Robin's Birthday & A Driving Lesson

Happy birthday, Robin!!!

Today started out with some sleeping in..... because Saturdays should always be that way. Right? :) 

... By sleeping in, I mean 8:45am. Watch out, I know. :) 

Anyway, we loaded up and headed over to Eckert's to meet up with the Pages and Robin and her boys; Joe and Adam had decided they would take the kids out to the farm for the day while we took Robin for brunch and a movie to celebrate her birthday. Well, the guys taking on five kids for the day was a large part of the birthday present as well, so I wouldn't dare detract from that value ;) 

I've never had breakfast at Eckert's, but after today, I certainly will again. Deeeelish. From there it was off to Wehrenberg, where we met with Rachel and headed in for a late morning showing of The Words, starring Zoe Saldana [who I adore!] and Bradley Cooper [who Robin adores! haha.. ]. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from it, but whatever that was, it wasn't that. I definitely liked it; very unique. I'll probably have to re-watch this one at some point. Either way, it was a fun little outing and we even snagged a shot of us.... with Bradley Cooper. It was definitely by chance, lol. 

cori. rachel. cathie. robin.
...... & bradley. hahaha.... 

We found after the movie that the guys had finished the fair and apple picking at Eckert's, and had moved the party to Chuck-E-Cheese. We rendezvoused there for a short bit before heading back home for some family-wide nap time before making with it onto what is now an open driving range, literally. Remember a few days back when the Alexanders' birthday gift for Sydni arrived at our house and we weren't able to take it for a spin?

Well......

She's DRIVING!!! :-O

uh-oh..... driving already!

She had a BLAST. Holy cow. I loved every second of it. Love love love love her. A million x million thanks to Gerald & Leslie for their incredible generosity and for being so thoughtful!

Time now for some dinner with the fam....

See you tomorrow at the Tower!

xo | cmd

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY, SYDNI!!!!

Yesterday, she was 1.

Today, she's driving.

Tomorrow, college.

I know I'm not the first mother to say this, but for the sake of saying it anyway: I can't believe how quickly time is soaring right on by. It was two years ago today, when I woke up at 6:45 in the morning thinking that the day was going to be the day that we had a baby. I was right. The memory is still vivid: Joe's mom and sister came to keep me company, and just as Kalyn showed up with brand new, itty bitty [then puppy] Cayenne, it was time to go. 

Twenty minutes later, there we were, trying to catch up with what had just happened, as I held our daughter for the first time. It was the rush job of the century, I felt, and it's not slowed down since. While I can still feel the fear of thinking I was going to have a baby in the passenger seat of the car, I somehow don't remember the sensation of frustration that came with the sleepless nights or relentlessly crying infant. I have no recollection, really, of the constant chore of nursing or pumping, and cleaning bottle after bottle after bottle. I know those things happened, but they seem so distant. And now, she's 2. Incredible. 

In just two years, we've moved twice, bought a new car, and joined the United States Air Force. It's been a wild ride of prayer, anxious nerves, and patience-testing trials. We've tested some limits we never imagined testing, and found our strength stemmed deeper than we knew. This is a learning experience for all of us, and so far, I think we're doin' okay. 

We took monster to Chuck-E-Cheese's today to celebrate her big 2nd birthday and let her romp around like the toddler that she is. She had a blast. Mama & Daddy did, too, but it never ceases to entertain me how much joy a kid can get out of nothing more than flashing lights and life-size cartoon animals.  
We're gearing up for the real birthday photo shoot, which will be taking place a little bit later on in the next few weeks. I'll be sure to keep those pictures posted.

Happy birthday, to the most amazing daughter I could've imagined.We love you so very much, and can't wait to see what this next year holds.

xo | cmd