Happy Birthday to my Best Friend!

Today is Aunt Jenny's birthday!

Happy Birthday Aunt Jenny!!

I have always believed that God brings the people into your life that you need.  God knew that I would never have a sister...instead, He gave me someone better.   One day almost 20 years ago, God gave me Jenny!

Jenny is my children's Godmother, my should to cry on, my first phone call when I need to talk to someone (other than Larry), my sounding board, my advice giver, someone who celebrates happy moments with me and grieves in sad moments, my number 2 on speed dial (number 1 is reserved for Larry), my favorite Target shopping buddy, the mother of three of my favorite kids in the world (besides my own), the person who I can be myself around, the person who loves me for me, the person who knows me better than most and most importantly, my best friend.

Jenny is intertwined in most of my childhood memories.  Meeting outside her house the summer we both turned 12 years old.  We shared countless hours on the phone.  We spent so much time at each other's house that we considered each set our second parents.  We had pool parties and sleepovers.   We learned how to drive together - me in my parent's Mitsubishi Eclipse and her in her dad's Izuzu Truck (both parents thought it was important to learn how to drive a manual car).  We watched as each other went through high school relationships and comforted each other when those relationships failed!  We went to homecoming and prom together.  We cheered each other on as we graduated high school.  And we watched as acceptance letters came in from different colleges.  We watched each other grow from little girls into young women.

Our friendship doesn't end with childhood memories and it didn't end with graduation from High School.  Today, Jenny is just as much a part of my every day life.  She is there for me on days that I am missing my parents - knowing that she doesn't need to say anything, just knowing that I need her to be there for me.  She flew to Alabama the day after Jaxon was born and watched with me as he lay in the NICU.  We talk or text daily.  She is involved in my life and the lives of my children.  They know her and they love her - something that is so precious and important to me.  We are navigating our lives through motherhood and adulthood...together!

And our future is already planned.  Girls trips to escape the stress of everyday life.  Laughing as our kids go to school, sharing our worries when they begin driving and watching with pride as they all graduate high school.

I am so thankful that God gave me this friendship.  I am glad that He knew that I would need someone like Jenny by my side, not just through the good times, but also through the bad times.  He knew that our lives would be rocky, but our friendship would help us through those difficult times.  He knew that our laughter would be great together and our memories would be treasured.  He knew that instead of giving me a sister, He would give me a best friend!  And for all of that, I thank Him!

Jenny - Happy 32nd Birthday!  We love you and we are so lucky you are in our lives!  Thank you for being a part of my past, my present and my futures.  Thank you for loving my boys just as much as I do. Thank you for giving me two beautiful nephews and one gorgeous niece!  Thank you for being there for me and for knowing me the way you do.  You are the best friend a girl could ask for :)

Two Cute Pictures

Alex saying "cheese"!  Not real sure why he closes his eyes when he smiles like that :)

In the next one, he packed his "pack-pack" (travel backpack) with the essentials - a giggle turtle, pair of slippers, notepad and a plastic toy fan.  He told me that he was leaving on a jet-plane to see Aunt Jenny in Colorado...and then told me "bye-bye"!  Such a funny little kid :)

Happy Birthday, Best Friend!

Today is Aunt Jenny's birthday!  Alex and I are so lucky to be in Colorado celebrating the day with her!

From DC - November 16, 2009

For those of you that don't know, Jenny and I have been friends since the summer before we went into 7th grade.  My grandma lived next door to her parents house.  Jenny was outside playing, I went outside, we introduced ourselves and the rest is history.  After we became friends, many hours were spent talking on the phone, swimming in the pool, talking about boys, going to the mall, watching movies and building one of the best friendships I will ever have!

Jenny has been my friend through most of the different phases of my life.  She has been by my side during happy times and sad times.  We lost touch for a couple of years, but as soon as we started talking again it was as if no time was lost at all.  I love friendships like that!  Most of my memories growing up include Jenny - listening to music and writing down all the lyrics (because we thought we were the coolest kids ever knowing all of the lyrics to "Baby Got Back"!), watching MMC, countless sleep-overs, getting ready for prom and homecoming, driving around in my mom's Altima or her Dad's Izuzu pick-up truck and listening to tapes that we probably shouldn't have been listening to (a little Eazy E, anyone?), graduating high school in our fashionable purple gowns and so many more!  Now, most of my adult memories include her as well - visiting Jenny, her Mom, her Dad and meeting Kyle for the first time in North Carolina, calling her and telling her that I was pregnant with Alex, watching her hold Alex for the first time, being in North Carolina with her for her Dad's memorial, celebrating with her when she found out Katelyn was a girl (I LOVE buying that Baby Girl pink stuff), being there with her when we found out Joshua was a boy, and being there when she welcomed Joshua into the world (I have never been more honored to be a part of something in my entire life).  And I know that we are not done making memories together and watching our children make memories together - nothing warms my heart more!

She is my best friend and she encompasses all that it means!  She is there for me when I need a shoulder to cry on, when I need encouragement, when I need an ear to listen to me (or vent to), when I need someone to laugh with me, when I need someone to talk me down off the ledge and when I need a best friend.  Jenny understands me when no one else gets me.  She loves me, despite (or because of) my many flaws.  She is the best secret-keeper I have ever known.  And she is the best friend a girl could ask for :)

Jenny is also Alex's Godmother and she loves my boy almost as much as I do!  Larry and I wanted Jenny to be more that just Jenny to him, because she is so much more than that to us.  Naming her his Godmother felt so right and we know that if anything should ever happen to us, Jenny will love him with her whole heart!  Alex loves his Aunt Jenny because she is one of the best aunts ever AND because she gave him three of his most favorite people in the world (Kyle, Baby Girl (Katelyn) and Joshua)!

My life is blessed because Jenny is a part of it!  God knew that I would never have a sister, so He gave me Jenny and I will never be able to thank Him enough.

Happy Birthday, Best Friend, Aunt Jenny and Larry's Wife #2!  We love you more than you will ever know :)

Off to Colorado...

Alex and I are going to visit Aunt Jenny, Kyle, Katelyn, Joshua, Nonna Lynn and Matt!  We are so excited and can't wait to see everyone.  While we are there, we get to celebrate Jenny's birthday with her (it is Wednesday, July 14).

I'm sure when I come back I will have plenty of pictures of the kids (and hopefully a few of Jenny and I together)!  Look for pictures after July 17.

Presents from Aunt Jenny & Nona Lynn

On Christmas Eve, we let Alex open his gifts from Aunt Jenny and Nona Lynn (Jenny's Mom).

Jenny got him two Geo-Trax sets, a Handy Manny Toy and two pairs of PJ's (Wonder Pets and Buzz Lightyear). Nona Lynn got him a tool box with a spinning/working drill and a super-cute long sleeve shirt. As much as Alex loved the toys, he loved the Wonder Pet jammies just as much. We changed into them shortly after opening them!

Thank you both Jenny and Lynn! Thank you for caring enough about our son to include him in your holiday shopping. It means to the world to us to know that we have such amazing friends/family like you! We truly are blessed!

Here are a bunch of pictures from present opening:

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Pictures from my Cell Phone

Alex and Katelyn playing at the table at Tim and Jackie's house:



Katelyn and Kyle - we just love this picture!


Alex sitting on a rock at a park in Columbus. I could not get him to look at me!

Sweet baby girl! I love this smile!

Kyle and Katelyn - such good siblings:

Alex and Katelyn were in the corner having some juice. I looked over and he was patting her head...so cute!

Construction Kate:

Is there anything more precious than a sleeping baby?

Katelyn on the Metro:

Alex was not a fan of the dinosaurs:

He was laying like this watching Scooby Doo:

Such a sweet boy...especially when he is sleeping:

He lined up his chairs like this to watch TV. Not sure if he thinks he is at the movies or something!

Portrait Innovations Photo Shoot

After a bunch of prodding from Nana Lynn (Jenny's Mom), we took the kids to get a few pictures taken together for Christmas.

Kyle was acting like a little GQ model - posing, smiling on cue and just acting cute!

Katelyn was in a good mood and smiling like such a pretty little girl!

Alex was the worst out of the bunch. He had no patience (which meant that Mommy had no patience with him). He would only sit still for a few seconds...and only if he had a lollipop in his hand! There was no smiling on cue for him - he had to be bribed with a toy or candy to even give us the slightest hint of a smile! This was just another reminder of why we had candid pictures taken just a few weeks ago - he was much more cooperative that day!

Luckily though, we got a few great shots of the three kids and a few good shots of them individually. When it came time for a group shot (with Jenny and I), the kids would not sit still and we were unable to get a good group picture! Oh well - we can't get too greedy!

Here are a few of my favorites from the day:

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Park...Again!

In an effort to get the kids out of the house and run off some of their energy, we took them to a park in the area. The kids had a blast running around and playing on all the fun stuff!

There are times when I love sitting back and watching our Kyle, Katelyn and Alex play together. Regardless of the way that they act towards each other, I know that deep down they love each other and that is what is important. Knowing that Jenny and I dreamed our kids would play together so long ago and now seeing it in reality is such a great feeling!

Here are some pictures from our time at the park:

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DC

Jenny and I decided that we wanted to go to DC for the day. Both to get out of the house and to give Larry some peace and quiet to write his report!

First we went to the Smithsonian Natural History museum. It was there that we discovered that Alex was NOT a fan of the dinosaurs. We walked around looking at all the different exhibits. Kyle absolutely loved it, the little ones were not as big of fans! After a quick lunch at the museum, we walked around outside for little while. The boys saw the Carosel on the lawn at the National Mall and begged us to go on it! I rode with both boys, while Jenny relaxed on the sidelines.

When we were done walking, we went to the Space Museum. Because Larry has been anxiously waiting to take Alex there, Alex and I only took a quick look at the planes and then browsed in the gift shop. Jenny, Katelyn and Kyle were able to walk around a little bit of the museum until we decided it was time to get our sleepy kids home.

We rode the Metro back to our car, all while Alex was yelling "choo-choo" - he thought it was a train!

Here are a few pictures of our day in DC:

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TPS and the Park

During Jenny, Kyle and Katelyn's visit to Maryland, we took them back to TPS. Larry discovered that the helicopter on display outside of the school opened up and we thought it would be a great picture opportunity for the boys (and Katelyn). Plus, Kyle had been asking to go back to the place where Larry worked with all the jets and planes!

Here are a few pictures at TPS:

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After our visit to TPS, we decided to take the kids to our favorite park (well, actually it is a school playground, but whatever). Kyle absolutely loved it! He thanked me several times for bringing him there - it is so sweet to hear him say that!

Here are a few pictures from our trip to the park:

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Back to Maryland...

The good news about leaving Ohio is that at the last minute, I convinced Jenny, Kyle and Katelyn to head back to Maryland with me!

All five of us piled in the Explorer and made the 7.5 hour drive to Maryland! We were armed with DVD's, snacks and drinks. Lucky for us, the kids did GREAT in the car. We only had a few meltdowns when Alex tried to reach over to "pet" Katelyn or mess with her carseat! Kyle and Katelyn both took a late morning nap while Alex watched a movie (he still isn't a fan of napping in the car).

As crazy as we must have looked, a pregnant woman, three kids in carseats and me, we had a great roadtrip and I am so happy to have made this incredible memory with one of my favorite people in the world!

Unfortunately, we don't have any pictures from our drive - we were too busy trying to keep the kids happy!

More from Ohio...

Here are a few pictures from our last few days in Ohio:

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First Few Days in Ohio...

Tim and Jackie's (Keith's parents) house has a HUGE backyard. The backyard is equiped with a swingset, a little playhouse, bubble mowers and a BIG four-wheeler. During our visit in Ohio, the kids spent a lot of time out there playing. Alex was so excited to have a big yard to play in - we don't have much of one here at our townhouse in Maryland!

I took my camera out with me often to take pictures of the kids while they were playing! I really loved seeing the three of them playing with each other. As kids growing up, Jenny and I used to always talk about watching our kids playing with each other - I am so glad we are able to do it!

Kyle and Alex had a little trouble getting along. It truly is like they are brothers. They would be wrestling around with each other and then the next minute they would be hugging. They would be yelling at each other and then sad that the other wasn't around. When Kyle was spending too much time with another little boy at the playground, Alex would start running around saying "Ky, Ky"and want him to play with him! And yet, at the end of every night, they hugged each other and said "night-night"! In the midst of all of it, Katelyn would be playing and ignoring them - she is such a sweet baby girl! Jenny and I loved it :)

Here are a few pictures from our first couple of days in Ohio:

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Off to Ohio...

While Larry is away, Alex and I decided to go on a roadtrip! Our destination…Westerville, Ohio – to see Jenny, Kyle and Katelyn (and Tim and Jackie, too)!

We left Maryland around 8 am and arrived in Ohio around 3:30 pm. Not too bad! We stopped for lunch, stopped once for gas (and M&M’s for Alex) and stopped once for a minor mishap. The minor mishap: Alex decided to take the cup holder off of his car seat and get his foot stuck in it. I found it hilarious...Alex, not so much!



Alex was such a good boy in the car. He watched several movies,

read a few books,

loved on his Pooh bear


and ate a few (okay, quite a few) M&M’s. Can you see the chocolate on his face?


He never napped though – for some reason lately, he has not been napping in the car.

When we got to Ohio, we were welcomed with open arms, Chicken Taco Soup and plenty of room for Alex to run off his energy!

I had a blast on this roadtrip with one of my favorite guys in the world...and I can't wait for many more!

The Jump Yard

We decided to take Aunt Jenny, Kyle and Katelyn to the Jump Yard! It has been a dreary couple of days - raining and cold - and we thought that the kids could go do something to get some energy out! The kids loved it - at one point, Kyle ran by me and yelled "Thank you for bringing me here Aunt Sarah!"

Here are a few pictures from our adventures at The Jump Yard:

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