23 Years

June 28th, 2009  My 21st birthday, 8 months pregnant

June 28th, 2010  My 22nd birthday, 1 month pregnant

Today, My 23rd birthday, not pregnant.

Birthdays really help to put things in perspective.  It's crazy to think how different my life happenings are in each of those pictures.  I'm happy to have lived 23 years so far! I'm thankful for this and every birthday because we're never really promised tomorrow.  I've made a list of a few things I want to do during this next year. 

*Finish Cambria's quilt and make Ezra one too.  

*Create beautiful rooms for both my children.  

*Continue the never-ending process of decorating my house.

*As much as I hate the phrase, I want to have "date night" with Kyle every month.  I think it will be good for us, our marriage, and our children. 

*Run a marathon. 

*Create healthy and delicious food for my family. 

*Make a conscious effort to find meaning and value in everything that I do, even in relaxing, which often makes me feel guilty.  

*(Hopefully!!!!!) Attend my first birth, aside from my own and my children's. 

*Finish Cambria's 1st year scrapbook and begin and finish Ezra's. 

*Make/buy thoughtful gifts for my loved ones. 

*Find a program or a cause to volunteer for.

*Spend more time and effort staying in touch with friends.  When you have kids this oftentimes becomes difficult, but it's really important, so I want to try and work on it. 

*Love on my babies as much as possible.  Looking at that picture of Cambria a year ago reminds me that time flies by and every precious phase they go through lasts for what seems like a moment and then passes.  

*Begin and complete a 365 photo a day project starting today and ending June 28th, 2012. 

So that's my list.  Hopefully I can see it through!  

My mom and Amber spent all day preparing an amazing birthday dinner for my family.  It was delicious!

Buffalo potatoes.  A creation thought up by my mother.

Homemade veggies burgers!

Amazing stuffed mushrooms.

Pasta salad packed with veggies.

My birthday angel food fruit cake.

blowing out my candles.

This (along with a balloon) greeted me in the kitchen when I woke up this morning. 

All my favorite junk.

And this was my gift from my parent's and Kyle.  Man oh man am I excited to use this beauty!! I'm so thankful for this totally unexpected gift. 

It's hard to tell in this picture, but it's a vintage yellow.

And Amber got me a gift card for frozen yogurt. Yum yum! 

Today has been a wonderful day because I spent it with {some of} the people I love most in the world. 

Strawberry Fields Forever

A few weeks ago we went to Ottowa Farms to pick us some strawberries.  We were the only ones in the field and the clouds came out as soon as we got there.  It was perfect!  No people that thought we were crazy bringing two babies out to pick strawberries and no hot, unbearable sun.  It was so lovely!  Cambria had an absolute blast and still talks about it daily.  We picked over 7 pounds and ate every single last berry.  And they were only $1.80 a pound, cheaper than any price in a grocery store. 

Just us.

The beginning of the picking.

And Cambria was a good little picker. Once she figured out what needed to be done, she was off! We actually had to coax her off the field because she just wouldn't stop picking! 

You can tell how hard Cam was concentrating :D

Ezra was snoozing, but decided to wake up about half way through.  He didn't help much, but it was nice holding his cute little self while we were out there. 

I wanted a picture, but Cambria wanted to draw in the sand.

Afterwards we said "hi" to the goats and pigs, which Cambria also still talks about.

She was very disturbed by all the "poooooooop!!" and when one of the pigs "pee-peed"

The lucky cows who get to graze in a pasture, instead of living on a factory farm.

We HAD to eat some RIGHT when we got home.

Strawberry ice cream

 The strawberry cake was as delicious as it looks.  Found the recipe here and would definitely recommend it! It didn't have any food coloring, gelatin or jello.  I topped it with some cream cheese frosting, yummy!!

And strawberry smoothies.

 We're going to be heading back soon to pick some blackberries and blueberries. Can't wait!