Happy Birthday Mom, Joe, and Dad!

Well, yesterday was my mom and father-in-law's birthdays and today is my Dad's birthday!  It was always such a fun time for me to have my parents birthdays right beside each other.  I just liked that I got to celebrate them together.  When my brothers, sisters and I were younger, I always had to remind everyone of birthdays.  For some reason, no one could remember that Mom's was first.  As I got older, I quit giving everyone a heads up because I was busy with my own family.  Those first few years, I was the only one that would remember the day of but now, I'm proud to say most of them remember.  :-)

My aunt had shared a funny story with me about the first time she met my mom.  My dad's family had planned a birthday party for him and he invited mom.  She had a great time and got to meet everyone.  Soon after, my aunt and dad were talking and she asked him, "Jim, when is Jan's birthday?  Maybe we can do something for her birthday."  He looked at her with his devilish grin and said, "It was the day before mine."  My aunt said she was so embarrassed because no one knew so no one said Happy Birthday to her and made such a big fuss over dad.  But, that was my dad, he loved to tease and laugh.  I guess that's where I get it.  I only tease people I love.  The more I tease, the more I care.  hehe  Genetics are a strange thing I suppose.

My dad would have been 71 this year.  It's hard to believe it has been 4 years already.  We miss him a lot, but we talk about him a lot too.  He's still alive in our hearts.  I miss my dad so much, but I know he is at home with the Lord.  What could be better than that?  At his funeral, I wrote a poem:

I'll miss you Daddy, I hope you'll know
How much I loved you and admired you so.

You always made me feel special, a daddy's little girl
You seemed so big, so strong, so brave in this world.

You held my hand and gave bits and pieces
I didn't always listen, but you gave me hugs and kisses.

I know no little girl ever loved her daddy more,
Because the love I have for you could make an eagle soar.

I hate to say goodbye to you, I feel I need you still
But I know you'll always be with me, the love we have is real.

So for now I'll say I'll see you soon. one day I will for sure,
Save a seat for me in Heaven, love, forever more.

Rebecca J. Rebilas 2006

Me and my daddy

My mom and dad...  2002

Dad meeting Drew for the first time with Mom and Dad holding the twins together.

Our last Sunday at Washington Heights

I know we will be back to visit but it seemed really sad to have our last service at WHBC.  Before the service we went and spoke to Pastor Kisner and he prayed with us.  Such a wonderful pastor and we will miss him.  It's nice to know we can hear sermons online though.  We won't have to miss his messages.

We want to thank all of WHBC for the years of support.  Michael and I were both baptized there and Drew asked Jesus in his heart there.  We loved our Journey classmates and our wonderful teachers and mentors, the McGhee's.  

The person I will miss the most is the one that I started going to the church with, Gwen.  You are the best friend anyone could ask for!  Thank you for your strength, encouragement, and wisdom.  I love you!!  

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Today is my best friend's son's birthday.  Happy 5th Birthday Matthew!!

Hope you have a great birthday party at Chuck E Cheese!!

Happy Anniversary

It's hard to believe it has been 8 years since Michael and I said our 'I will's.  This is the first anniversary we have ever been apart but I will hold on to the fact that I did technically see him this morning before he left for work... yes, it was 4am but it was TODAY!

We celebrated last night by going out to a movie.  We saw Inception and we really liked it.  Then Michael surprised me by taking me to the mall and buying me two purses that I have been dying for.  He's the best!!

Alice in Very Berry Paisley & Bowler in Night and Day

We went to dinner at Longhorn and had a great time together.  But we were home by 9pm because he had to go to bed early.

While today hasn't been the ideal anniversary I must say that Michael has been the ideal husband.  He is so wonderful and kind and I am so blessed to have him.  I thank the Lord for giving me such a wonderful husband and knowing just what I needed.

I love you Michael!  Happy 8 years!!

We bought a HOUSE!

We are home owners.... again!  :-)  The kids and I went down to Kentucky to do some house shopping. We had a great time together and the kids were excited to see Daddy but I don't think I would take kids house hunting again.  They were quite the distraction.  We got in on Friday and met up with the realtor, Miss Saundra.  She showed us a few houses and we were going to look at more on Saturday.  The boys were a bit rambunctious through the houses.  There were some they had to stay in the car with Miss Saundra so I could actually look at the home without the worry of them breaking something.

We had it down to two houses, sort of on Friday.  We went and looked at both on Saturday with Michael.  We weren't in love with either.  They would both due, but it wasn't really what we were looking for.  So we headed back to the realtor's office and she pulled up a few more houses.  The first one we went to was in a new development.  I was going inside and asked Michael if he wanted to go in and he said he already saw it and while he liked it, he didn't think I would because it was only 3 bedrooms and an unfinished basement... I walked in and KNEW it was our HOME! I came out and said, let's get this house!  He laughs and said this was the first house he saw and wanted to put a bid on it that day and had teased me about it.  It just felt like home.  It isn't outrageously huge, but it has room for us to grow into it.  We will have a full basement to finish later but this winter it will give the kids a place to ride their bikes inside.

We are so excited and are hoping to close the middle of August.  The boys are supposed to start school August 4th but we know we will not make that deadline.  They are just going to be a little late.

Dining Room

Dining Room Window

Front Door

Coat Closet

Kitchen and YES, that IS a dishwasher!!

Kitchen

Living Room

Living Room from the stairs

Breakfast Nook

Kitchen

We are so very excited about moving to Kentucky.  Michael is definitely tired of commuting and we are tired of not having him home every night.  I hope we close quickly!

Kentucky Bound

Well, Michael left for Kentucky on Monday and started his new job today!!

Today the kids and I went out to cool off in the sprinkler!  They had a lot of fun!  But really, it is in the mid 90s and that is too hot to stay out too long.  So now we are all cooling off indoors.  I still haven't heard how his first day went, but I will soon enough.

There is so much going on in my head right now.  I don't even know where to begin...

Happy Birthday Sam and Ethan!

It's hard to believe my little guys are already 5 years old!  It seems like yesterday you were born.

Sammy, the first born

Ethan, 2 minutes later

The first time we held the boys, one week old.  Michael has Sam and I have Ethan.

We had a surprisingly easy time deciding on a theme... the boys wanted a Mickey Mouse party... Easy enough!!  :-)  We invited our friends to come over and play, the Ernsts, the Priscos, and the Picklesimers.  Of course we had our family, Grandma C, Grandma and Grandpa R, Aunt Tracey, Uncle Jim and Aunt Tracy, Aunt Chrissy, cousin Michael, Great Aunt Margaret, and cousin Sarah.  We made hot diggity dogs and served lots of extras.  I took my first stab at making birthday cakes... they didn't turn out fantastic, but they sure did taste good!!