Birthdays

I'm not sure when it happened...but it happened. I used to enjoy and even look forward to it every year. Now, it's not a big deal. I turned 27 on Sunday the 13th. I was once again surprised to feel no particular emotion about it. I'm not sure when I stopped looking forward to my birthday. I have no qualms with getting older. It happens to everyone. I don't really feel any older than I did when I was in my early 20's, and I would hope I don't look that much older. (However, I don't feel that is a very realistic expectation after three kids!)

I remember feeling such excitement when I was a child and even into my teen years when my birthday would come around. Choosing a party theme and inviting all my friends to come celebrate was such fun! I had some wonderful parties and have very fond memories of those occasions.
I just wonder why it is that the excitement fades as you get older. I still see many of the same friends, although we don't get to spend much time together. I've made new friends that I do see often and love to make memories with. Surely, it isn't as easy to plan a party or get together when you have small children, but we do manage. So, what makes it so different now? I haven't quite figured that out yet.

I do look forward to planning parties for my children. I love a child's excitement when there is a special day coming up. I think that might just be enough to make up for the lack of excitement on my own day. :)

Cooking with Jasmine

Jasmine is really into cooking now. She takes her pots, pans and whisk and whips up a masterpiece on her little stove. She likes to cook in the bathtub as well. She frequently tells me that she's cooking tomatoes or potatoes. Yesterday evening, she was outside playing in the dirt, which she loves, and informed me that she was cooking. I asked her what she was making this time and she said "I'm cooking cake." I said "Oh, how wonderful! It smells so good!" I then asked her if she was cooking the cake for Daddy. She affirmed that she was. Daddy soon comes walking up and I told her to tell him what she was making. Suddenly, she couldn't remember. She just said "Dirt". I said "What did you tell me you were making a minute ago?" No answer. I gently reminded her in a low voice "You said you were making Daddy some cake." The look that she gave me nearly put on the ground laughing. It was such an incredulous look that said "I cannot believe you would even say such a thing! I never said I was making cake! How could you say that?" There was never any response. Just the look. (Way to show Mommy up Jasmine!) I found it quite humorous....but it might have been one of those things that you just had to see for it to be really funny.

Jasmine also love bananas. As a matter of fact, she ate three yesterday. She's having a small amount of trouble saying the "B" in banana. She puts a "P" there instead. She can say a "B" sound without any trouble at all, just not on the word banana. I tried getting her to say the B sound first: Buh, Buh, Banana. She said Buh, Buh, Panana. Too funny! :)

Back to Life!

I am finally back among the living. I have been sick for nearly two weeks, and I must say it has been the most horrible experience. However, I'm very glad to be feeling better!
The only good thing that came out of the sickness was some weight loss, which I hope I can keep off. I don't recommend losing weight in this manner, though, as it is terribly unpleasant.


My dear family helped me tremendously while I was sick by keeping my children. My sweet brother, Derek, has gained much parenting experience! I think he's ready to return them now. :) I have Marshall back home with me today, and I plan to get Gabe and Jasmine tomorrow. I sure have missed them! I think this has been the longest period of time we've ever been apart.


In other news, Marshall got his first tooth in on Monday. I can see the other one next to it, but it hasn't quite made its way through yet.

I'm afraid I don't have anything else interesting to report after all this time, since I haven't been doing much myself. I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something when the children get back home. ;)