Birthday x 2 on the 2nd (and 3rd).

Since Emmett and I {and Dr. Suess} share the same birthday, and since we were blessed to have Emmett so close on his FIRST birthday, I wanted all focus to be on him on the big day.

Lex had planned a cute car-themed party because Emmett is obsessed with cars.

She also made this awesome balloon garland FROM SCRATCH (with packing tape, a hole punch, and balloons). Seriously, my girls are much more creative and capable than I have ever been.

Lex (with a little help from Jason) frosted the cake... great job, peeps! It looked amazing.

It took Emmett a while to get into party mode... can you tell? Haha.

Little Billy always gets a smile :-)

Emmett's friend Josie came with her mama,

cousin Evie (+ Aunt Nae and Uncle Tay), {Great} Aunt Robyn, cousin Cole, and Mar's friend Jake also came to celebrate with us.

Emmett loved all of his presents, and I was so happy this fun little tunnel was a hit. 

There's that it's-my-party smile!

Emmett also loved being sung to...

...but wasn't a huge fan of the smash cake tradition.

He got by with a little help from his friends.

Happy first Birthday, sweet boy!!

On Sunday we had the fam over to celebrate my birthday... and my birthday gifts {fondue pots}.

Three courses, Melting Pot style.

I was spoiled by my sweet family. I am seriously so blessed.

 

(Evie loves a good sniff of anything that smells good)

(Bill celebrated with us, too... we didn't get any pictures together, darn it!)

I received calls and texts Saturday and Sunday from my Utah kids & grandkids, parents, and in-laws.

I love my family!

 Such yummy food and company -- and such a good day.

I had gone to lunch Friday {March 1} with a fantastic group of ladies I am blessed to call friends.

I am so grateful for each of them.

I received some sweet gifts, including these beautiful flowers 

(some from Lex's friend Sydney -- so thoughtful!).

Thank you all, for helping me celebrate.

My current favorite song:

One Less Day by Rob Thomas

"I'm not afraid of getting older.

I'm one less day from dying young."

St.Valentine's Day.

 The night before Valentine's Day I was working madly on these treats for my Seminary class:

Note to self: Making heart-shaped rice krispie treats is NOT quicker than making cookies.

At least I don't think so. It seemed like it took FOR.EV.ER.

But I pushed through with a little help from my girl Friday, Lex. I had made extra, thinking I could run them to a few friends and neighbors, but I left Seminary that morning in a rush trying to get to the 8am session at the temple, so Bill ended up with the excess, which sat in his car for a week.

The best laid plans...

I was also madly working on my lesson/activity for Seminary -- 

The No Heartbreak Hotel Doctrinal Mastery Review.

It was an exhausting evening.

That morning I had one of our Seminary young women give me this beautiful rose. 

So sweet.

Bill had brought the ladies of the house the bouquets of carnations (in the background), which we have decided are our FAVORITE flowers lately, due to their cuteness, lovely scent, and LONGEVITY.

After Seminary and a temple session, I went to work, then stopped by the store on the way home to grab a couple of treats for my Valentines {Bill, Lex, Mar, Emmett, Tay/Nae, Evie}. It was a bit of a flail this year on my part... I've been struggling getting my junk together lately, due largely, I'm sure, to taking on a part-time job, 4 hours a day Monday through Friday. One of these days it's all going to come together. At least that's what I tell myself.

That evening, since Bill was working in the temple, the girls {minus Mar, who had a Valentines date, lucky girl} and Emmett celebrated together at Chili's. Tay was working late, Jase is in Alabama, so it was just us ladies and the kids. It was a good time being together, even though we were all missing our main squeezes. Evie told me, "I like your outfit." Way to make a Gigi feel good, sweet girl!

I LOVED getting Valentines throughout the day from my favorite little people.

My Valentine had a lovely gift and card for me -- thanks, baby, you're the best!

I love you all.

Senior Year Sadies.

Mar asked Jake to Sadies... three times. 

It was all part of her plan.

This was the third and final time (all in the same day), and since we had the Elders for dinner, she thought it would be fun to involve them. They shared a great spiritual thought tying in the story of Jonah and the whale, and then asked Jake what the "porpoise" of the message could be. 

Hahaha. So clever.

Nice job, Elders!

The theme of the dance was a "Sock Hop" so Mar decided to dress up. Most kids don't theme dress around these parts -- what fun is that?? She got Jake to dress the part, too. (I think she could pretty much get Jake to do anything... including wearing jeans, which he doesn't usually do.)

Lex snapped most of the pics, so I had to include these cute ones, too.

We met the Sadie's group at the MAC park for pictures.

 I was happy to see the boys in the group were down to theme dress.

Everyone in this picture except Jake is in our ward. 

There were several other groups of kids there taking pre-dance pics, and nearly every girl was in black. Mar stood out in her bright blue dress... but I think she liked it.

 One of the parents had the idea to take a "Greasers v. Socs" picture (remember The Outsiders?)

Cute cute.

The rest of the group skipped the dance and went to Boondocks (some of them don't like school dances), but Mar and Jake went to the dance. 

Mar LOVES school dances. 

One more to go.