Birthday Weekend

Will trying out the sleeping bag with Daddy!

Singing Happy Birthday to me!

Family Photo in front of the camp fire.

Dad play-fighting with the boys. By the time it was over, all the furniture in the living room was turned over. Mom almost blew it! But it was funny!

More camp-fire fun with Pop Pop!














I love it when my birthday rolls around. Not many people can say that, but I can. It's not because I am so excited to turn another year older (although that is a good thing and not a bad thing like we have been trained), but it's because I get to go home and have a relaxing weekend with my family and do absolutely nothing. This Friday, me and the boys headed to Tullahoma a little early. We left around 2:00 and Matt, Paige and Lance came later that evening just in time for some food Mom cooked. We didn't have a big meal. Mom just made a bunch of appitizer food and we snacked all night long! In fact, my tummy was rumbling all night b/c of all the food I ate! But it was my birthday, I figured I could do that.
Right when we got there, Dad grabbed the boys and immediately took them for a ride in the go-cart. They are in heaven when they come to Pop Pop and NaNa's. I mean, our house isn't by any means extravagant, but to Will and Jake, it is comparable to Disney World. There are tractors, a go-cart, hay-rides my dad fixes, trails to walk on all out in the woods, dogs, cats, toys and most of all....attention attenion attention.
Will and Jake have no problem going to sleep at Pop Pop and Nana's house b/c they are just plain worn out. We got up Saturday and Mom fixed eggs, bacon, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, etc. We usually have a big breakfast when we come home. Mom likes cooking normal, good-tasting, food b/c my Dad is so health-conscience that it is hard for Mom to cook anymore. It is good for her too that Dad eats like he does b/c I believe like Dad does and that is "you are what you eat." Some people might think that healthy living takes the fun out of life, well I think that you won't be having any fun in a few years when you've had a heart attack or stroke or diabetes is taking over your life. I think there is a balance, though, and Matt and I feel we have some sort of balance.
Anyways, off the health-food kick. Paige and I spent most of Saturday visiting with our high school best friends who both have had babies recently. We went to see our good friend Wendy first. She looks great and her baby is adorable! They seem to be doing really well adjusting to the whole parent-hood thing. She asked for some advice and of course I gave her my two-cents worth. We shared birthing stories and all that. It was good to see her and baby Parker.
We then went to my best friend Annie's house to see her and her new baby boy, Logan. Annie seems to be doing good too. Her baby looks exactly like her husband Josh. I couldn't believe it! Annie seems to be so relaxed and just a natural at being a Mom. She is going to be a wonderful Mom!
That night Mom fixed Chili and we had my uncle Ron come over. He and his wife Patricia live in California 9 months out of the year and they live on the lake in Winchester the rest of the time. My Aunt Patricia wasn't feeling well that night, so she stayed home. We opened presents, blew out candles, had birthday cake, the whole 9 yards. It was great. Will and Jake just loved helping me blow out all those candles!
Matt and Lance went and set up a tent in yard. I guess they thought they were going to sleep out there or something! It was freezing. Matt and the boys stayed out there and had fun playing in the tent, but when it was bed time, they all came running into the nice warm house.
I feel like I didn't see Matt all weekend b/c he was out next to the camp fire all the time with the guys! That's okay, I know he enjoys that and I want him to have a nice relaxing weekend too!
Us girls talked about Thanksgiving and what we were going to cook and what we needed to get at the grocery store! Typical girl talk.
All in all we had a wonderful weekend. The boys are fast asleep right now and it's not even 8:30. They were exausted! I love bringing the boys back to the home I grew up in. It is so special to me. I want them to have the same memories I had there. As I was putting them to sleep in my old bedroom, I just kept thinking of all the memories I had in this old room and now Im putting my two little boys to sleep in here! It is wild. The circle of life.
I hope to write more tomorrow.....