy Utah afternoon. We had so much snow that year. It was freezing and the ride home was long and scary. I just held my breath the entire ride home and prayed we would make it alive.

Clearly we did.

I talked about your birthmom and your adoption story last year, but I didn't mention your blue outfit.

Your birth mom had purchased you the cutest little blue Carter's outfit. I made sure you had it on when she met us in the airport to say good-bye. I, then and there, should have taken it off of you immediately and put it in a safe place. Why didn't I do that? instead I put it on you often and when Coco was born I put it on him. That was the mistake right there. Coco went into respiratory distress one day when he had the outfit on, of course, and the triage team yanked that little outfit off him and tossed it somewhere, never to be found again. I searched the laundry at PCMC for weeks while Coco was there and even the IHC laundry facility in Woods Cross. It was never found, never to be seen again. I was heartbroken. I still am heartbroken. I wish I had that for you. I am sorry I was careless with something I shouldn't have been.

Twelve years with you has been an adventure! It's been like a safari in the wild and a huge, fast, extreme, roller-coaster. Both are really fun and really exciting, but also terrifying at times. That sums up our twelve years together really well.

This past two years your behavior has improved so much! The rage is gone. The fits have disappeared. You are taking charge of your emotions and both handling them, and dealing with them. Those are HUGE accomplishments.

You still get annoyed at your brothers. You still get frustrated with me. BUT, you know how to handle those feelings.

We are still working on communicating. You find yourself in a much better position when you are understood. The first step in being understood is telling someone how you feel. I think that's currently the biggest hurdle we are chipping away at. Everyday you do a little bit better and get a little more comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings with me. I am proud of you and I want you to remember that feelings are NEVER wrong. They are just feelings, and with a lot of feelings, you can't help them, they just bubble up inside. You will never be in trouble for telling me how you feel. But, if you act on those feelings in an inappropriate way, you could be in trouble. That's the key right there, share your feelings with your words not your fists!

You have enjoyed school this year. I was worried when you got a new teacher, but she has been GREAT! This is your last year in elementary school. I'm nervous! Middle school makes my head spin, BUT I know you will do awesome and I'm excited for you.

Currently you are the master of PS3. I have had to strongly enforce time frames on that thing with you. You hate that I don't let you play on it all day long, but you can isolate yourself so easily with that thing. It worries me. I hope you know I am not being a mean mom, I am just trying to be a good mom. Someday you will understand, someday when you have kids.

Speaking of having kids, Jayden, you will be the best dad! Your kids will be lucky to have you. You are the worlds greatest big brother. Parker loves you so much! He talks about you all day long when you are in school. I don't understand much of what he is saying, but I do understand the "Jay Jay" part. Every time he sees a bus, he starts asking, "jay jay, jay jay?" He thinks you are on all the busses in Orange county. Ellie and Sailor love you so much too. Sailor smiles every time she focuses on your blonde head. Even if you aren't looking at her, or talking to her, she sees you and grins! Thank you for loving these little people. They will look up to you your whole life. Always watch out for them and be their friends. They will need you!

I can't wait to see what you are like as a twelve year old. The girls are going to be chasing you! Your dimples and that smile are to die for. And those eye lashes…. OMG. You are going to be fighting the girls off with a stick!

Jayden Tanner, I love you so much. I am so proud of you and so happy that you are my son. It has been an amazing experience having you to love. I am blessed. We ALL love you and want you to have the best birthday and the best year ever.

French toast for breakfast.

Skipping school.

Shopping.

OLIVE GARDEN.

It doesn't get better than this!

XOXO,

mom

I love you gorgeous boy!

23 Comments »

20 Jan

Happy Eighth Birthday Jace Carter!!

Posted by Sandi in Jace, birthday

Baby Boy-

You still, eight years later, have possession of my heart and soul. You are an amazing young man. I have NO IDEA how you turned into a young man…. I feel like I should still be looking for your binky. Speaking of that binky…. man you loved that thing. It's been out of your life for exactly six years. I hope I didn't do any permanent damage by taking it away.

I am so proud of you Jace. You are a great helper, an amazing example, a phenomenal athlete, and a fabulous son. I also need to add what a great brother you are. You have perfected the art of being both the big brother and the little brother simultaneously. That is not easy to do.

You are sluffing school to stay home with me today. We can go to lunch and go shopping for God knows what, and spend some time hanging out. I LOVE doing birthdays with you! Where are we going to eat? What are you going to buy at the store? It's so much fun for me to see what you will choose to do.

Speaking of fun, it's the year of birthday parties. Last year we didn't do "friend" parties. This year? Heck yeah! Saturday at Scooter's jungle with your entire class. What a blast! I love watching you with your friends. You are an amazing friend. Did you know that I get emails and phone calls from your friend's parents telling me how sweet you are? That makes me so proud of you. What that says to me, is that even when you think nobody is paying attention to you and your actions, you still choose the right. You are a sweet boy all of the time, not just when you think you are being watched by me or the teacher. I love that about you. Keep doing it!

I love you so much. You are my Alabama boy. I will always remember meeting you for the first time. It felt like I had known you for years when I saw you that day. I think God knew we belonged together. I am so glad you found your way to me. Thank you for being such a great kid. I love you Jace Carter.

Love, mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY!!

21 Comments »

21 Nov

Parker is TWO!

Posted by Sandi in Parker, birthday

Parker man-

You had a birthday yesterday. You are TWO years old. You prevented this birthday post yesterday because you are a demanding little monster who runs my entire life. YOU ARE THE BOSS of this family.

I tried twice to sit down here and write and you flipped your ever living lid. If I am at the computer, you think it’s time to watch "Signing Time," and frankly it’s getting obnoxious. Listen, I love Rachel Coleman, But she is already constantly on the family room TV and constantly on Pickle’s TV, so I find it annoying that you think she needs to be on my computer as well.

I talked to your dad yesterday and told him that the only thing you NEEDED for your birthday, was for Rachel herself to come over in her yellow and orange jacket and sing songs to you all day long. If I had unlimited funds in my bank account, I would have called and offered her large sums of money to fly down here. Your dad laughed and may have mumbled something under his breath to the tune of, I will make damn sure you never have unlimited funds……

I can’t believe you are two. I can’t remember life without you, yet you’ve been acting like a two year old since day one.

We call you two-point-o (2.0) because you are newer, faster, version of Kate-Kate. She is all attitude and you have seen her attitude and upped it about 3 mega bytes. LORD help US!

I have always thought how lucky you last few babies are to have two full time parents, but I am seeing how extra easy that is to spoil you rotten and create absolute monsters. I may be contemplating getting a full time job myself.

BUT when Signing time is playing on three screens and you have possession of my diet coke and my undivided attention. Oh boy you are a JOY. You are the cutest little shit I have ever seen. You re so smart and learning so many new things and new signs and new words everyday. You are finally starting to talk. You say, thank you, no, mama, dada, baby, yes, dot com, and a lot of crazy talk. But you are starting to talk and I am thrilled. YAY!!

You can read. Which I love. Not books, but when the words on signing time come on the screen before it starts and without pictures, you know which one is coming on. If it’s "time to eat," you sign "eat." If it’s "who has the frog?" You sign "frog." You know all sixteen episodes backwards and forwards. Unfortunately so do I.

Today we are having a birthday party at Scooters Jungle for both you and Pickle. I hope you have a blast.

I love you little man. You light up my life. You have most certainly filled it with song!

Sorry this post is a day late, but without any help yesterday, there was no way to sit here sans Rachel and write this. I hope you understand.

I Love you so much-

Mommy

6 Comments »