HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ERIC!!!

Hard to believe our little guy is 33!!!

Hope your special day is a great one!

Our little "Superman"

Love to you!

Mom & Pop

XOXOXOXO

Brody Update!

Just some more recent photos of the little one.  Enjoy!

Matt, Diana and Brody

My 5th Birthday Celebration

Hi everybody!  I want to share my Caitlin Anderson birthday celebration with you.  It started on Friday when Daddy picked me up from daycare and I was surprised to see Grandma and Grandpa in the car.  They had arrived from Michigan in the afternoon to share in my birthday celebration.  Then we picked up Mommy at home after she arrived from work and went to Mason City for my birthday dinner at my favorite restaurant -- McDonalds!

After dinner we went home and had a party.  Daddy had the house decorated with a Disney Princess theme and I had some Princess balloons too.

I dressed up in my Aurora dress and Daddy brought out the special cake he made for me.  It was really pretty!

Daddy put five candles on the cake, lit them and I was ready to blow them out after making a wish.

Daddy took the cake apart and we ate it.  It was really yummy!  Then I opened lots of cards and presents.  I got some really fun gifts.

It was time for bed, but Grandma told me that we would go on a special birthday adventure on the next day so I was really excited!  I slept well and was ready to go the next morning.  We got in the car and headed  north.  Daddy couldn't go with us because he had to work :-(

We stopped in Minnesota for lunch at Famous Dave's and then spent some time at Cabela's.  That was fun because I got to see lots of stuffed wild animals and some big fish in a tank.  Of course we went shopping at an outlet mall before lunch.......

Then we continued north to Minneapolis.  We stopped at a hotel by the Mall of America that had a BIG water park.  That was really fun!  It had a river to float in, several slides in big tubes, a surfing area and a kiddie area.  We had lots of fun on the river, the slides and in the kiddie area.

I liked floating under the water falls in the river and getting all wet with Mommy and Grandpa!

The slides were really fun and we even went on the REALLY big one.  It was 10 stories tall and about a mile long.  Mommy and I screamed the whole way down!!

Finally, we went back to the room and I was SOOO tired, I asked Mommy if I could go to bed.  I slept on the top of a bunk bed for a LONNNGGG time.  Mommy slept below me. 

The next morning Grandma and I went to the water park again for a couple of hours, then we went to the Mall and I spent several hours riding rides at the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park.  The rides were really fun and now that I'm 5 years old, I rode them all by myself! 

I even got to meet Spongebob and Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants!

After the rides we went to Build A Bear and I made a new puppy friend.  Her name is Snuggles.

We left for home and after stopping for dinner arrived.  I got to play with some of my birthday toys before I went to bed and slept again for a LONNNGGG time!  This morning I dressed Snuggles in a new outfit that I bought with my gift from Aunt Pat and Uncle Don.  We sure are cute!

Thanks for sharing my birthday activities with me.  It was so much fun and I wish you all could have been there with me.  Thanks to Daddy, Mommy, Grandma and Grandpa for making it a special and memorable birthday!

I Love You!!

Caitlin Anderson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAITLIN

Princess Caitlin,

May your day be filled with balloons, cake and sunshine. You light up our lives and may God bless you with a very happy birthday filled with fun things. You have a wonderful visit with Grandma and Grandpa. I wish we could share your special day with you but we are there in spirit. Much love to you big 5 year old!!

Love,

Uncle Don and Aunt Pat

Happy Birthday Bryan!

I thought I'd share a few pictures from the birthday festivities today. We didn't quite decorate to the extent that Caitlin would have liked, but he managed to blow up some balloons and purchased some sports themed plates and napkins. We did wear hats...so Caitlin was happy. Given the circumstances of the week, we made the best of Bryan's day.

Just for Deb ... (Not Really)

After being roundly chastised by Deb on Sunday morning because she's tired of looking at the picture of the steer, we decided it was a good time to update everyone on our week since returning from Texas. We went to spend some time with Brody and Momma on Wednesday evening but the big news was Brody's first visit to Gramma and Grampa's house on Thursday evening while mom ran a few errands. Then, on Saturday evening, Granny and Gramps went back to Brody's house so Mom, deserving of some R & R, could attend a birthday party for an old friend.

Brody and Gramps chillin' on Wednesday while Mom and Granny fold laundry in the basement..

Wide-eyed, the little rascal takes in the sights at G & G's house on Thursday.

Unimpressed, he decided to do what he currently does best.


At his house on Saturday evening, Mom and Gramma thought it best he get up but he kinda liked snoozin' in Grampa's arms.

Relenting to the wake up calls, a good snooze deserves a good stretch.

Just a tad fussy after the diaper and duds change, he takes a break in his boppy.

After a good time at the birthday party, Mom's home and all is right with the world.

Happy Birthday Bryan!!

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you.......

We hope you enjoy your special day. Caitlin will want it to include a cake and banners, etc., we're sure. Maybe the sun will shine and melt some of that snow!

Love to all!