28

I recently celebrated a birthday, and turned 28.  Nothing special really, just another day.  But, with lots of love from friends and family.

Patrick surprised me with pink roses, just like the first ones he ever sent me back in 2004 (and yes I still have the card that accompanied them).

Then it was time for a dinner date out at the best little Turkish place in town.

And then I got the loveliest cards, and presents from my boys… Gunnar picked out the necklace all by himself, and the bracelet has lots of Dalmatian Jasper (my favorite stone from our gem mining days)

And lastly we celebrated with some fancy cupcakes, and I was serenaded by my sweet little man.

It was the most perfectly laid back way to celebrate, and just about all this mama could handle right about now!  Thanks to everyone for making my day NOT so "nothing special".

three.

We celebrated Gunnar's birthday this year with an Octonauts themed party.  It is safe to say that he had the best day ever.  I couldn't believe the kindness all of our friends showed him, and it made me so happy to see him so happy.  Highlights included a giant balloon, Kwazii's treasure chest piñata, Gunnar eating his cake without utensils, and everyone's favorite:  opening presents.

Happy third birthday, my sweet little man.  Three years of messes, kisses, laughter, tears, chaos, travels, hugs, and a whole lot more.  I love you more than life.

old man

Last week, Patrick turned 30.  Since we are so far away from home, I did my best to bring home to him.  With the help of a LOT of people, I managed to pull off an American themed surprise party (completed with a burger press shaped like the states that branded each burger with USA).  I started planning back in January, fully expecting the surprise to get ruined somewhere along the way, but it didn't!  And when it came time for the gifts, there was yet another surprise… I had planned a trip to Sydney for us, complete with tickets to an LA Dodgers game.  Yeah, I'm pretty awesome at throwing parties.  Just kidding!  But I did impress myself with this one… there was a lot of crafting involved, and pretty much all the ideas came from Pinterest.  But that's to be expected.

I pledge allegiance...

 This might look like an insincere banner… but it's from an episode of The Office, where Dwight and Jim plan a party, and Dwight makes a banner that says this.  Patrick thought it was hysterical.

Both banners home made with love.  Gunnar even helped, he picked out the letters!

 home made banner turned table runner...

Patrick has been wanting a corn hole set for FOREVER.  I had already decided I would surprise him and make some for his party, then he decided he needed to go to the store immediately to buy materials to make them himself.  I threw a fit and picked a fight about not wanting to go to the home improvement store so he wouldn't ruin the surprise I was already planning.  It worked.  And here they are in all their glory.  Baseball themed, what else?

Surprise!

I had several hundred USA temporary tattoos so everyone got at least one.  The kids loved them.  So did the adults. 

Opening his ticket to Sydney

Sparkler candles!

Happy birthday, hubby!  Hope you enjoyed it!

catching up...

Hey there, it's been a while!  I could make excuses, but basically I've been lazy.  So why not get right into the good stuff?  These next few posts will catch you up on what we've been up to since OCTOBER (has it really been that long?)...

Nov. 15, 2013:  For my 27th birthday, and official entrance into my late twenties, Patrick organized a surprise dinner for me at a local tapas restaurant.  It was delicious, but more importantly the company was even better.  I was very touched by all the people who turned up after only knowing me a few short months.  Thanks Aussie friends!

This of course came after we spent my actual birthday in Canberra at our 5th, and fanciest, USMC Birthday Ball.

 And we ate at Patrick's favorite place on more than one occasion...

Stay tuned for lots more in the posts to follow...

guns turns 2

Our little booger has gone from a sweet, tiny baby...

to a giant, crazy monster toddler...

We celebrated his birthday in a low-key kind of way... I took him on a brekkie date to a cafe just up the road.  We got to Facetime with family back home.  Then, Gunnar's favorite part, we opened some presents.  He got a pirate ship pool, which he spent the afternoon playing in, naked.  When we finally got him dried off enough to dress him, we took him to the park, and tested out his (Dad's) new remote control air craft carrier.  Then we treated him to a slurpee, went home and watched his new Octonauts DVD.  It was a great, and relaxing day.  

We do plan on throwing him a party, we are just waiting on our shipment of household goods to arrive.  Yes, STILL!  It's been held up in customs since August 25.  We are very much looking forward to good news that it will be on it's way soon.