Happy birthday to me!

Since my birthday was so close while we were still visiting Utah, we decided to celebrate it.  (Well, not “we”, I told everyone I was fine not having a birthday party, that way Kolby and Julie could have their own, since they always have to share with me).  But my Mom and Sue Mom insisted.  So, we went to church with my parents on New Year’s Day.  It was fun seeing people from the ward I grew up in, though it’s changed a lot.  Then we went and hung out that afternoon and helped to get dinner ready.  Then Amy and Kolby came.  It was Kolby's actual birthday, he's a News Years baby.  Right when they showed up, Cal started throwing up, breaking out in hives, his body started swelling, including his lips.  He and Mark and Emma were eating nuts and we think it was the Brazil nut (or possibly the hazel nut).  Now we knew he was allergic to peanuts, but he’s always been fine with walnuts, cashews, and almonds, so we figured the others were fine.  The doctor said just to let him try them in small quantities, and just see.  But he must have an awful allergy to those.  We have an appointment to get him tested.  And, we were going to use the Epi-pen it was so bad, but it was expired (Mom of the Year award right there).  So my Dad and Marko ran to the store to get some Benadryl.  He threw up again and where he threw up, he broke out again, so this allergy is very severe.  We gave him the Benadryl, and Dave and Kolby gave him a blessing.  Then he started feeling much better.  It was super scary though, the worse allergic reaction we’ve seen from him.  So after this fiasco, we had dinner.  We ate yummy island pork loin, with garlic mashed potatoes, Caesar salad, yummy rolls, and cheesecake instead of cake, of course!

Cal getting better.  Nothing a little game won't fix for this boy.  He's a total gamer!  Emma helping him and watching out for him. 

Luce with her Uncle Kolby.  Who doesn't love Uncle Kolby?

Singing "Happy Birthday" and getting ready to blow out the candles.  Lucy was fascinated by the candles, as you can see!

Make a wish!

A picture with all of the girl (and Marko...)  But this picture is so cute.  I love it!

 

I had a birthday party with Julie.  Thanks, Julie, for sharing your party with me!  You’re so cool!  (:  We had dinner, though I can’t say I remember what we ate…  Then we got to blow out the candles together.   There were a ton on there, but luckily all of the kids were there to help!  We had cheesecake and red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.  Lucy was mesmerized by the candles and we sang our crazy version of happy birthday and then just hung out the rest of the night and talked and said our goodbyes, since we left the next morning bright and early.   

Again, check Lucy's face out.  He he!

Making wishes!

Okay Jerry, you can stop now!  It ain't over until the [Jerry] sings! 

On my real birthday, we celebrated by having a sleepover with the cousins.  All of the kids had fun with that.  We made crepes for breakfast, played, and played some more.  And I was in the mood to clean and organize, so that’s what I did.  I got some phone calls from my Mom and my in-laws, and Amy Lou.  Thanks for calling!  Then, we got ready, and my Aunt Suz watched the kids while Dave and I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes (Mellie gives it 4 stars, I loved it!).  Then we went to dinner at Red Robin.  It’s so nice to get away without the kids.  School has been so busy, we’re lucky if we get a date night once a week!  It was very nice just to talk and just have it be us.  So thanks, Suz, for the babysitting and for always being there!  Then we came home and watched a movie with the kids, Peperli brought some yummy cinnamon rolls over, and the kids and I and read lots of books and snuggled. 

This year, I wanted to make my own cake, since I found this recipe months ago and have been waiting for a particular occasion to use it. I decided my birthday would be a perfect one! Cookie dough? Chocolate? Cheesecake? Yes, please! I made this (http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2010/07/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-cheesecake.html) chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake (are you seeing a common thread here? Ha ha! 3 birthday celebrations, 3 cheesecakes. My name is Melanie and I’m a cheesecakeaholic). Happy birthday to me! It turned out well and was one of the best things I’ve tasted! 

I also got lots of sweet cards in the mail! They were all so nice, thank you to all who sent them to me! I love snail mail! I felt loved also when I checked my Facebook account that night. Aw, shucks! Thanks to everyone who sent nice things my way! 

 To top things off, we got snow that evening, after a long dry spell!  I can’t be let down! (; It always snows on my birthday.I think there have only been 2 or 3 birthdays my whole life where there hasn’t been a large snow or small snow storm.It was a nice day!