Cadence's 18th Birthday

Happy 18th Birthday to my sweet Cadence.  My baby is an adult!!  How does this even happen?  I'm not old enough to have an adult child!

Given the lockdown situation we were in, we didn't get to do a whole lot for her birthday, but she actually liked the quiet family time this year.  She's been so busy with school, applications, & other "adult" things that she said she just wanted one day of NOTHING.  We granted that wish for her.

We may have taken it easy all day, but you know me. . . there were still plenty of decorations involved.

For her birthday breakfast she asked for French crepes, bacon, oranges, & a ding dong.

Isn't she the cutest 18 year old you've ever seen?  I think so.

She had lots of fun presents to open to celebrate her special day.  

She got some money from her aunties which was really special & will help her at college.  And I was able to give her a book I made with letters, videos, & pictures from her family, extended family, & friends from all over the world.  It was SO special to see how many people reached out with messages for her.  She will treasure those messages forever.

Craiger made her some homemade slime & bought her a Milka bar.

My friend Nancy, gave her her first "grown up"
piece of jewelry; a 1/4 carat diamond pendant.

Nancy also supplied her with enough clothes & 
shoes to last her a year!

Taya painted Cadence a beautiful card & bought
her a milka bar.

Opa & Oma gave her a beautiful dress &
a cute phone holder.

Mimi & Baba got her a mirror to take to college
so since she'll have to share a bathroom with 
roomates.

We spent most of the day relaxing, reading, & playing games.  We bought a set of "jackbox" games & played them as a family for nearly 4 hours.  We were having SO MUCH FUN.  It was so NICE spending that time together.  Cadence has always been one about togetherness & I think that gift was the greatest gift this year & she gave it to us rather than us giving it to her.  She also was able to call some of her best friends for a few hours to celebrate.  

For her birthday dinner, she requested Cajun Chicken Pasta, corn & strawberries.

And for her big birthday treat, I made her her favorite:

Triple fudge Reeses Peanut Butter cake.  YUM.

We let her cut it herself being the "grown up" that she is now.

It was a quiet, at home kind of birthday, but Cadence honestly wouldn't have had it any other way.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful GROWN UP girl.  I love you.

 

Craiger Piano Solo - The Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean

 

Since we're still in quarantine, I'm not allowed to do any piano recitals for my kids so I've decided to video them playing their completed songs when they finish them.

They are, of course, not perfect, but the kids have worked very hard to learn them & play them as well as they have.  There are mistakes, but it's important for them to learn to just keep going.

Here is Craiger playing

The Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean

 

Bladen's Piano Solo - Journey To the Island from Jurassic Park

 

Since we're still in quarantine, I'm not allowed to do any piano recitals for my kids so I've decided to video them playing their completed songs when they finish them.

They are, of course, not perfect, but the kids have worked very hard to learn them & play them as well as they have.  There are mistakes, but it's important for them to learn to just keep going.

Here is Bladen playing

Journey to the Island from Jurassic Park

 

Taya's Piano Solo - Mission Impossible

 

Since we're still in quarantine, I'm not allowed to do any piano recitals for my kids so I've decided to video them playing their completed songs when they finish them.

They are, of course, not perfect, but the kids have worked very hard to learn them & play them as well as they have.  There are mistakes, but it's important for them to learn to just keep going.

Here is Taya playing

The Mission Impossible Theme

Trek's 42nd Birthday

Happy 42nd Birthday to Trek.

We had a great day!!!

Being stuck in quarantine, there wasn't a whole lot we could do, but we made the most of it & did Trek's favorite things all day.

For his birthday breakfast, I made Trek HUGE
breakfast burritos FULL of meats, veggies, & eggs.
He also had strawberries & a birthday cupcake.

42 years young!

Nancy sent Trek some fun clothes, CLIF 
Bars, & a water bottle.

The kids got him a new stand for his bike.  (He's obsessed
with biking right now.)

 

And I gave him an apple watch.  I made him unwrap a box with an actual apple & candy watch inside to be funny, but he's excited to FINALLY have the newest & coolest watch to wear.

We spent the day enjoying bike rides, yummy food (he chose Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream instead of cake this year), board games, & family movies for his special day.

I love this man SO much.  Happy Birthday Trekkie!

SNOW FUN

We've literally had snow every day for almost 2 months.  That is unheard of in this area.  I am so grateful for this blessing.  We've been in quarantine for almost 2 months now & I'm SO happy we've been able to go outside & play in the snow rather than shut ourselves up in the house.

We got a really good snowfall early in January & were able to meet up with some family friends on a hill near a castle for some sledding fun.

We spent several hours building, sledding, laughing, & playing in the snow.

It was SNOW much fun!

 

January Fun

Believe it or not, January passed quite fast this year.  Even being in quarantine & stuck in the house 24/7, we were able to do virtual school, take walks in the snow, build snowmen, & play games as a family.

Bladen & I enjoyed a date night at home (pick up
from Burger King).  We enjoyed burgers & a movie
together.

These two are almost inseparable these days.  I think
Canyon knows she leaves this summer & is 
soaking up every second he can with her.

January brought us some BEAUTIFUL SNOW this year.

It kept us outside wanting to play which is wonderful.

Look how beautiful winter is in Germany . . . 

The kids enjoyed playing in the snow, making snowmen, & playing with our neighbour's chickens who have been escaping their coop & finding warmth in our HOUSE (they've figured out how to open our back door when the kids don't lock it!!!)