JaciAnna turns 11

On February 10th Jaci turned 11 years old.  Jaci is a planner, and has been planning her birthday with her mom for many months now...  many celebrations took place the week before her birthday!  She started out with an "American Doll" party with some friends from school that she carefully choose.  They all attended an ECFE family night together and fun was had by all.  Then she had a neighbor party at her house the next morning followed by dad picking up some other friends and going out to eat at McDonald's... now it is on to Becker for the family celebration!  What a good party planner Ms. Jaci Anna is!  HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY JACANNA!!! WE LOVE YOU!!

Where are you going my little one, little one, where are you going my baby my own?

Turn around and your one, turn around and your two

turn around and your four

turn around and your a young girl going out of the door...

student of the month!  11th birthday sweater!

Cassie Grace turns two!

Party from Cassie's 1st birthday, time flys!

Cassie swimming in her toy box

Cassie outside enjoying January weather in Minnesota

Cassie in her new car that goes beep beep!

Cassie saying "do it again!"

Now, how do I do this dad?

A new vanity/piano for the birthday princess!

Our youngest granddaughter celebrated her 2nd year of life with her family on Saturday January 26th!  She had her grandma and grandpa Johnson and aunt Jenna come and celebrate at her house with cake!  When daddy lit the candles she wasn't quite sure what to do so he gently blew them out for her...  her reply?  Do again daddy!  So they lit the two little candles and blew them out together... yummy cake!!  Cassie got calls from her other family and some cards in the mail with the promise that we would all get together again and celebrate this wonderful day!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASSIE GRACE JOHNSON!!!  WE LOVE YOU!!

Cassie on her 1st birthday, time flys!

Heart songs...

Sometimes when you see things with your heart...
You are not sure in your mind what it is saying...
but,
you know it is something beautiful!

Cassie Grace helps make Ginger snaps!

Casey Grace reads from Gramma D's recipe book

Are you listening momma?

The end product

My mother has always been an exquisite cook.  I remember having her in the kitchen and how special she would make each meal.  She did baking at Christmas, made special things for birthdays and actually, each meal we had seemed special.
My favorites as a child were...   macaroni and cheese, poor mans lobster, swiss steak and buttered noodles....
We will often joke about the girls all calling Grandma D for her buttered noodle recipe.
I did not take after her with the cooking or the baking.

It does seem however,  that through the years one of the girls has taken on some of her recipes with a serious attitude...
making some pretty awesome cookies and cakes..
and look who's helping!

JORDYN NOEL TURNS 4!

Jordyn Noel Harren 1/11/11 preschool picture

Jordyn at her first birthday sleepover

The party

Jordie with uncle Doug - Labor day 2014

labor day 2014

labor day 2014 - dancing with Jeff

It seems as though the years all begin to come together after you turn 50.  So, I sit and think about it all... remembering those gentle times when my babies turned four.
Chris and Emily have the Coborns Christmas party in Foley.  So grammie pammie heads to Foley arriving about 4:00 on Saturday January 10th.  It is Rachele, JaciAnna, Emma and me that will be at the house for the night.  We pack up and head out to McDonalds for supper.  Our birthday girl is having a sleep over at her friends house tonight.  With her being gone, the girls and I decide to stop at the dollar store and pick up a few things for the Sunday birthday party.  We pick up an out fit for her, a nice birthday sack for gifts, a pink table cloth and some birthday plates and napkins.  When we get home the girls and I finish painting her "birthday pig".  It is a piggy bank that has been waiting for many years for the right day, and the perfect little girl.  We set up the table and go to bed.
The next morning it is time for dad, Jaci and Emma to go and pick up our little birthday surprise.
Four years ago this very day our little smiley Jordyn Noel Harren came in to the world.
Her dad predicted that she would be a girl and would look just like Jaci when she was born.
He was right.
He also predicted that she would be the one to complete their little family.
He was right.
And oh what a time we had...
opening presents,
eating cupcakes...
and loving our little smileyJordie cakes!

Baby Jordie - look at that smile!

Perfect princess of the Most High King!