Happy 5th Birthday Emily, Tuesday Talk V8

On Sunday my baby girl turned 5...
* F * I * V * E *
Even just saying she is five makes her feel so much older. *said while weeping and eating an entire carton of ice cream* 
While looking back through the archives recently, I realized I haven't shared many baby photos of my sweet Emily Elizabeth. So today I wanted to change that and look back on five years of our baby girl.
Baby Emily

  One Year Old

Two Years Old

3 Years Old

4 Years Old

And this is what 5 looks like. 

Emily you are such a joy to our lives.
Your free spirit, infectious laughter and silliness always keep us smiling. You have grown up so much over the past year and I am so excited to watch you continue to grow into a beautiful young lady.
I am so happy that God chose me to be your mama.
Happy Birthday Emily Elizabeth Newman! XOXOXO
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Happy Birthday Russ #36!

January 27th, the day we celebrate our favorite guy.
Happy Birthday Russ!
I swear it seems like just last week that I wrote THIS birthday post and snapped this photo as we celebrated #35 with his yearly birthday dinner of homemade lasagna and cheesecake. 

And now here we are a whole entire year later.  When I think back on a year I am filled with smiles and happy memories. 
For 9 years I have been celebrating this guys birthday. It all started with his 27th birthday. It was the year he dreaded, the one that left him feeling doomed to certain death. I am NOT exaggerating friends. I have never seen anyone get so worked up over a birthday like this guy did when he turned 27?!?!  ...and yet I still married him ;). 
Now here we are at #36. So much has happened over 9 years of life.  Marriage, kids, homes, jobs, cars, celebration, loss and more.
Back then

Now

Comparing these photos and thinking back on our life I know that things have gotten better with age. Every passing year we laugh a little more and my love for this guy grows as we (ever so gracefully) age and mature. I wouldn't trade what our life is like now for our 20's even if I could.    Russell Todd, I love growing old with you!
So here is to you, many more years together and the memories the next year will bring.
Happy Birthday! XOXOXO

Turning 30 {Anniversary #2}

In the spirit of celebrating the second anniversary of my 30th birthday I thought it would be fun to put together some little bits of randomness about me.

1) I was born on my grandpa's birthday. So today is a day to celebrate him too. Happy Birthday grandpa!
2) I spent the past two days un-decorating my entire house like a crazy woman because I just want everything put away before my birthday. Which I will add I don't really love. 3 days after Christmas, between Christmas and New Years. Oh how easily forgotten it can be. My family has always been super awesome though.
3) My favorite color is gray, boring I know.
4) I am so far from trendy it's actually quite comical. Example: I just bought my first pair of skinny jeans a month ago #whoa.
5) 
6) Sometimes I add hashtags to a verbal conversation. In my defense it is mostly just with Russ and he finds it pretty comical (lucky for me).
7) I used to knit all the time... where did all my free time go?
8) My favorite kind of cake is Tres Leches cake. One year my dear friend made me one for my birthday though I doubt she will repeat it this year since she is currently in Hawaii #jealous. She did take me out to lunch before she left though.
9) I'm kinda tall, although I don't consider 5'10" that tall?! Yes? No? The girls both seem like they will be pretty tall too. I wonder if one of them will be taller than me. That's weird to think about.
10) 
11) I am putting these photos in there because I love pictures and I don't have to think of as much to say that way. How's that for honesty?!
12) Speaking of honesty, I hate being lied to.
13) On my 12th birthday I came down with a severe case of bacterial meningitis, had to be med flighted to another town and medically speaking should have died. Have I ever mentioned that God is good?!
14) I had Marissa's name picked out for years before she was born. So thankful that Russ loved it.
15)
16) I kind of like the smell of patchouli oil, I know, it's terrible! But, some weird part of me almost likes it. 
17) My favorite show ever is Seinfeld. I consider friends that I can laugh about Seinfeld with to be some of the best friends I have.
18) I REALLY do like cars and probably know more about what's under the hood of a car than a lot of guys.
19) My biggest regret from when we built our house was not putting granite counters in. I kick myself over that decision ALL the time.
20)
21) I don't really drink soda, coke, pop, cola or whatever you want to call it.
22) I'm ridiculously stubborn. So, so, SO stubborn.
23) I never in a million years pictured myself a home school mom. Always a mom, usually a stay at home mom, NEVER a home school mom. 
24) A messy house makes me a bit twitchy. I'm kind of a neat freak but having kids has tamed me down quite a bit.
25) 
26) I've had my nose pierced since I was 20. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever take it out or if I'll just be a super cool grandma some day.
27) I feel most at home in the kitchen. I LOVE to cook, bake, create, you name it. I speak love to my family through the food I make them. 
28) Think of a feminist then think of the total polar opposite. That's me. I mean do I really need the right to vote?! HA! I'm kidding... just a little bit. But seriously I love letting a man be a man and take care of things. 
29) I could eat Mexican food 5 nights a week and never get tired of it. 
30)
Bonus #1) Just say the words salted caramel and you will instantly have my full attention. 
Bonus #2) I can't say enough about how thankful and blessed I feel by the support I have. 
The past year was a great one however I am pretty excited to see what adventures are in store for 2017 and year #32. I mean 30 ;)!

Happy 7th Birthday Marissa!

Today, today is a very special day. Today my baby turns 7.

It feels completely insane to think that this sweet girl is now 7.  I remember the day she was born and cradling her in my arms. It feels like it was just yesterday.


I barely blinked and that tiny baby turned into a beautiful young lady.

Marissa Renea

You are stubborn, strong willed, dramatic, determined, serious, compassionate, devoted, persistent and faithful. I love each and everyone of those things about you. Even the ones that challenge and remind me you really are my child even though you look more like your daddy. 

You have the prettiest, largest, best dimples I have ever seen. 

It was the first thing I noticed the very first moment I saw you. 

You are so smart and capable. I see it every day. You have a drive that could be unstoppable baby girl. 

Don't you ever, ever give up on your dreams.

You are beautiful. 

Just the way you are.

You are everything we ever wanted and more.

What a blessing that God chose us to be your parents.
Calling you ours is such a blessing and a precious gift that I so often take for granted. 

The past 7 years have been amazing and I have no doubts that the next 7 will be just as full of adventure.

Happy Birthday Marissa. 

We love you to the moon and back.

Leave the birthday girl a wish if you'd like! 

She can read very well now and I often find her reading my blog posts if I leave them on screen ;). 

Emily's 4th Birthday!

Saturday we celebrated four years with our baby girl, Emily Elizabeth. 

Four amazing, crazy, wonderful years.

This year we had a simple birthday party. We didn't have tons of decorations or people but boy oh boy did we celebrate. From donuts for breakfast, Chick Fil-A play time, cake, and pizza. 

We had so much fun.

It wouldn't be a birthday without a "few" photos

Cake was definitely a must too!

 She requested an orange cake that tasted like strawberries. 

Whatever you want baby girl, whatever you want. 

She received what might just be the largest stuffed Minnie Mouse in existence.

Seriously guys. I can't even explain how huge that doll is.

Maybe this will help a bit.

It is HUGE. Thank you Meme and Papa for that one *Ha*! Seriously though it might just go down as one of the best deals ever. They located it in the clearance section it didn't have a tag so they went to the register to price check it. 30 minutes later, they were finally given a price of $37! What?!?! I know for fact a Minnie that large is generally around $200. I really hope this little lady doesn't grow out of her 3 year Minnie phase anytime too soon. 

Photos with Daddy and Mommy

Presents!!!

Oh look, more Minnie Mouse stuff. After 3 years of nothing but Minnie, we thought she had it all. Clearly we were wrong. 

Those dimples, oh my heart.
Her silly cousin has photo bombing down.

The perfect pair of high tops for a Minnie Mouse loving girl.

What a wonderful day of celebrating 4 years with this beautiful, silly, hilarious, clever, sweet girl.

We love you so much Emily!
Happy Birthday!