Mom in the Fishbowl

Happy 300th POST!!!!

In honor of that, I will post about my husband’s birthday!

Happy 35th Birthday Jeremy!!!

Where to start!?!??!?!?!

First, I planned a surprise party for Jeremy. I had never done that before and it turned out pretty well!!

Here are just a few pictures…Me and Jeremy

Gotta love the Japanese Steak House where they make you wear this wonderful hat!!! And sing to you!!
Friends!!! Leigh, Mike and Zulema

Leigh and Ian – aren’t they cute?  Their daughter and Noah could be married one day.

More friends…the Bryan’s, the Taylor’s and Glenda…I think Mary was talking, which is why they are all facing that way!

And the Williams’

It was a great night!!!

Karen

Three years ago at 8:28 in the morning, our sweet Noah was born.  Everything was different the second time around…different hospital, different doctors, morning vs afternoon, and Noah came out as Jeremy would say “looking just like a Burdette.” A compliment to my family. He was snuggly from the beginning and still is most days. He had only peach fuzz on his head and David had a head full of hair…so I was wondering where all his hair was!  He was a pound lighter than David and two weeks earlier than his brother, so this was all new (again).

Four years and many months of prayer is what separates our boys and it was all God’s timing.  His brother bought him a giraffe to give to him in the hospital and he sleeps with it to this day.  ”Raffie” as he calls him.

Here we are at his party this past weekend…he knew to blow out the candles! I was impressed!

A Cars party none the less…he’s been asking for a Cars party since David’s birthday in April.  He got what he wanted for sure!!

Hard to believe he started out like this…

Here are just a few things about you…

* You enjoy baseball.  Most days you think you are Josh, Mike, Brian, or your cousin Nolan.  :)  I smile every time you grab your bat and every time you crunch down like a catcher.

* You enjoy  golf. You grab your clubs about as much as your bat.

* You do not enjoy potty training.

* You never eat a whole meal…you snack and run, snack and run, snack and run. All. Day.

* You love your friends at preschool…Ry Ry and Siggey.

* You have LOTS of girlfriends…Megan, Ajaj and Bailey to name a few.

* You like books, but only if they involve Clifford, Baseball, Cars or something else Disney.

* You avoid naps at all costs…which is good, because if you have one, even if only for 10 minutes, you will stay up till 10:30 PM!

* You are learning a lot about Jesus and so in unusual places you will announce to me “Jesus made that”…most recently in a public restroom.

* There is not a day that I don’t laugh out loud with you.

* You LOVE Gator Baseball…and we love you for that.

You are definitely becoming your own little man…

Mommy loves you!

–Karen

Happy Birthday to my sweet Boo! I can hardly believe you are SEVEN! You are the joy and light of our lives and you have such a bright future ahead! God truly blessed our lives when you were born….hard to believe you started out like this:

Adorable! Simply adorable!!

Here are just a few things I notice about you…

* You love playing Soccer

* You are working hard at getting a 100% on a 100 subtraction problems in 5 minutes

* You are a Star Wars fan

* You enjoy watching Gator Baseball

* You like running

* You are concerned about meal times every day

* You giggle and it makes me laugh

* You love deeply and hurt equally as deep

* You are great at video games

* You notice the slightest difference in things, from a hair cut to a new outfit…you future wife will love that about you!

* You enjoy learning

Boo, I love you…every day more than the first day.

Love,

Mom

I love birthdays…if you have read this blog for more than a year, you will know that, because at the turn of August each year I declare it’s birthday month! I begin to accept gifts, money, cards, emails, love and adoration on the first of August and despite the fact my birthday is today, the 24th, I will accept all of those things and more till the 31st. I used to circle and highlight things I wanted to receive for my birthday in all of the sale papers, but I have given that up…although I taught my child to do it, so it’s not all lost on me getting older.
I enjoy birthdays for several reasons…I am an only child, so every day was “about me” so to speak, not in the actual literal sense, but in the sense that I didn’t have to share every other day with anyone else, but birthdays were just extra special. I had 2 major birthday parties in my childhood…my 8th birthday and my 16th birthday. My 21st birthday was celebrated by a huge amount of friends at my one my favorite restaurants, Provino’s, and since then I haven’t really had a party. Sad, huh? I was hoping for a huge party last year for my 30th, but that didn’t happen, but none the less, it’s not really about the party so much…although I would love one again!
It’s more about reflection these days…taking the time to look back and see all that has happened in the last year, all that God has done for me, and all the things He blew my mind with. This time last year was crazy crazy. I changed jobs to work at our church preschool – 4 days of 2 year olds, God help me – and my son was still in the midst of potty training at 3 1/4 years old. To top all that, we wanted another child. God’s hand was all over it (duh!) and just months after we found out we were indeed pregnant. In the same month, we purchased a house and through the holidays remodeled it, then moved into it in January of this past year. Spring approached, my belly got bigger, and we ventured to the beach on vacation. As school ended, I spent my time playing and sleeping – both necessities – finished up teaching 2-year old choir and delivered Peanut last month.
God has been most gracious during this time…working through our finances; the love and support of people from our church and our neighborhood; giving me strength to endure sleepless nights and focus on what in hindsight is most important…loving Him.

Lord, thank you for the last year and the days, months and years to come…you have blessed me so much and there really aren’t words to express my gratitude. You have been faithful when I haven’t. You have been merciful and gracefilled when I didn’t deserve it and you have given us life…life IN you, new life in Peanut, and life eternally WITH you. Thank you Lord…how could I ask for more?

It’s BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHHOOOOO!! I love birthdays! Did I tell you that I love birthdays??? “It’s my birthday month and I love it…and I love it…and I love it…you would love it too if it were your birthday!” And if it IS your birthday, you so have to leave a comment to tell me!!! It’s my sweetheart, Jeremy’s, birthday this month too – just 5 blessed days before mine…he’s a year older. It’s my friend Mandy’s birthday (see blog – Five Powell’s), my sister-in-law’s birthday (see blog – Woman in the Tent), my niece’s birthday, my father-in-law’s birthday, my friends Michelle and Kim, like I said, Jeremy’s birthday and my birthday, Michelle’s twin girls’ birthday, our friend Derik’s birthday, my friend Joy – her daughter’s birthday….I am probably forgetting someone….but needless to say, it’s birthday month in our house…

I love birthdays!!! I bet you can’t tell though…

Boo Bear-
It’s your birthday weekend! You love birthdays…you are much like mommy in that way. Today is your party and right now I am watching you play Candy Land with all 4 pieces all by yourself. You blow my mind. You crack yourself up with silly phrases and knock-knock jokes and I think you grow 2 inches each night! Yesterday you had another hit off the pitcher at Tee-Ball and you were so thrilled with yourself. Your timing is getting better and I am so proud of you. You didn’t realize this, but another little boy on your team was there with his Pepa and he was calling out his name while waiting to bat…it reminded me that your Pepa would probably be so proud of you too…he’s probably got a front row seat from Heaven.
This is an exciting year for you, as you are getting a little brother in about 2 1/2 months. You keep asking me when he’s going to get here, but most days you just want to feel him kicking in my belly. You tell me how much help you are going to be when baby comes. You say you want to dress and feed him and that you will rock him in the rocking chair…I love your willingness and attitude about it.
You love preschool and your teachers love you. You are very smart and doing things well beyond your age already. Daddy and I are impressed. You are enjoying playing outside in our backyard with all your sports balls, particularly while Daddy cooks on the grill and you are absolutely in love with the new umbrella that sits on your picnic table! It’s awesome. Most days you just want to eat outside now…which cracks us up.
Last weekend you and Grandma planted flowers together and you have been diligent about watering them each day. You enjoy getting the mail and you totally love Tuesdays, because that’s when the garbage man comes. You are strong enough to carry the recycle bin down to the street and you enjoy your “chore” of taking the cans and plastics to the bin. You are an enormous help to me.
I can’t even begin to explain what a joy you are to me. You are strong-willed and want your way most days, so I stay on my toes for new ways to keep you grounded and engaged. Your food choices are getting better and with a little coaxing still you have pretty much learned I ain’t the short order cook. The other night after dinner you and I sat at the breakfast nook and just talked…I have asked the Lord to write that memory on my heart forever. It was a joy.
I love you more than I will even begin to comprehend or write down! But always know there is someone who loves you more and deeper than Daddy or I ever can and that’s the Lord! You know this fact already, becuase we talk about it often and I hope that one day when the Lord knocks on your heart you will be ready to accept Him.
I love you!

–Mommy

Thanks to everyone who emailed me well wishes for my birthday and condolenses for my grandmother’s passing. I appreciated all of them.
My 30th birthday was indeed incredible, and isn’t actually over yet…y’all know I have until the end of the month!!!!! Seriously, my two best girlfriends are having dinner with me on Thursday night at our favorite place, Cheesecake Factory. I am looking forward to that, as we are going out with no kids. They are the same two who met me on Friday at the local deli, with all our kids in tow (we are outnumberd 7 kids to 3 adults) and we actually had my mom there and one of the other girl’s mom there…so, 7 to 5, not all bad. We let the kids play in the Pottery Barn kids for a little bit that day too…
My wonderfully, terrific, outstanding, godly husband made me an appointment for that evening at my salon to have my hair highlighted. Oh, it is indeed highlighted alright…looks a lot more blonde now…..ahhh…I have been wanting to do that for a while now. I will have to post pictures soon. After that, my boys took me to Macaroni Grill (my choice) and we had a wonderful dinner and dessert for my birthday! It was awesome!
Saturday was filled with wonderful memories as we honored my grandmother at a memorial service. I spoke and so did my husband and we played lots of her favorite music. My husband’s family came and so we all had lunch together at Chili’s…another favorite of mine. We spent the afternoon with my mom, uncle, aunt and cousin. It was extremely nice.

Full week ahead, with parent and child meetings this week…we are allowing the little boo man to go to his Nana and Papa’s the week and will spend some last summer vacation time with them before school starts. We will be wrapping up birthday month too…in style.

–Karen

I am sure you are just dying to know…
The motion to recommend Jeremy as the new Minister of Administration passed with flying colors and he will begin tomorrow…although, he has been taking on more responsibility for a few weeks now. In fact, last week, he was at back to back to back meetings for three nights…ahh, the life of a minister. hee hee.
Meanwhile, I am enjoying being at home more, although, I wasn’t actually at home. hm. I guess I should say I am enjoying not being at work 40 hours a week. I will be working in my classroom this week and HELLO, it’s BIRTHDAY WEEK! Which is so much greater than birthday month!!! Jeremy’s birthday is actually TODAY and mine is FRIDAY! WAAHOO, birthday cake is in order.
Come back all week! It’s party time!

Oh my gracious! It’s AUGUST 1st! PEOPLE! PEOPLE! Do you know what this means???? IT’S BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crowd goes wild! Ballons and streamers EVERYWHERE! And this year, I am excited to say, I will be 30!!!! WAHHOO! Not that I think anything great comes with 30, except more wisdom than the previous year, but I enjoy birthdays…can you tell? Really? You can tell? hm…

Attention Family: In honor of birthday month, I will be accepting cards, gifts, flowers, notes, money, mail, email, blog love, etc. beginning today and ending on the 31st. Even though my actual birthday is before the 31st, I will still accept some lateness from the fam….it’s a gene we can’t control.

Show the Love: I have lots of friends, some of them have blogs, that have birthdays also…so, I would enjoy it if you would show them some bloggy love this month, too.

Mandy – she is a wise, dear friend of mine who lives in Texas. She is due to have her third child in about a month and she needs to blog more.

D – he has a real name, but that’s what his name is for this summer.

Laura – She is my brilliant/wisest sister-in-law and I love her dearly.

Meg – My neice Meg, who is Laura’s daughter.

LeRay – friend and wife to a pastor, who just got in to blogging – you sent her some bloggy love a few weeks back through Thankful Thursday. Her son was born on her birthday!

Jim – my father in law; my neice (his granddaughter) was born on his birthday!

Michelle – a long time friend with twin girls and a little boy – her birthday is between mine and Jeremy’s.

Kim – friend of mine with two little girls – they just moved to Alabama…:(

and lest I forget, my beloved, Jeremy, his birthday is 5 days before mine.
If you are an August baby, leave a comment and I will be glad to send the blogosphere, or the 10 people who actually read this, over to your blog!

Additions 8/2: Terri – She is one of my favorite people in bloggy land!!! Her and her family are in the final stages of adopting a little girl from China! Praise the Lord! And guess what – TODAY, 8/2 is her BIRTHDAY!!!

Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday to UUUUSSSS! Happy Birthday to us!

Love,
Karen