Sixty Four

 Yesterday was my birthday. I am now 64 years old. It just doesn't seem possible. I keep wondering when I'll start to feel my age? In my mind I feel about 42 or so. Of course physically... well that's a different matter some days! 

We had a birthday celebration on Saturday with my kids/grands. Swimming, presents, hugs, Brownies with 64 candles (and of course they used some of the re-light-able candles, the grands loved that!).

Yesterday I celebrated again with lunch with Katie, Sunny, and Thunder. I am so blessed to have so much of my family near to me.

I'm eager to see what this year will bring!

Sixty-Two

Today is my 62nd Birthday. I love my birthday. I don't mind growing older and am not shy about sharing my age. I figure I've worked and lived hard to attain these milestones and I love to celebrate them.

Besides, I don't feel 62. I've been stuck at feeling around 35 for several years now. Being around the grandkids and doing so much with them no doubt helps to keep us "young".

I am so blessed!

Official Seven Year Photo

Thunder is seven years old! I don't know where the time has gone, but this sweet baby is growing into a sweet boy. He is so loving, compassionate, empathetic and lively, funny, athletic and smart, thoughtful, did I mention loving?

He chose to have a swim party at our house and then the next day we celebrated with lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe and a trip to the Legoland Discovery Center. 

He is totally into Pokemon cards right now and had a Pokemon themed birthday party. I would guess that 75% of the gifts he received were Pokemon related! He also likes cars, Legos, dinosaurs... all of the usual boy stuff.

Happy Birthday, Thunder! You bring so much joy to Gramps and me💜

Official Nine Year Old Photo

Nine years old? How is that even possible? It seems like yesterday this little girl was born giving me the name I cherish the most - Grammy. She is so excited that this is her last year in single digits!

Sunny had a birthday party on the weekend after her actual birthday, but she also has an official birthday dinner on her birthday and she graciously includes Gramps and me.

She had a great time at both of her celebrations. Her birthday party was a Donut theme. Everyone came over at 9 am and consumed lots of donuts. We opened presents and then the pool party began. When it's in the high 90s at 10 am, what better way to celebrate than in the pool?!

It's such fun to watch her grow up before our eyes... she's growing into a lovely young woman (but not too fast!)

Happy Birthday Sunny! We love you and are so proud of you...

Official Four Year Old Photo

We have two birthdays the first week in June in two different families. This makes party planning a challenge. First up was Storm. He is now four years old. There is a huge difference between three and four and I know the changes we see in him this year as he grown to five will be immense.

He has discovered Spiderman (his favorite) and knows who Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are. He graduated to Junior Legos. He love Paw Patrol and Cars. He also loves trains.

He has a vivid imagination and I love to hear him make up the storyline as he plays with his toys. He loves his older cousin Thunder and mimics him whenever possible. He also loves the girl cousins and his sister. He is an awesome big brother and doesn't get too irritated with her very often.

He knows his ABCs and can count and is ready to start reading.

He is such a sweet boy. We love you Storm! Happy Birthday from Gramps and Grammy...

Seven

We can't believe it, but Skye is seven years old! She is growing into such a caring, creative, smart, loving, precious little girl. Actually she's been all of those things all along, but they're definitely becoming more defined in her personality and character.

This year she had a family only party. She loves being with the cousins, especially the younger cousins whom she can care for and, yes, boss around.

Happy Birthday, precious girl! Grampsy and I love you and are so proud of you.

Official Seven Year Old photo

Katie curled the girls hair for the party

Aren't they cute?

This child actually read every word of every card 

Cousins! 

Thunder and Storm are best buddies

Tio Zach and Snow

He's not shy about proclaiming that she's his favorite niece!

Sunny paying close attention to Skye's presents

Ready for the big reveal

She loved her new bike

Happy Birthday to you!

Two!

Snow celebrated her 2nd birthday last weekend. Her favorite character right now is "Min Mouse" so, of course, she had a Minnie Mouse themed party!

She had so much fun with her cousins and was very much the center of attention, as she should be on her special day.

Snow has a very strong personality. She is a sweetie, but she definitely knows her mind. As my daughter says often, "I don't want to break her strong will, but I'd like to mold it"!

I've signed all of the grands up in the Barnes & Noble Kids Club and as each birthday approaches I receive a coupon for a free treat at B&N to celebrate. When we go to the store to enjoy our treat I always buy them a book. Snow thoroughly enjoyed her Triple Chocolate Chunk cookie (split with her mom and me) and enthusiastically chose a book to take home.

Snow, you are such a special little girl, Gramps and I love you!

Trying out the skateboard with a little help from Tio Zach

Her look says it all... 

Trying to see if there's anything in the purse

I've never met a two-year-old who looked at each and every card

Our official two year old photo

Birthday Boy

Blizzard's first birthday party was this past weekend. We were unable to make it to Kansas, but we did the next best thing: we attended over Skype. We got to watch him open his presents, sang "Happy Birthday" to him, and saw him "blow" out his candle. JD texted me a few photos of the event that I can share with you.

I asked JD if Blizzard looked older to him when he got him out of bed that morning and he said yes! haha

As you can see, his party was Winnie the Pooh themed.

Looks like he really enjoyed his birthday cake!

Gramps picked out this "monster truck" for him.

He loves anything that rolls along the ground!

Our official one year photo

Happy 85th, Dad!

We celebrated my dad's 85th birthday this past weekend. When I approached him with the idea of a special party he requested only family and one family of friends. Since he was the birthday boy he got his wish!

Dad doesn't particularly like cake and he definitely doesn't like frosting, so we had birthday pies instead. Our menu also included a slider bar, which was very popular.

Happy Birthday, Dad... we love you!

He loved his gift...

... and the photo of his birthday banner

Me, Dan, Mom, Dad, Kelly (sil), Mark (brother)

Janel, JD, Zach, Jessica, Mom, Dad, Katie, Gabe

Matt, Shelby

The Martins' with Mom and Dad

The birthday banner