My Birthday and Saint Valentine's Day two special days - always together!

Mommy & her lil' baby girl - Chewbacca

I can't believe it is February and VALENTINE'S DAY has come and gone and thus my birthday has too! I love this day/month... I love watching everyone celebrate "love" on my birthday! I love having my birthday on Valentine's Day!! I know a lot of people think it's just another day to spend money, a "Hallmark" holiday - but I propose and feel that it's a day to reflect on who we love, care about, and treasure! I mean - sure we should do that every day - but do we?

It's really fun to go to a store and see people pouring over cards, carrying flowers, or even gifts. I loved walking in to my youngest girl's school and seeing all the flowers, cards, and little gifts lining the front desk - to go to teachers. I just think it can't be wrong to celebrate those we love. I did my yearly wear some hue of pink or red until my birthday as usual. And we will be taking the yearly photos of me and the girls - as we do every year - like here in the next few days. Can't wait! I will post them when we do them!


And to everyone whom made my day so incredibly special... I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My immediate family made me feel so special all day long. My little girls are so AMAZINGLY caring and thoughtful. I can't believe how they made me feel. AND NO ARGUING! hahahah
The calls and birthday wishes from family, dear friends, and all who knew it was my birthday.
I LOVE IT! Thank you!!! It's neat sharing a special day with those I love.

Happy Valentine's Day & February

My Sweet Family & Friends!

And here's a few photos of how we celebrated... I even got to learn how to blow glass thanks to a special present from Mr Safety Man!!! Now he's got me hooked!

Girls made their own Valentine's cards - love their creativity!

Shirts I made for Boo's teachers...They're adorable!

I made little mailboxes for special msgs throughout the month!!

First time EVER glass - blowing!

I got to see what I created on my birthday!

Here it is! I am amazed! And proud! Thank you God for helping me create this paperweight. WOW.

We woke up to special marbles/paperweights made by Mr Safety Man for his three girls! WOW! Yes those are hearts in the glass!

Special time with my bunnies and lovely weather!

More special time with my kiddos!

My baby - Chewbacca

Sweet 'Silver Bells' - aka Bella

Heart shapes always show up for me. My sweet lil' angel watching over me

Mr Safety Man made me a glass heart! Now I have his heart!

He surprised me w/something he said wasn't there when he got there!

Beautiful bangle bracelet with amethyst

Little help!

Special GLUTEN FREE - flourless Chocolate cake... so delish!!!

He cracks me up - forgot candles... a bit "homemade..." Can you guess my age?!

And I even got a bit of an activity I have wanted to do! READ with my new chicken!!!

 Wonderful day! I am so glad it's getting warmer out and our Live Oak is finally getting green and it has almost stopped dropping their dead leaves. It just feels to me like everything is waking up and just smiling.

Yearly Birthday Photos!!!

What a month... Today we did our yearly photos. You see... I started this tradition when my little ones were babies... every year on or near my birthday we take photos all together... mostly me and my babies (not such babies anymore) but sometimes Mr Safety Man joins in as well...

We took so many photos this year I just do not know which ones to choose... BooBooBear is in a weird smiling stage... but hey that's her... Sweetpea... well she decided she could talk through a lot of the photos... a few I had to "DEMAND" they smile and take a good photo for my birthday's sake...

 ...but all-in-all we had a lot of fun.

 It was rather chilly this year. We took photos at a different beach this year. Now the goal is to get a book together of all the years of the birthday shots... Is it cheesy that we most of the time have matching shirts? hahaha Oh well - that's us! I will do it while I can!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH TO MEEEeeeeee!!!

I just love this month... and NO not only because my birthday's St. Valentine's Day... but that does play a BIG part...

No - there's a variety of reasons... love, the "symbol of love - a heart, the fact that where I live - February starts to become warmer than it has been for the last few weeks... (THANK GOODNESS... I HATE TO BE COLD). I start to see new things come to life around me... just in time for my birthday. It is the month where I think about the past year, think about the new year, and thank God for all my blessings. I guess it is my "New Year" so-to-speak. Perhaps that is why I haven't formalized any new year's resolutions - I was waiting for FEBRUARY!

I adore that I get to celebrate and share my birthday with a beautiful emotion like LOVE. I try to define myself by love - loving my family, friends, trying to love myself (that hasn't been working lately). Loving life as much as I can right now.. It is such a HUGE part of who I am. I define myself through this little holiday (even though it's kinda "Hallmark-y" now).at

I love the fact that my mom calls me on my birthday every year and says to me "you are the most special and best Valentine in the world a mom could ask for...". Aaaaaa - it just is special. ;) Melts your heart doesn't it?

Well it's been a busy, busy, busy few weeks. I have SO many photos to upload... but for now I leave you with a few beautiful love quotes... after all... it is almost

SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Must, bid the Morn awake!
Sad Winter now declines,
Each bird doth choose a mate;
This day's Saint Valentine's.
For that good bishop's sake
Get up and let us see
What beauty it shall be
That Fortune us assigns.
~Michael Drayton

Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction.  ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939

Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination. ~ Voltaire