Meagen's Birthday

My birthday was at the beginning of this month. It was a extra special day. I'm so spoiled. We started the day by picking up a variety of donuts, and taking them to Mom & Dad McDonald's for breakfast. Daddy had also gone to surprise us and picked up some donuts, so we had quite the variety! Mom scrambled some eggs and fried some bacon…we had a yummy impromptu breakfast. Very special!

The girls had missed playing at Granny's house…Mom McDonald was sick for awhile before and right  after Christmas, so we weren't over there much for a few weeks…

PawPaw got down 'new' toys from the attic too, which made it extra fun.

After spending some time at the McDoanld's we headed back home to meet one of our youth girls who offered to come babysit for us for a bit. Brian took me to see a new Disney movie, then to pick up a birthday present for his sister. :) We had planned to do lunch, but ran out of time.

Waiting for the movie to begin...

I share a birthday with Roni, Brian's sister. As the day progressed, we we informed Jason was planning a surprise party that evening for Roni. We picked up some dessert to help Jason out some, then we were off to her party. 

Aspen was such a big girl with all the other big kids when they sang to Roni!! :) 

After everyone sang, and we were serving the dessert, Roni was sweet and told everyone it was my birthday too, thus everyone sang again. It was very sweet of Roni to do! :)

Since we were able to go celebrate Roni, we put my birthday celebration 'on hold'. After church the next day, we went to our favorite bbq restaurant. It was Eliana's first time to eat the food there, and she LOVED it!!!

Daddy was sweet and got Aspen some jello. She loved it!!!

On Sundays, this restaurant offers complimentary Blue Bell ice cream on Sundays. So each of us, except Eliana, had ice cream too!! 

Thank you for an extra special Birthday! I'm so thankful!

New Year's Eve

We started a new New Year's Eve tradition this year. We spend the early evening hours with the J@ckson family!! What fun we had too! I've already got it on my calendar for this year. Thank you Kim for having us!!!

There were even party favors for the kiddos!

I didn't get many pictures…but it was so much fun. Just hanging out all together. 

Cuteness!

We spend most our Christmas break with our Moreno family, mainly because Steve is in town from CA… Makes for LOTS of fun memories, and goofiness in general. 

One of Eliana's cute new Christmas outfits….Aspen wanted to hold her, just as I snapped the picture.

Adorable.

Can you see her little pebbles ponytail?! It was the first time I'd ever tried doing that with her hair.

Enjoying Hot Cocoa and Chocolate cake at Nanny's…doesn't get much better than that -- Nanny's Cocoa, and Granny's Cake! 

It was H.O.T.

Sweet, sweet Aspen.

Crazy Steve…

Swing Set 2

After the cement set, Aspen just couldn't wait any longer… So, Brian hung the swings for the girls, before mounting the decorative pieces.

See their smiles?! It was SOOO worth everything!

Eliana smiles like this each time she begins to swing. It's priceless!

Thank you Jason & Steve for ALL the hard work you put into this. NO doubt ya'll were probably sore for a couple days. We really appreciate it. Words just can't tell you how much. 

Brian and I laugh about all the 'little' expenses that went into this swing set… We think we could totally do a M@stercard commercial…the broken windshield just tops it off. :) And the smiles from the girls make it all worth it!!! Praise the Lord for His provision for things unseen...

Final product picture to come!

The Swing Set - 1

Remember we gave the girls swings for Christmas? The Lord provided me with a sewing job, and the exact money I was paid, was the exact amount we needed to build the swing set for the girls. I was amazed how the Lord met that need. We couldn't have done this for the girls otherwise -- I'm truly, continually amazed how the Lord answers prayer, and provides even our desires! 

Steve came up and went with Brian to go get the lumbar for the project one day… I love Steve. :) Truly I do -- he's an awesome Brother. And, after this project, -- specifically, the getting the lumber part -- I love him even more. :D 

Brian called me while they were still gone…I suppose on the way home…to inform me, the windshield in the van now had,  as Aspen says 'a giant spider' on it… NOT a great picture, but, give you an idea. It was pretty big!! I'd encourage each of you, if you'll be bringing a 12 ft piece of lumbar home, use a truck, not your mini van. :) 

(I also greatly appreciate our other brother - Arnold - who helped us get the windshield replaced at a great deal!!! Gotta love ALL my brothers!!! One Moreno one helped break it, and another helped fix it -- doesn't get much better! :) Love you guys!)

Precious Eliana trying to figure everything out

Discerning where to place the swing set…it was amazing how the Lord worked that out too. Our backyard is very uneven -- but, we found 2 areas, the perfect length apart which were also perfectly level. Pretty incredible!

Aspen couldn't understand it wasn't time for the swings yet…she brought both outside to be hung up…

Brian got busy digging the first 3 ft deep hole… 

The Steve came and dug the other…while Jason marked and worked out all the logistics and everything needed to make this a reality.

The hole…

Manual Labor…lol…it was an ongoing joke throughout the afternoon…Steve did a great job!

Jason certainly made all this a reality!! He definitely knew what he was doing. We are VERY grateful he didn't mind coming to help with this major project. And, he was so patient with Aspen, and let her help him mark the spot for the swings…

 Thumbs up from Brian!

Brothers….trouble makers…windshield breakers…hard workers!! :)

Using the new drill

Yay!!! It's level! Amazing...

See that big, excited smile?!

Now to mix/pour the concrete, mount the decorative pieces, seal the wood, and hang the swings!