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Happy birthday to this guy! He now knows the “answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.”

Practice Golden Birthday #15

Shecklet #1 is heading to the lake to help with some wiring tomorrow, so we decided to do a “take 1” on his golden birthday. (Most of his presents were related to the electrical work.)

He requested pizza for dinner and an ice cream cake for dessert. (He wrote 15 as Roman numerals 😂. And yes, the cake slid from its base, so it’s a tad rough. But still delicious!)

Happy (almost) birthday to my oldest Shecklet! We’ll celebrate again in a couple of weeks!

Shecklet #2 is teenager #2

Back when when they were born 22 months apart, it was hard to imagine my boys would one day both be teenagers.

And yet, today is the day the second Shecklet makes that a reality for me.

Shecklet #2 had a very specific list of things he wanted for his birthday dinner: homemade mac-n-cheese, jellied cranberries, Lay’s BBQ chips, garlic knots, and San Pellegrino Blood Orange sparkling water. (He shared this list with us via a Google Keep note that he started weeks ago. 😆)

And for dessert, he requested a strawberry rhubarb pie. This flavor isn’t easy to find in March, but I found a local baker, Heather’s Pies, who makes them fresh and picked it up this afternoon while it was still warm. Heather did not disappoint – it was delicious!

Even though he was part of the new ski gear selection, he didn’t know the items had arrived last weekend. So we were able to surprise him a little bit. The 8 cans of jellied cranberries were also appreciated.

This kid has been a source of wit, humor, and love from day one. I can’t wait to see what the coming year has in store for him.

You’re becoming an amazing young man, Shecklet #2! Bring on the teen years!

Love you so much! XOXO

The many faces of Shecklet #2 the throughout the past 13 years.

Cricket pie

There are some things I just don’t have the heart to correct when my kids say them. When we celebrate my MIL’s birthday each year, we have grasshopper pie for dessert. (Growing up, there were numerous March birthdays in her family, so they got caked-out by the middle of the month, which is when her birthday is.) Shecklet #4 calls is “cricket pie,” which I think is really cute – even at 8 years old.

Seeing pink

Our nephew is gaining a co-pilot later in the year and we are SO excited!

The news was shared with us at my MIL’s birthday party dinner tonight. First we saw our nephew’s shirt and then later, he gave Grandma Patti a flower with a little balloon that says “Baby Girl” along with an ultrasound photo on pink paper.

Ambulance baby is 8!

I looked at the clock around 12:35 this afternoon and thought about where I was 8 years ago today. What an entrance Shecklet #4 made into this world. Not many kids can say they were born in an ambulance on one of the coldest days of the year. It’s a day I will never forget.

This year, Shecklet #4 asked if she could have an 80’s themed birthday party. As someone who has fond memories of the mid-to-late 80’s, it didn’t take much to convince me to agree to her idea. The recent below zero temps we had gave us an opportunity to use the extra indoor time to create decorations and party plans.

This is part of the Pac-man photo prop the kids made back on 2/12.

And a few more of the decorations we had, including the birthday banner that Larissa and Shecklet #1 made on 2/6 when we had our day of crafting fun.

The birthday girl could hardly contain herself this morning. She was up at 6am and regularly asked me throughout the day, “How long until my party starts?” She even woke one of her sleeping brothers from his slumber so she could open a few presents from us.

She also received ski gear and is very excited to try it out tomorrow.

Tonight’s party was a ton of fun! The birthday girl had a blast! She could totally pass as a child of the 80’s. She rocked the side ponytail and blue eyeshadow like a pro. Her sister wore the 80’s trends well, too!

We had a few friends and family join us in rad neon, tulle, makeup and scrunchies. The kids had a boom box piñata and played “stick the cassette to the boom box.” Jake grilled burgers and hotdogs (birthday girl’s request,) we held a glow stick dance party in the basement, and enjoyed angel food cake and ice cream for dessert.

I love how everyone who joined us embraced the 80’s theme and helped make Shecklet #4 feel so special today.

Ready to ski 🎿

Shecklet #2 finally used a gift card from his birthday (from his aunt and uncle) to buy ski goggles. They arrived today. Now all he needs is snow. It’s December 1 and the ground is bare. 2020 continues to be the year that keeps on giving.

Birthday 2020 🎂

The sun came out today. Kids decorated my bedroom door with streamers. Surprise delivery of strawberries for dipping from my godparents/aunt & uncle. Two in-person (safe) visits from friends who brought cards and gifts. Takeout for dinner. Butterfly necklace picked out by Shecklet #3 (given to me by all my kiddos to remember Astrid,) as well as a bike helmet, new sharpies, & a beautiful sweater that Jake selected. He also picked up a cake from the grocery store. Cards, texts, and other greetings from family and friends arrived throughout the day. I definitely felt loved!