(Somehow) Stewart is 18!

August 20, 2018 | Stacy

I’m not sure where the days have gone, but somehow, my little boy is 18 years old.
He started his day at a different church service than the one the family attended as he has been doing some video work for a pastor in Newark.

Dinner was something new; I tried to make steak fajitas. They were pretty good.

It was beautifully HOT outside, so we opted to open gifts in the crowded living room.

Johanna made him a penguin card.

The boy who made me a mommy, made her a grandma.

We tried EIGHT times to get a decent photo. Someone was always being silly.

There was nothing silly about lemon cake. From scratch. Oh snap.

Marie is 14

July 13, 2018 | Stacy

This beauty turned 14 today.
Time has flown from the first time I heard, “It’s a girl,” and this day.
She was a busy toddler who transformed into a mommy’s-little-buddy on her third birthday.

She loves to write, play for her beloved Scarlet Knights soccer team, and play piano.

We celebrated with dinner with the family, lots of fun presents, and an amazing cake she picked for the date.

16 years of Nigel ♥

July 3, 2018 | Stacy

This photo was taken a month ago. He pretty much looks the same.

And it’s a long way from where he was 16 years ago.

Our day was low key, and included a trip to Walmart.

And cake. There is always cake.
It is exceedingly hot out this summer (YAY!) and the frosting gave way under the ganache.

Nan, Nene, Ba and Poppy joined us for dinner.

Nigel requested and received an entertainment center that included a turntable.

Everything old is new again.

And what kid doesn’t appreciate a drawing of Jeff Goldblum from his younger sister?

Happy birthday, Nigel. Here’s to another year with him.

He opted not to run out for his permit yet. We will go for it soon.

Johanna’s 8th birthday party

May 19, 2018 | Stacy

Johanna loves people through and through. She has been blessed with so many lovely friends and many of them joined us for her 8th birthday party.
Daddy and the boys were camping, so Marie and Tab helped me pull it off.

Daddy’s birthday 2018

April 20, 2018 | Stacy

You must be a very important guy if you have princesses at your birthday celebration.

Even if they forget to take a photo of your cake before cutting it.

This cake, tho.

They were super excited to give Daddy their cards.

Marie’s card had us laughing so hard we couldn’t breathe. She drew a picture of Daddy as a super hero. He made Thor look like a lightweight.

Groot pants.

And only in Rochester do people get winter coats for their April birthday…

Terrific Twelve

April 16, 2018 | Stacy

We met Tabitha Stacy Butler 12 years ago.
It’s been a wild ride that I wouldn’t trade.

Nene blessed her with STAR WARS sweatshirt.

Nan gave her that spiffy new bathrobe.

It was fun surprising her with new Converse.

There were other gifts, too.
She chose yummy strawberry ice box cake.

And that meant we all won. Winking smile

This “Easter Bunny” is 12.

Bouncing Birthday

April 14, 2018 | Stacy

For her twelfth birthday Tab asked her friend Ava to come over.

I took them to Sky Zone for an hour of bouncing.

We grabbed some amazing sandwiches at Smashburger and headed home.

Tab had made her own birthday cake, and opted to frost it to honor both herself and Ava, whose birthday had been the week before. She also made LEGO girls to look like each of them.

They watched Spiderman and didn’t get much sleep.

She said it was wonderful.

Katriel is FIVE

February 25, 2018 | Stacy

Her fifth birthday fell on a Saturday. How fun is that?

We decided to pack all the fun into one day.
We woke her up at 7 A.M. (she was actually awake and waiting for our arrival) and sang happy birthday.

Balloons and banners greeted her.

as did a spiffy breakfast.

The boys had to work parts of the day, so we did family meal and gifts early on.

We cleaned up and turned our attention to getting ready for her 11:30 A.M. turtle-themed birthday party.

We had a craft for the basement.

Friends arrived and got their turtle backs.

Lunch was pizza and fruit.

Lots of lovely gifts and home made cards.

And cake.

Big sisters had some friends here, too. (I love these girls.)

And then the kid party was over at 1:30 P.M.

Somehow, we flipped the house again. Mom lay down for an hour, then made dinner, and grandparents and aunt arrived for 4:30 P.M.
Pasta Alfredo was the birthday girl’s choice.

And look… more gifts! 🙂

We had a Princess Tiana cake for the evening.

And we may have reached our party-food-limit.

Don’t underestimate the Butler’s ability to party, friends.