Peer Pressure

Well, I finally did it. I am now on Facebook. So far I like it, i have tons of people to find and catch up with so that'll be a lot of fun. Let me know if you are a facebooker too and we can totally be friends...if you're not a weirdo.

A Must See/Listen

This has to be one of the prettiest arrangements ever. Everyone should listen to this!! How I would love to play the piano as well as this guy. Sorry Mandy, I totally copied you, but I have to have this at my fingertips for background music. My page cut off the other side of the video, but you can see most of it though...

Birthday time!!

Dustin made me cinnamon rolls and a fruit plate for breakfast before we both went our separate ways for the day... kinda bummer to work on your actual birthday....as opposed to your half-birthday I guess. That's not too bad.

At work the girls and the doctor bought a Boston Creme Pie cake and got a card and all put some money in it for my birthday present. I was so surprised that they would do that for me because I haven't been with them for too long....I guess I'm just that lovable. A few of my patients found out it was my birthday and wished me a happy one. It was really nice to feel so loved on my birthday!

I asked Dustin to make one of my favorite dishes for dinner- apricot chicken. He made a great salad and rice to go along. He sent me flowers at work too! I love roses, they have always been my favorite flower, so it was great to get them on the best day of the year! They even had a birthday balloon attached!

We decided to have a party with just the two of us on my actual birthday. I love having a family party and our own party. I don't think I was ever one for huge bashes, though I did have a pretty awesome 16th birthday bash- the only surprise party I've ever had.....fun times.

I made a comment the day before that I would love to have a birthday banner because I always had one growing up in my family. It was used so much between 9 people that it had peices of tape folded over almost every inch of its edges....I wonder if my parents still have it...

I get sung to again!!! yessss (that's why he's making a weird face- he's saying 'birthday' at the moment...)

Isn't it so pretty? Dustin made a lime cheesecake the night before and put on the garnishings before he lit the candles. It was super good. It tasted very summer-y. He always makes my birthday cakes and I always make his. He asked me if I wanted him to put on all 26 candles..... um, yes please. I've earned them...they gave me my gray hair strand.

He got me the X-Men Trilogy for my birthday because I pretty much bought all my other presents myself- a new purse and some clothing cuz seriously, scrubs are getting pretty boring and ugly. And let's be honest, I only watch X-Men for Hugh Jackman...mmmmm...Hugh Jackman....and his biceps....oh ...

My *early* birthday party!

Since Gabe and his family were here for a week we decided to celebrate my birthday a few days early so we could all have a party while they were here! Keisha grabbed my camera and just started snapping shots, so I let her be my personal photgrapher- she did a pretty good job for the night! Here's what she took...

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me....

I think for almost every birthday dinner I have my mom make her enchiladas with the homemade sauce, I swear I could eat that sauce right out of the pan. MMmmmmm, enchiladas....

Baby Jake was totally down for a party, he even had proper attire!

Miss Addie had a full tummy at the moment, so was pretty happy to smile for the camera.

Mom made me this cake, though it wasn't really a cake. I've heard it called many things....the only one that doesn't require adult supervision is 'Better than Robert Redford'....:) It had a layer of a nutty crust, whipped cream, chocolate and vanilla pudding layers and another layer of whipped cream...sprinkled with tiny chocolate chips. I don't have a specific cake every year, it just has to be chocolate....mmmmmm

Can't you just hear the singing?

Hold that breath for one second Jared.....

My old lungs aren't the same anymore, I had to get help....

They helped take out the candles, licking them one by one as they took them out. Is there any other way to do it?

She just wanted to take out the candles. No time for pictures, I've got better things to do...

Emma decided she would eat her cake with me. I love it when they decide they want to sit with just you! That was my birthday present from her I decided.

Gotta get a pic with my lova boy.

So handsome isn't he?

Just laughing with the fam...

Always the life of the party Jared

Kyle had to be coaxed to smile... Keisha caught this one quick. Isn't he a good smiler?

Ah, and one more of the little one. Emma decided she wanted to get in one with her baby bro. Such cute kids!

For my present from Mom and Dad and Kyle and Keisha, Igot some nail polish, money, and Mom even gave me a set of bracelets that her mom gave her when she turned 25. I loved my presents!

Well one year older and wiser too..... I now have a grey hair that keeps growing back right on the top middle of my head. The more I pull it the more scraggly it grows back, sticking straight up. I also have discovered that my eyes have constant dark circles under them no matter how much sleep I get or moisturizer I put on. I've also noticed that I need to stop noticing these things because it's just gonna keep getting worse...especially when I start having kids....I hear. Maybe I'll be an exception to something....

WELL, on to my actual birthday!! It's Janellikkah is it not?

My new bedspread!

My sister in law Sonya and I went shopping yesterday and since we are celebrating my birthday a few days early this year she said she would help me find something for the house for my present. We found ourselves in the bedspread section at Target, Kohls and TJMax Home Goods section. We had two that neither of us could decide which was better, but white was the fave color, but both looked like wedding dresses which we loved! This one came from the TJMax Home Goods store. Isn't is so pretty?! I had to buy the pillows that matched it because they were too good to pass up. And there's even sparkly little stones sewn in to make it extra pretty.

I was too excited to put it on the bed that I didn't bother ironing anything. Eh, it gets so hot from the sun in our apartment, the wrinkles will fall out, right?

I just noticed one of the pillows fell a little lower in the back, so I fixed it before I posted this. Now the world can go on.

It's so pretty and bright in our room! It seems that every year I need to get a new bedspread for our room cuz I get bored of the old one. This was a great present! Thanks Sonya and Gabe!

Moody Gardens!

We all took another trip out to Galveston and went to Moody Gardens again! It was a super hot day, but we were inside for most of it. The kids absolutely loved all the animals- it's such a cool thing to watch them be so excited about different animals and fish and dinosaurs.

This was part of the Dinosaurs Alive exhibit. A few of the dinos including this Rex actually opened his mouth somewhat and let out a huge roar. It sounded like you were inside the Jurassic Park jungle. I liked it....

We went to see a dino 3-D movie, and of course loved how we all looked in the oh so cool glasses.

Gotta get a pic of everyone! Kyle and Dustin weren't able to come with us, that's why you don't see them... Sonya is holding their new addition Jake- he was the one I was holding in an older post on a trip to Norman.

I told Jared and Emma to try to act afraid like a shark was coming after them... I think they were just laughing at me doing pretend screams....

This was a good one, he was saying 'AAHHHH!' cuz he's in one of those shark containers they put down in the ocean.

This shark has a bit of a snaggle tooth goin on if you look at the left corner area of his chompers. He was swimming around with his mouth open and didn't ever close it! He was beckoning any suicidal fish in.

This sharky was just chillin on the floor- I think he was in the same spot last time we went to see the aquarium.

This was super cute- they had their arms around each other's back for a second and started laughing.

Sonya is very much loved by her girls Addison and Emma.

These were so cool- seahorses!!

Sorry this one is kinda blurry, but Emma said she would only take a picture with the penguin if I did it with her....I felt pretty special to stand next to the biggest penguin on the planet. Jared thought it was pretty cool.

Gabe got a text message at the end of lunch saying that the time of 07/08/09 10:11.12 and that it wouldn't happen again for another thousand years.... we were going over exactly what we did for the previous couple seconds, and he asked me, 'so, did you feel any different?' I thought and mom and I looked at each other and I said 'well, that was when I said I needed to pee. I guess the weight of the universe was pretty heavy.' We had a little chuckle and went about heading off to our 3D movie...

Our 4th of July

My brother Gabe and his wife Sonya and their 4 little kids came down from Oklahoma to spend the week with us and came down on the fourth- Gabe bought the best fireworks I think we have ever seen from our driveway. The neighbors probably thought we were letting off bombs right and left. We had the best show in the neighborhood.

Waiting for the festivities to begin with Jared, Sonya and Mom.

The dogs didn't stay this way for long....

The moon was just beautiful and high in the sky and bright.

The dogs ended up in Dustin's lap and didn't want to get out until it was all over. This is a great picture- I think Phoebe is smiling too as big as Jared.

Sonya and Mom were in a deep conversation I think...

That glowing red thing in Gabe's pocket are the baby monitors for the 3 sleeping children in the house...his shorts are not on fire.

Good ole Dustin. I think this was right after they both actually jumped in his lap when we started the show.

I love being with family on the 4th; it makes it all the better of a holiday.