Happy Birthday Tyler!

TYLER

I love your smile.  Seeing it always makes me smile in return.

I love your silly laugh...especially when you start laughing so hard that you roll on the floor and can barely breathe.

I love your kind heart.  You always work hard to take care of those around you, even when it might be difficult for you.

I love your thirst for knowledge.  You are always interested in learning something new and you spend a lot of time really thinking about what you have learned and how to apply it in your own life.

I love your integrity.  It seems to be such a rare gift these days, and you have it in abundance.

I love your sense of humor.  You find humor in so many things and it lightens my life.

I love your tenderness.  You notice things that others miss, and take advantage of opportunities to show compassion to those around you. 

I LOVE YOU! 

Good morning coffee cake!

These two are so much alike!

 Tyler wanted to go to the Lamb & Wool festival at Thanksgiving Point.  It was so much fun!

 

This picture is so crazy to me.  The first time he rode these ponies was when he was about one year old.  Now he's almost too big!  How do the years fly by this quickly?

We made pizza for dinner.  (Tyler wanted Pepperoni, Sausage, & Olive Pizza.)  Then chocolate cake with sprinkles!  (I guess he is a little like me after all!)

Happy Birthday Bear.
WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to Hogwarts!

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for an elective session in Potions, Divination, and Care of Magical Creatures.  Classes will be hosted by Hogwarts newly appointed head boys, Tyler & Robby Pincock, in celebration of their birth.

Please meet at King’s Cross Station Platform 9 ¾ which will be disguised as the Pincock home.  The surrounding area will be well protected by memory charms, so it is safe to wear your wizard attire, however, if you prefer, you may remain discreet and arrive in your muggle clothes. 

We are looking forward to your arrival at Hogwarts.  Please respond by owl so we can plan accordingly.  If your owl is indisposed, you may use your muggle telephone to respond.   

Sincerely,

 Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

 First stop: Ollivander's Wand Shop

 Owls were flying everywhere!

It took a little magic, but we all made it through Platform 9 3/4

The sorting hat ceremony was intense.  Just like Harry, these wizards & witches were pretty anxious about which house they would be placed in.  There were no tears, but a few fights did break out.

Class One: Care of Magical Creatures
There was shock and some fear when Hagrid's FlameChicks were introduced.  Luckily, everyone followed the rules for polite behavior and gentle stroking, so no fires erupted.

Class Two: Potions
Don't let this picture fool you.  Professor Snape is SCARY!  Nevertheless, Potions class was entertaining for all.  And unlike most potions, this one was delicious to drink.

  Class Three: Divination
Professor Trelawney instructed us in palm reading and made some uncharacteristically accurate predictions.

Class Four: Herbology
Professor Sprout was ill, so Professor McGonagall instructed the students in planting kawompas.  Just make a little hole with your wand before dropping your seed in, and you will soon have a powerful plant that allows you to see through walls.  I think these will come in handy!

And what visit to Hogwarts would be complete without a side-trip to Honeydukes?

Did you know Professor Snape and Professor Trelawney were an item?  He seems much happier since he met her, don't you think?

Professor McGonagall and her little known baby wizard.

I love you my young wizards.  You make planning a party worth every second!

Annie's Birthday

I sure adore this girl of mine.  I know it's taken me quite a while to write about her birthday...I just haven't been sure how to adequately describe all of her delightfulness and the girliness of the day into one blog post!  But I at least would like to have one small way for me to remember how grateful I am to have this darling little girl in my life. 

Her birthday was 'all about Annie', as it should be.  For those of you who know her well, that may be enough of a description for you.  Sometimes I think that she is everything I am not.  Dynamic, feminine, fancy, confident, fashionable,  gorgeous, creative, social and sophisticated.  She adores pink, curls, dresses, jewelry, make-up, heels, nail-polish, princesses, beauty and elegance--every day!  (I, on the other hand, enjoy life at home, curled up on the couch in my sweats.)  

We started her birthday with balloons and coffee cake, of course.  Then off to Borders for their Fancy Nancy party (thank you Borders for the nice timing!).  Next, a Jamba Juice stop (because the donut and smoothie at Borders just weren't enough).  Andrew's cousin was nice enough to cut and curl her hair at a real salon, a dream come true for our girl.  When we told her we were taking her somewhere special to get her hair done, she asked, "Is it a castle?!"  

Then we rushed home to prepare for our Princess' Ball, complete with hair-styling by Queen Esther for all the other ladies, and a make-up & nail polish make-over as well.  I even put on a skirt and my fanciest shirt to please my little lady.  (She informed me that it was almost good enough, but next time she will pick my outfit.)  

Annie, I had no idea that anything was missing in my life before you were born.  But then you came and showed me a whole new world...the world of raising a daughter...and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  You brighten up our home and fill it to overflowing with joy and laughter and drama (yes, there is plenty of drama!) and charm.  I am so very grateful to have you in my life.  I love you even more than the prince loves his princess, and that's a lot!

 Check out those curls!  

 

 Before pics of her hair.  

 Opening a couple of presents.  We found her these tap shoes at a consignment store.  She wanted to wear them to church the next day!

I kind of am in love with the story time celebrations at Borders! 

A birthday just isn't a birthday without a little Jamba love, don't you agree?

First ever hair salon experience...what visit to the salon is complete without a little downtime reading a magazine?, gotta love those shampoos!, check out her smile, lovely cut and gorgeous curls (thanks Mackenzie!!)

Painting Nails

The Pink Castle Cake 

We're all pretty crazy about this girl!  And boy does she love her Daddy!

A princess can't go to a ball without a dance with a prince.

Notice the ballerina on her new pajamas...she is demonstrating the pose.

Happy Birthday Beautiful!  May all your dreams come true!  

(except can we please just hold off several years on all those dreams that involve princes and weddings and just growing up in general...please?!)

frankly entertaining

 

Remember how I told you to keep an eye out for Christina, who would be doing great things in the future?  

Well, she has started one of those great things, along with her sister...a food blog.  And these girls know about food.  

Check out their website, frankly entertaining.  And hurry...if you check it out today, you can enter their giveaway for this awesome cookbook.   

(although, I wouldn't mind if you waited, because I'm trying to win it myself! :) )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBBY!

Robby, 

I can not believe how much you have grown!  Even before you were born, I have felt so much love for you, as well as a strong feeling that you are here to do something really special in this world.

You have always had such a fun, mischievous personality that I adore.  

You are silly & funny & can always make us laugh.

You are so smart and pick up on just about everything.  

You are incredibly sweet with babies, especially your own sister and brother.  

You have a very tender heart that allows you to be very compassionate towards others.

You are a kind & generous brother & friend.

But most importantly, you want so much to do what is right.

I adore you Robby.  I am so proud of you and I am so happy you are my son!

Love, Mom



Yesterday we began the celebrations with some pizza & fun at Pirate Island.   

Then Robby had a Daddy-date where he got to choose one present (he's saving up for a big lego set, so instead of presents this year, he asked for money to save, but he did want this one thing...)

 (this is what I get for deciding when my boys were young that we would not have any weapons in the house)

Today we began the day with our traditional waking up to balloons & then coffee cake (and eggs and smoothies) for breakfast,

then we rushed off to church, where we sung Happy Birthday to Robby (& Annie!) in Primary.  He wanted mac & cheese for lunch, and then we had family over for a chicken pot pie dinner and chocolate pudding dessert instead of cake (all his choices).  It was a very fun day with lots of family showing so much love for Robby.  Thank you everyone.  We love you Robby!!!