Dad's 88th Birthday Dinner:

This is one of my favorite pictures of my dad.

Sunday, we celebrated his birthday at our house with a huge meal and most of the immediate family there.  We had a good time sitting around and visiting.  My niece, Kayla brought down a couple old VCR tapes of Molasses Making in 1995 and a couple of her Tyler's birthday parties when they were small.  We all enjoyed seeing the kids being so young and of course us sister's hairstyles and clothes!!  What were we thinking?????????

April and Mom's birthday are one day apart and we always celebrate with a huge dinner honoring them both.

Well, now that Mike is in the family, him and my Dad get to celebrate together.  Dad's is November 6th and Mike's November 10th.  We didn't get any pictures of the birthday boys together this year so I thought I would share the ones from a couple years ago.

The pictures on the care are of Mom and Dad taken in from of Meramec Springs and the one on the right is of April and Mike taken at Alley Springs.

 

Such happy celebrations.

 

Son-in-law!!

Wow, I got to buy my first son-in-law card this year. It was kind of a toss up as Mike turns 30 on the 10th and either doing a funny 30 card or the son-in-law one. Decided I liked the son-in-law idea better. Zach went with me to Wal-Mart last week and we had fun looking at cards. We found a couple we thought were funny and then we saw this one!! We couldn't resist. Most everyone thought it was hilarious but April. Not sure why on that.....

Mike certainly saw the humor in it!!!

 

It's a little hard to read this page but it says,

unfortunately your wife already spent it all while she was growing up.

We joke all the time about April being spoiled and all by being the only girl.

But the truth is, she started working at Connie & Albert's when she turned 16 and at school after hours cleaning at age 15.  April always bought her own clothes, paid for her car insurance and was overall responsible from the time she was old enough to start working.  She worked evenings throughout high school and on through her two years at RTI.  Seldom, if ever did she ask for money.

She saved and bought a new TV for the basement when she moved down there, bought her own decorations and things as needed.  She did her own laundry and really never gave us any problems.

We do brag on April quite a bit and most of it is in a teasing way.  We were delighted to be able to plan and prepare for her wedding and yes, we paid for it.  We had dreamed of that moment since she was born.  And yet, sensible April made most of her decorations, bought things on sale and still had a very well decorated reception.  Her dad and brothers made items to use and the boys were just as thrilled as if it was for their own wedding.  Now for the spoiling, don't think those brothers of hers just sat back and didn't do any!!  They love their sister very much and it was hard for them to let her go........and especially to move so far away.  (45 miles, uh could be lots worse)  Chad and Todd would do anything for their sister and also for each other.  One of mine and Dwayne's most proud accomplishments is the loyalty and love our three kids have for each other.  And now we have added another son to the family and the boys are there for him and are thrilled at how well he treats their sister and sees the love Mike has for April.

 

Grateful, yes I have much to be grateful for.  The love of my family, the joy of each year hosting my Mom and Dad's birthday dinners and just precious time spent together.