Okay. Even though these are somewhat embarrassing pictures they are hilarious.

Enjoy.

The restaurant (as always) was above and beyond our expectations. The service was excellent (and entertaining) and the food was incredible (I did eat leftovers so I can vouch for its incredibleness).

My first birthday gift was from Kara. Not only did I get the TEAM JACOB (REAL MEN DON’T SPARKLE) tote but she also gave me a pillow that says, “EDWARD WATCHES ME SLEEP” (very appropriate these days), and a car sticker that says, “I DRIVE LIKE A CULLEN” (for Ryan).

The night pretty much progressed as such. Too much wine; not enough food.

I was in good company though. Kara’s photography went significantly down hill as her alcohol consumption increased.

This is Amina and Molly (who I used to work with at Medical). Molly stated that she had never received more hugs in one day that from me at the party. Which, even though I was hugging a lot, I purposely hugged Molly numerous times. First, because I miss her terribly. Second, because she is an anti-hug/physical contact kind of person and I could get away with it since it was my party. Third, because she’s getting married in 3 weeks and needs to get used to lots of hugging.

At one point in the evening I found myself introducing people according to their blog address, “This is Ginger from gingerdiaz.com and this is Cortney from texandevines.com“.

And everyone said, “Yeah, I know Kara…..why hasn’t she blogged in like 6 months?”

Good question.

My super husband actually sang happy birthday to me – in a microphone! I’m positive it was the wine talking….

Again, lots of wine = poor photography.

I’m not sure what’s happening here but I’m pretty sure I’m being made fun of for something. It could have been when I mentioned the fact that I thought the name Crystal sounded like a stripper name and our bartender, Chad said, “hey, my wife’s a stripper!” To which I asked, “Is her name Crystal?” and he replied, “It can be if you want it to”.

Eeek. Let’s stop right there, Chad.

At one point Ian got Kara’s camera. Luckily this was after everyone left and it was only us and them left.

I’m not sure what to say about this one….it’s just funny.

Good times.

Wow. It sure does fly by.

Two years ago today our dream of having a family began coming true.

And one year ago yesterday it officially did.

I made some mild attempts at a celebration dinner last night.

I made breakfast for dinner. An absolute favorite here in the Newcom house. French toast for me and the kids (mine on double fiber whole wheat bread and made with egg whites), ham & cheese omelet for Ryan, bacon, grapes, and cinnamon rolls with orange icing (for halloween) for the kids.

And because they don’t sell “Hooray-You’ve Been Adopted 1 Year” plates, I settled for Happy New Year plates, napkins, and cups that I had in my paper goods arsenal.

The kids thought it was fun.

After dinner we continued our Wednesday night tradition: So You Think You Can Dance.

Nothing too special on today’s agenda. Just thankfulness and nostalgia.

Maybe E was feeling that too and that’s why he came down and crawled into our bed at 1:30 am (waking me up for the long haul…hence all my middle of the night blogging).

Yes, I’m sure this is his way of saying “thank you for taking me in 2 years ago….I wanted to make sure you didn’t forget what it was like back then when I was just a cute baby who  woke you up in the middle of the night…..ahhh, just like old times”

Yesterday was Michael’s funeral.

I couldn’t bring myself to go to the viewing on Tuesday. The indescribable feeling of celebrating a birthday while saying goodbye to the physical body of a friend was too much for me (however selfish that was).

While nothing takes away the grief of loosing someone too early in life, it is mighty comforting knowing he was a Christ follower and is now in paradise with Jesus.

And I really wasn’t planning on blogging about this but when I was looking for pictures of the kids when they first came to live with us (for the next post) I came across this one:

and then this one:

After my breathing normalized and I wiped away my tears I was immensely thankful for this finding these pictures. They were taken on October 6, 2007 at a backyard-BBQ party we had.

This is why I love pictures so much.

Michael loved the kids. I knew that. Especially since my most recent memory is when I saw him at my Walgreens this summer; the first thing he said after hugging me was that I better have pictures of the kids to show him.

But I had forgotten the details.

The details of how he sat on a blanket with E – playing with him and feeding him those puffed-star-things kids that age love to eat. And how he and Will played cornhole with X. The memories can rushing back with one glimpse of these pictures.

I’m so thankful for the time we were all given with him.

And now I’m absolutely certain that there can never be too many pictures.

Can you find my birthday present from Ryan in my Scrapbook Room?

Well, this super photo of the entire length of my scrapbook area was taken with it!

It is indeed, a new lens!

The 20mm f/2.8. In layman’s terms it’s a wide angle that lets lots of light in so I don’t have to use flash.

And while X said that I had too many lenses once I got my first one (when did she become so witty?) I really was excited to get this lens.

I still love my 50mm I got for Christmas but there are times when you can only “back up” so far to get your picture. Now feel like I can capture just about anything.

Almost anything I should say….I know full well that this is the absolute next priority.

Thank you, Ryan.

I must say that I am happy to be thirty-one.

Not just happy….grateful.

Grateful that I have had this many blessed years to live on this earth. That I have so many wonderful people in my life whom I love and who love me.

I am thankful for my beautiful children the Lord so graciously gave me (despite getting smacked in the face by E this morning when I asked for a kiss.)

For my fabulous friends who (way too graciously) gave me so many fabulous gift cards in which I get to go spend today.

I am thankful for my parents who put up with me for the first 21 years and who has provided endless support for the last 10.

And for Autumn. One of the best things about my birthday is that it’s the first day of fall – my favorite season.

Which, by the way, it was a beautiful fall morning with 65 degree temperature. I was outside and on my run at 5:20am (normally I don’t run this early by myself but it was the only time I had today). A mile into my run it started pouring down rain. The Lord was giving me a free pass to quit early on my birthday. For that….I am also grateful for.

Twenty-five years ago….for your enjoyment.

My husband organized the best birthday party ever.

All my friends, my favorite restaurant ever, and lots of wine.

Too much wine to be exact….I think I was trying to relive my 21st ten years later.

I should have some good (and hilarious) pictures tomorrow to post when I get them from Kara. I was too busy socializing and drinking to take pictures (or eat for that matter – which is why I said too much wine)

I love Saturdays when I’m off work. It just feels so fabulous to finally sleep at night and wake up to a brand new day.

This Saturday I woke up and took X to her Dance clinic at 8:30 am. Our baby-sitter, Shelby, is on the dance team at Brandeis High School (where X and E will go one day). X was really excited to go to this – partly because she really looks up to Shelby but also because she just loves to dance.

Shelby & X

While she danced I took E with me to the gym so I could get a long run in.  When we came home Ryan was just finishing mowing the grass (which is starting to look alive again after some glorious rain last week). Ryan informed E that a loader was on its way to our house (delivering dirt for our new beds).

You would have thought it was Christmas.

E didn’t waste any time getting out his loader to help.

(sorry, I forgot to turn my aperture up in my hurry to capture this so my pictures are all very “whited out”.)

Definitely a good time for this little boy who has been brainwashed by his Grandpa.

During E’s nap Ryan and I did some cleaning while X waited “patiently” for me to paint her nails. Ry thought that he’d go the extra mile and do it himself.

X was not happy with this at all. She kept saying, “No-Mommy needs to do it!…..Mommy help me!”

In the end they looked pretty good. I just had to do some cleaning up around the skin. X must have been somewhat impressed though because she kept telling people on Sunday that “her Daddy did her nails.”

After a fun game of Scrabble (between X, Ry and myself….which I won) we all headed out Pottery Creations. I wanted the kids to have a keepsake for the 1 year anniversary of their adoption. Last year they got Build-a-Bears, I thought this would be a fun thing to try.

X chose a cross and E chose a car to paint.

Despite Ryan’s great efforts, the car looked very little like Lightning McQueen as he had hoped it would. Regardless though, it was a quick, easy, and fun for everyone kind-of activity. The only down side is having to leave them there so they can dry. E didn’t understand or like that fact.

On the way home we stopped and got McDonalds kids meals for them. Everyone was in bed by 9:30….including us.

It was a good day.

Last night, near the beginning of my shift, I received a phone call telling me that one of my former pharmacy intern and friend, Michael, had passed away.

For those who live in San Antonio-you may have heard about it on the news.  Michael was killed when an SUV hit him while running. The news states that he ran into the street not hearing any oncoming traffic due to his iPod.

During the next 10 hours I  processed the tragedy. I thought of my favorite memories of Michael…

How last summer (when I was running the summer intern program) I brought all 4 kids to Rudy’s BBQ for a Walgreens intern dinner by myself. I was a frantic trying to get all 4 kids to sit down and serve them food when Michael left his dinner to come help me.  He cut up the meat up on Kate & Krys’s plates, got drinks for all the kids, and made small talk with the kids encouraging them to eat.

I thought about safety while running outside…

When I ran this morning I was extremely conscious of the volume of my music, whether or not I was running against traffic, and how I cross intersections.

To all my outdoor running friends….please allow this tragedy to be a daily reminder how dangerous running on the street can be.

I also couldn’t shake the feeling all night that life is entirely too short.

Michael was 29 years old.

And I’m complaining about turning 31. Geez, Kelly.

Please say a prayer today for all the Incarnate Word school of Pharmacy students who have to deal with such a tragic loss while preparing of their first rounds of exams. (The exams suck enough without the tragedy!)

And for Michael’s family….I can’t even imagine.

You will be deeply missed, Michael.

Fall is my most favorite season. I love the cooler weather (which is even more loved after this dreadfully hot summer we’ve had), the holidays, and of course, the decorations.

I took the opportunity to get out my fall decorations the weekend before last. My feeling is that as soon as September arrives-so does fall.

I bought these at Hobby Lobby this year.

The leaf and pumpkin plates are from Pottery Barn.

That glass pumpkin jar behind the potpourri bowl is usually filled with Halloween M&Ms. I’m resisting that tradition this year because I know a handful of M&Ms every time I walk by the jar does not fit into my 1300 calorie days.

I noticed that my friend, Ginger, put pictures up on mirrors all around the house. I loved the concept and decided to try it.

I printed 4×4 and 4×6 matte prints (with white borders) from scrapbookpictures.com of the both X & E doing fun stuff. I then taped them up to their bathroom mirrors.

E’s bathroom

X’s bathroom

The kids have loved having them to look at. I specifically tried to get pictures of their cousins, family, and friends they don’t get to see very often so they don’t forget about them.

E will look at the picture of him and Austin (his cousin) in Indiana and get so excited saying, “It’s Austin! It’s Austin!”

I can’t imagine their bathroom without the pictures now.