Happy Birthday Mr. R.!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, loving, brilliant, funny, and amazing husband!

He turns the BIG 29 today! 

I have plans to celebrate him with birthday french toast followed by fun presents.

A few things that I love about Mr. R...

1. He can always make me laugh.

2. He is incredibly patient.

3. He tells corny dad jokes.

4. He loves comic books and super heroes. (And loves that I like them too!)

5. He is a scrabble master.

6. He researches EVERYTHING, but never worries about the decisions once they are made.

7. He loves our pups.

8. He is so excited to be a dad.

9. He grades papers with me at night.

10. He reads to me in bed.

11. He works incredibly hard to provide for our little family.

12. He backs me up and supports my goals, dreams, and desires.

13. He caught the travel bug and even though he hates to fly we have been to 4 countries and 9 states together. 

14. He gives the most amazing hugs.

15. He looks awesome in a suit.

16. He watches girlie movies willingly.

 17. He is a master at figuring out IKEA instructions.

18. He naps with me on lazy Sundays.

19. He thinks breakfast is the best meal of the day.

20. He loves me for me. 

 Happy Birthday Husband! 

I hope your 29th year is your BEST year yet!

Birthdays are a gift.

Each year on my birthday I look froward to celebrating, special dinners, cupcakes, presents, and picture taking. I reflect on what happened the year before and make birthday resolutions of what I hope I will accomplish in the next 12 months.

Yesterday I celebrated my 29th Birthday in the company of my wonderful husband, my grandparents, my Uncle, and the pups.

Each day I spend here on Earth is a gift. Each year God grants me is a gift. Each day that I get to cook, clean, do laundry, kiss my husband, feel the baby kick, take a nap, grade papers, go to work, or take a run is a GIFT! And there is no greater gift that I could be given than more days with the people I love.

As I blow out my birthday candles, I am not wishing.

I am thanking God for one more day, one more month, one more year.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Fantastic Birthday!

One of the reasons I love my birthday is that I get to spend my day with amazing people!

Tonight's Celebrating Included:

Birthday Dinner

Big Salad and Onion Rings

Awesome Friends

And the Hyppo (for amazing popsicles)

When we moved to Florida and I took a new job God blessed Jeff and I with an amazing group of friends.

Kristin kept me sane my first year teaching, laughed with me during Marine Science, and helps me plan fun parties.

Danielle teaches with me daily, puts up with my craziness, and has laughed and cried with me through this pregnancy.

The Capps met Jeff and I through the Republicans. They are always up for one of our Republican adventures. And they have the most AMAZING halloween costumes :)

Betsy is the newest member of our little group and I love that she fits so perfectly and I feel I have known her for years.

Heather teaches with me and was my lunch counterpart all last year. She is hysterical and I wish I had her sweet dance moves.

These girls with the addition of Rachel (we missed you!) and Annie went ALL out for my birthday and I am so taken a back by their generosity and thoughtfulness. Seriously, how did I get such awesome friends?

I pity the fool who tries to come between me and my friends :)

(Photo from Danielle's Birthday. Photo credit: Heather)

Happy Birthday Roy!

and... GO PACKERS!

Mr. R. is actually a cowboys fan and I am indifferent, but we both agree Ben Rothlessberger is gross so we are anti-steelers. Sorry Polamalu, we love you just not your team.

Jen (Roy's super sweet wife) through a birthday/Superbowl party for Roy this year.

He turned the big 2-8 on Wednesday!

We ate hamburgers, wings, chips, dip, and our fair share of all things fried and topped with cheese. The Alaimo's know how to feed a crowd!

And of course we had cake!

Happy Birthday Roy!

Hope this coming year is as good as Hienz Ward's stats.

Happy Birthday Ashley!

My 2nd favorite art teacher, (right after my dad), turned 30 yesterday! We celebrated her milestone b-day with Hibachi steakhouse, flying shrimp, ninja knife skills, lots of laughing, and VERY stuffed bellies.

Ashley is an amazing person. (Would you really expect me to be friends with anyone less?)

Just kidding! She has a passion for art. A love for her students. And a willingness to devote hours of her own personal time to make sure our school and our kids are well represented.

She volunteers on a MILLION committees.

She traveled to Costa Rice twice last year to work with compassion ministries.

She takes her niece for weekly slumber parties to give her sister a break.

Ashley is one of those people I hope to be (just a little bit like) when I grow up.

Happy 30th Ash!

Happy Birthday Brian!

You are awesome!

We will miss you!

We celebrated Brian's 36th @ Gaya Japanese Steakhouse. The chef loves to toss shrimp in the air and have you catch it in your mouth.

The photos above and below were captured during crustacean toss 2010.

Welcome to earth Gavin!

Meet the littlest Republican we know.

Gavin Alaimo

Born July 20, 2010

Until we have a few little Republicans of our own running around Mr. R. will have to extoll all his political know-how on this little guy.

Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto!

Made in the 80's.

(July 10th, 1980 to be exact!)

And in celebration of Danielle's birthday,

we partied like a 1980's pop song!

'Cause we are living in a material world, and I am a material girl!Alex P. Keaton is voting Regan Bush in '84.

We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind. 'Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance, well they're no friends of mine.

See the people walking down the street. Fall in line just watching all their feet. They don't know where they wanna go. But they're walking in time. They got the beat.

Take on me. Take me on. I'll be gone. In your dreams.

The Love Shack is a little old place where we can get together. Love Shack baby.

I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so.
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so.

Every rose has its thorn, just like every night has its dawn.

When I wake up in the morning and the alarm gives out a warning. And I don't think I ever make it on time. By the time I grab my books and I give myself a look. I'm at the corner just in time to see the bus fly by.

Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone. I hear you call my name and it feels like home.

Trivia Winners!

Happy Birthday Simon & Sophie!

Simon and Sophie are 5 today!

We often say that Simon and Sophie saved our marriage. Our first year of marriage was rough, but the pups gave a us a reason to come home and spend time together. They made us realize that there is more to life than work, promotions, and money. They made Mr. R and I stop and reflect about what it means to love someone or something unconditionally. We love them so much!

And of course its not a birthday without ice-cream cake!