Happy Birthday, Kailei!

Today is my niece Kailei's 17th birthday! I cannot believe that the spunky little girl in the picture above is the kind, compassionate, beautiful, exuberant, smart, funny and special young woman that she is today. (I swear I took that photo only a short time ago!.....)

Kailei is my sis Robin's oldest child, and before they moved out west ten years ago, our families spent a great deal of time together. Robin and I would babysit for each other quite a bit and our kids are all very close in age. As a matter of fact, my Lacey is only one month older than Kailei.

I am very proud of Kailei and miss her very much, as we live on opposite sides of the country. I hope that this special day will be just as wonderful and joyful as she is!
Hugs and kisses to you honey, I love you very, very much!

Blessings,

Aunt Nee Nee

17 Years ago today..........

We were blessed by a pink bundle of joy named Lacey. I was quite surprised because I was sure that the bundle would be blue. Considering that she arrived a full week late and not completely on her own was the first inkling that Lace would be one to do things her own way.

She's my quiet girl. Very shy but very quick to laugh. She has the driest sense of humor and it is always on time. Very i-n-d-e-p-e-n-d-e-n-t. Wants to do things on her own. By herself. That started at age 2 and has been full*steam*ahead ever since. Lacey is my adventurer. She's never afraid to try anything (unless it involves spiders), however, she doesn't want to waste any time being taught how to do something. When she was about 5 years old, we went to a local fair where they were offering pony rides. Lace was interested in having a ride until she saw that the pony was lead around a ring by a rope. No way!! She wanted to hop on a horse and gallop, by herself, across the meadow!

She is incredibly artistic. She is almost always involved in some sort of project of her own design whether it be drawing, jewelry making, making miniatures, origami, photography, etc. But she's her worst critic, also. I never understood the angst of an artist until I had one as my daughter.

We are so blessed to have a close, loving relationship. She likes shopping with me. We try to have regular movie nights together. I can usually get her to indulge in eating chocolate with me.
And - she loves antiquing with me. That's where we're headed today - to Putnam, Connecticut to check out the antique stores.

Her dad and I are so blessed to be able to raise such a beautiful, kind, loving and smart daughter.

Happy 17th Birthday, Lace!!

**Special note - In honor of Lacey's birthday, I am having a give-a-way........anyone who makes a comment on today's post will be eligible for the drawing on Saturday. So comments made beginning today, April 20 to Friday, April 23, are eligible.

Happy Birthday, Robin!

I want to wish my wonderful sister, Robin, a very happy birthday today!!

Robin and I are very close and I hold her in my heart every single day, even though we live on opposite coasts. She is a great friend - the kind of friend that will tell you her opinion when asked for it and the truth when it is needed.

I am so very proud of the life that she has carved out of this world for herself and her wonderful family. She's not only my (older) sister ;o) - she's my sister in Christ, too.

So, many, many, many, birthday blessings to you, Rob!

I love you,

Lee

Happy 18th Birthday, Geoff!!

Just 18 years ago this morning, my sweet boy, Geoff was born. He came into this world in a big way - 9 pounds, 15 oz. And he's still growing! While the picture above shows him as a chubby little guy, he is now a lanky, slim man of nearly six feet tall. His eyes are still a dark brown, and 99.9% of the time there is a quick smile on his face.

He is joy. Always has been. Very agreeable, very obedient, and very compassionate. He is the type of person who is a great friend, and I think, a great brother (Lacey may have a different thought about that).

Peter and I are blessed to be given the opportunity to parent such a wonderful person. He has completed his senior year of homeschooling and is looking forward to see what God has in store for him.

Happy Birthday, Geoff!

Love Always,

Mom, Dad, and Lace

Such a Pretty Gift!!

Today is my last day in the third decade of my wonderful life. Yep, that's right - as of 10:10 a.m. tomorrow morning I hit the big 4 - 0! It doesn't seem possible - how can it be that I've been married for nearly 20 years, have an almost 18 year old son, and a newly 16 year old daughter, and yet I'm only 22? I don't think I have an 'issue' with turning 40 - we'll see . . .I'll know more tomorrow.

The main reason for this tidbit of info is that I want to share the delightful gift my awesome sis, Robin, (aka Bittersweetpunkin) sent me by way of Red Stripe Vintage. Check out these beautifully wrapped gifts. I was squealing with delight over the wonderful ribbons and the vintage dish towel (with my initials on them), the lavender pillow, and the vintage-made tags. Please click on pics to enlarge so you can see how pretty everything is:



The front of the card reads "You're Wonderful". I so enjoyed opening this gift - everything is pretty and just my style. Thanks, Rob!!

We had a small birthday celebration here at home . . .homemade pizza with a variety of cheesecakes for dessert. My family gave me a new digital camera (awesome!!) . . .that's why you haven't seen any pics in my blog lately - no camera. And my DD Lacey made me a fabulous new pair of earrings. Tomorrow night my DH and I are going out for dinner (a rare treat) and then I'll be on vacation for the next week.

I want to thank you, Robin, Brenda, and Vee for your kind comments regarding the loss of my friend, Grace. Please continue to keep her family and friends in your prayers, her funeral is tomorrow.

And to you all, Happy Day!!

--Liane

Happy Birthday, Lance!!

I remember he made an awesome birthday card for me when I was nine . . . . it was of a train, 'Engine #9', coming to bring me birthday greetings. He not only made most, if not all, of the wedding cakes for me and my sisters, but he also walked me down the aisle on one of the most wonderful days of my life (I actually met my husband through him).

I remember playing matchbox cars with him outside. He made incredible (or so I thought) roads in the little bit of dirt we had to play in. All was fine and fun until I started to make my car fly whenever we 'raced' and then I had to go find something else to do.

He has a wicked and I mean wicked sense of humor; he is hilarious; and I am astounded at how much my son is like him in so many ways. He is kind and compassionate and always there for his family.

He is my big brother. My one and only - the only boy amongst four girls - I love him very very much.

Lance, I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!

With lots and lots of love,

Lee, Pete, Geoff & Lace

On this day . . . . . .

I was 9 years old and remember waking up to excitement. There was a lot of chattering in the house and it seemed like my father was on the phone - a lot. Well, early in the morning on that day, forever ago but not really, my baby sister was born.

Mandy, a little curly blonde haired spunk entered the world and made me a big sister - finally! My sisters, brother, and I had so much fun with her. We used to take out our dresser drawer and sit her in it when we were playing in our room so she couldn't scoot away. We loved tying a burp cloth around her head and putting glasses on her (sorry, Mandy, if that negatively impacted your vision in any way). When she was older, we shared a room together and our beds were only about two feet apart. The rug was blue and I remember making up the game "Shark" to play with her. We would pretend that we were on the ocean and our beds were rafts and there were sharks in the water. So we would hop from bed to bed trying to escape the dangerous creatures (hey, Jaws had recently come out).

And now, that cute little girl, who woke up early one morning and got into someones make-up and smeared it all along the hallway walls and everything she could reach, and cut off a chunk of her own hair with children's scissors, is a proud mama of a little brown haired spunk. One who loves animals just as much as she does and loves to dress up.

I am so proud of my baby sister and the confident, beautiful, woman she has become.

Happy Birthday, Mandy!! I hope you have an absolutely wonderful day!

Lots of Love,
Lee

Happy Birthday, Lacey!

Today is a celebration of 16 wonderful years of my dear daughter, Lacey.

We were blessed with Lacey on a Tuesday morning at 9:55 am. She was was very alert and fixed her eyes right on her Dad the first time I held her. She has been a very independent and creative person all on her own. It is such a joy to see her grow and become a beautiful young lady.

Happy Birthday, honey. Dad, Geoff and I love you very, very much.

XOXO
Mom

Happy Birthday, Joshua!!

He has a head of dark red, curly, curly hair. His toddler body is full of rolls and dimples and he fills out every little outfit he wears. His eyelashes are l-o-o-o-o-o-n-n-g and his eyes disappear into little slits when he smiles, which is a lot. His belly is just so that crawling isn't so easy so he rolls and scoots to where he wants to go. I wonder how my petite sister can pick up and carry this Michelin baby as often and as long as she does.

This sweet, adorable baby boy is 18 years old today! I want to wish Joshua a very happy and wonderful birthday. I can't believe that time is flying by so quickly. I have loved watching you grow and seeing this transformation from tot to teen to now adult. May your special day be as wonderful as you are. I love you!

And be extra nice to mom today, her baby's all grown up now . . . . . . . . .

Love,
Nee
(Liane)

Happy Birthday, Terry!!

Today is my sis Terry's birthday! Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Terry, Happy Birthday to you!!

Terry is my oldest sister. She is the sister I call when I need some comforting. She is one that you can look at and merely say, "You know what I mean?" and she does. She was a great sister to me while we were growing up (not that she isn't now, of course!), but I remember that she would always read to me whenever I asked. She and I used to take long walks together in this boring little town of ours. My son (my oldest child) and her youngest son are only a month apart in age and I enjoyed sharing my first experience of motherhood with her.

I am blessed to have her as my sister and I hope that she is enjoying this wonderful day that is meant just for her!

I love you!

--Lee

Happy Birthday, Robin!!

Today is my sister, Robin(s), birthday. She lives on the other side of the country and I will get to see her in a matter of days!

Rob, I hope that your special day is filled with God's peace, joy and all of the abundant blessings that He has to offer you. Enjoy this day to the fullest, knowing too, that I and Peter, Geoff and Lacey love you very, very much.