Annaliese is Ten!

It's official!  I'm a little late to post this but Annaliese is now double digits. We celebrated this year with just our family. Brownies, ice cream and plenty of Bryer Horses made this girls day.

Annaliese is such an amazing girl in every single way.  She is almost always in an up beat mood and goes with the flow so well.  She gets perfect report card quarter after quarter. She loves school and blew me away this year with her science fair project on the color specturm and Isaac Newton. She loves drawing pictures of animals and writing or telling stories to go with them.  She has an amazing imagination. She loves to read and goes through books faster than anybody I know.  She loves non fiction and fiction alike.  She has a broad set of interests.  She will pick up a book about anything and find it interesting and just read out of curiosity.  This year she has shown an interest in genetics.  She could spend hours making punnet squares for different horses and dogs to figure out what types of babies would be born to different parents.   She loves to look at catalogs and dream of decorating her own room someday. She joined her school chess club and has enjoyed learning to play.  She takes piano lessons weekly and has an excellent ear.  Best of all she is an awesome big sister.  She loves to teach Avrie and Adeline things that she has learned.  She is always willing to play with them.  She loves her baby sister and is such a great help to me in caring for her.

Happy Birthday Annaliese!   Olive Juice Forever!

Avrie and Adeline's Baptism

Avrie and Adeline on their baptism day

November 23, 2013

What an awesome weekend we had! These two have been so excited to be baptized and the day finally came!

My parents and Kermit's brother Kimmel came out to be with them on their special day.  It really was a perfect day.  We had a sweet program.  My mom and I spoke on baptism and the holy ghost.  Annaliese joined Avrie and Addie singing "Rainbows" and were accompanied by our friend who plays violin.  It was so sweet.  I love to hear them sing!   Avrie wanted to be baptized first so Adeline got to be confirmed first.  Both confirmations were beautiful.  They really looked like angels.  Just sweet and beautiful as could be.  I truly felt the love Heavenly Father has for these two and I think all that were there did too.

We had so many people come out and support us.  The Relief Society room was packed.  They have amazing primary leaders and teachers and ward members that were there.  Also they invited a few of their friends to come from school.  Mia and Stella were there with their parents.  I'm proud of Avrie and Addie for wanting to share their special day with their friends.  It was a perfect day all around and one I hope they'll never forget.  I know I won't.

As Time goes by...and by, and by...with no posts.

Time to get the ball rolling again.

For now how 'bout a video of my girls from about 10 months ago. New enough right?! I don't think ever I posted it here anyway. (Okay after waiting too long for it to load I gave up...try the link at the end of the post. That'll get you there.)

Where to go from there? I don't know where to begin. Here is an awesome quote:

Quote of the Week: Avrie yesterday said, "When I grow up I want to be an astronaut that sells old fashioned nutcrackers in outer space."

Brag worthy: Report cards and parent teacher conferences were this week. It's official. My kids are way smarter than I was at their ages. Also, they have started taking a Spanish class and are LOVING it.

Other Happenings: Got released from YW Pres last week. Mixed emotions because I love the girls, but glad to have more evenings home with my family. KO is now in the stake YM. I am a VT. I like that...a lot.

Birthdays: We celebrated KO's 46th this week. We love birthdays around here...and we especially love him! We went out as a family to a middle eastern restaurant for dinner and came home to presents, cake and ice cream. His favorite gift was a cool "fashion hat" as the girls call it. =) Pictures to come!

Random Alison thoughts: Getting the itch to travel. Where to go? I'm thinking France for some reason. The girls' little Spanish words and phrases won't help us there. Neither will K's German. My high school French won't either for that matter! K has a meeting in turkey coming up that I could go tag along for free. Istanbul though? I hear it is great, but not on my top 10 places to visit. Call me unadventurous. Truth be told, I'm too chicken to leave my girls, afraid I'll orphan them. Totally irrational but a true fear of mine. I've missed tagging along to some really cool places these past years to stay home with my girls, but that is okay. We always said we would go later and visit those cool places as a family rather than leaving the kids at home. They are getting close to the age where we can start doing that. Today I pulled out our old travel photo album and showed the girls our pictures from our travels before they were born. I think that is where the itch comes from tonight. Guess we'll hold out for a not so free whole family tag along to a meeting somewhere else. Any meetings in France, Germany or Spain coming up? Didn't think so. Not so interested in taking the the whole family to Istanbul though. Oh, we ARE taking a trip soon to see my brother in Dallas. Dallas IS on my top 10 places to visit. Can't wait to see our cousins! After that...we'll just have to see! Kind of fun to dream about.

Video update: Okay already! How long does it take to load a video on blogger for crying out loud! FOREVER! I think I better just go to bed. Maybe you won't see the video of my girls from 10 months ago after all. I'll try posting a link. Try this. Good night. =)

How's that for a random jump start back into the blog! More to come soon...I promise! =)

Adeline & Avrie are 5!

My babies are now five! I can hardly believe it myself and yet when I look at them I realize that yes, it is TRUE! They have grown so much in a year! We decided to invite the girls from their class over for their party. They wanted a My Little Pony party. They chose the hats, the plates, the cups, etc. They helped me make some giant lollipop decorations that were on the tables. The surprise though was the candy table. When they woke up in the morning and saw the candy table...they were so excited!

Avrie wasn't too sure about having a party that wasn't on her actual birthday...but she soon found that having two celebrations is actually pretty cool.

Both Avrie and Addie loved having their friends over and had a really happy time. Kermit and I were just happy watching them be happy. He shot some good footage....maybe I'll have to put him up to making a little birthday video. I hope! =)

I love these girls. It blows me away when I think of their rough beginning at life. I feel so blessed that they continue to thrive, grow and learn. My whole life I thought it would be cool to have twins but never did I dream that I would actually have some of my own. It blows me away how different two girls can be from one another. It also amazes me how such differences can compliment each other. They are a perfect pair. I love these two forever. Happy Birthday my sweet girls!

March Madness 2010

We celebrated Kermit's birthday with style this year! He blew out 45 big ones with all the girls gathered round to witness. His favorite gift (or maybe our favorite) was the pack of sticky mustaches! All the pics I took were on my phone....why do I do that? They just don't turn out. Luckily my parents were in town and snapped a few with a real camera. THANKS DAD!

I really need to just catch up on this blog. Too much time has lapsed and I'm drawing blanks. This much I do know.....Kermit had an awesome birthday! I have a picture to prove it!

February 2010 = Lots o FUN!

February brings many things. A few of our favorite things....Annaliese's Birthday for one and Winter Break for two! This year we spent winter break in warm and sunny, balmy and beautiful California. We were able to celebrate Annaliese's sixth birthday with family! Love this girl! Can't believe my girl is SIX!!!

She wanted a cat cake...so a cat cake we made, complete with six whisker candles!

We also went to Sea World...great time! (This was about a week before they had to hold all Shamu shows due to the killer whale attack. Um, so glad we missed that one. Yikes.)


And no trip to CA would be complete without a trip to the Happiest place on Earth!

And a happy time it was!

Two times FOUR

It's been birthday time around here! The twins turned four on Wednesday. They are sure tell everyone the meet that they aren't three any more.
We had a "smallish" birthday party here at the house with their friends from their primary class. We had tiny cupcakes, tiny ice cream cones, tiny cookies, tiny pretzels, etc. The girls enjoyed playing "pass the parcel" and opening presents the best. They were so happy to have their friends over to help celebrate! They had a very happy day indeed.

On Thursday the girls got to have cupcakes at school. Annaliese came down from Kindergarten for the occassion. Again they were thrilled. What a great day!

Birthday weekend review.

This weekend we celebrated Kermit's birthday. 44 big ones! We decided to have a low key "family party" this year. Annaliese was very concerned because all of Kermit's family were not here...like his mom and brothers. Yes, that would have been nice. (Like we had a few years back, a surprise "whole family party". Maybe we'll try that again another year! Shhh.) This year however, was a happy one nonetheless with just the 5 of us. We had wonderful weather so we loaded the kids up for a day out at the zoo. Ahh, spring. It's coming, or rather it's finally officially here! When we got home we worked in the front yard a bit while the twins just played and "helped". Poor Annaliese slept on the couch, she's been sick the last few days. Kermit cut some stones and laid a little path that leads to the water spickett (sp?) and hose so we don't have to get muddy every time we walk back there. He cut the hedges too. It looks great! That evening we had presents and cupcakes. The girls were thrilled! Kermit wished that I wouldn't take any pictures of him at his party...but his birthday wish didn't come true. I mean how could I blog about his birthday without a birthday picture? Sorry Honey. But his other birthday wish did come true. He had a relaxing, no commitment to anyone, low key, happy day with his family.

Happy Birthday Kermit! I love you so much! Your girls adore you! May 44 be as good as 43! xoxo from all of us!

(This is just a funny picture I thought I'd add...the girls loved "helping" to make the cupcakes!)

Happy Birthday Annaliese!

Today is Annaliese's 5th birthday. Wow, that went fast. It really makes me sad when I think about how fast she is growing. I'm having a hard time dealing with the fact that she's not a baby anymore. Silly I know. She is losing those luscious chubby cheeks that I love so much. She doesn't have those cute little dimples in her hands anymore either. Sigh... She's a beautiful big five year old. The one thing I can say is I do love watching her grow. I love watching her figure out the world little by little. She may not be a baby anymore but she will always be ours. What a blessing!

We had a wonderful day celebrating. We ran errands in the morning and she was sure to tell everyone we met that it was her birthday. She brought many a smile to quite a few strangers. We came home and decorated her cake just in time for a few of her friends to arrive for a little Outer Space Birthday party. We ended her special day with a birthday dinner of her choice. Kermit and I took our big 5 year old out to Portillos for a cheeseburger and fries. All three of us were in heaven.

Happy Birthday Annaliese! We love you!

Birthday Party Pictures

Addie & Avrie with their cupcakes.
Making butterflies.

Tired Girls! 3 hour naps for both 3 year olds!

Three years ago....

Three years ago (tomorrow to be exact) my twins were born. How grateful I am for these dear ones. I wanted to share a few excerpts from my journal written in June of 2006 when the twins were 7 months old. I always want my girls to know the story of their birth and a few of the many miracles we saw that allowed them to be with us today.

Avrie & Addie together for the first time since birth...

Approximately 2 weeks old.

June 2006-
"I’ve been wanting to write the story of their birth for some time now and share my thoughts and feelings. I almost can’t…..the whole experience almost doesn’t seem real, but when I start to think about each event that lead up to their birth and their recovery home….I shudder to think how lucky I am to have these two little girls.

I’ve always heard that a twin pregnancy had more risks involved….The word “risk” never meant anything to me before. I understand now…I’m glad those risks were taken obviously or we wouldn’t have our two baby girls but I don’t know I’d ever take those risks again. Life is too fragile and I love my babies too much to put anybody at risk.....

My whole pregnancy was a cinch. I actually didn’t gain that much weight and sometimes wonder if that had anything to do with this but I’ll never know. My body felt great.....I went in for a routine 30 week appointment for an ultrasound…all tests previous were normal….I thought it was strange when the tech kept asking me all kinds of questions about diabetes, amniocentesis, etc. It was a Friday. (I'm pretty sure this was the day of Grandma Bev's funeral, which I obviously missed.) My doctor was concerned and said it was serious. I thought she was being dramatic. She had me go in for a repeat test on Monday. That weekend I got a blessing before Kermit went out of town for the week to Boston. Mondays test came… I knew something was really wrong by the way the tech was acting. I was waiting and waiting to see the head supervisor/doctor but then after waiting forever they just told me to go see my regular doctor. She wasn’t in so I saw Dr. A. As soon as he looked at the report he said, "you need to go to the hospital right now. Baby A is very sick. She has fluid all around the outside of her lungs and heart compressing them. Fluid should not be there…this is called hydrops and it is very serious…call your husband you are not going home." Kermit was in Boston and caught the first flight home.
He stayed the night with me in the hospital. Megan our babysitter, stayed at home with Annaliese. That night I started contracting! I was given some medicine to stop contractions. I was given steroid shots to help strengthen their lungs because it was looking like they were coming soon. We waited, the contractions stopped. I was there for 3 days and they watched very closely little Adeline’s condition. It seemed to be stable. The fluid was there and not going away but she wasn’t showing signs of being stressed. Her heart beat was great. We made a deal that I could go home if I agreed to come in everyday for ultrasound and non stress tests. I did that for 1 1/2 weeks. The fluid did increase very little at first but then tapered off. I had gotten comfortable going in to the hospital every day, expecting that I would hear the same news I had heard previous day....that "the fluid was there but it wasn't any worse, Adeline is fine, go home and rest, come back tomorrow." I was convinced that I could get to 36 weeks... Then on November 17th I went in for my daily routine checkup…the fluid had gown substantially. Now Adeline had fluid under her skin on her head! They said her heart was still strong but wanted me to go to labor and delivery just to keep an eye on her heart. I was calm…I was exactly 32 weeks. I was huge and uncomfortable. I fully expected to be able to go home to Annaliese and Kermit.I sobbed when the doctor came in and told me that they needed to induce me. Adeline just had to get out if she was going to get better. I sobbed. I had been so tough and kept my faith…but the reality of delivering a baby that was so sick truly was frightening to me. Adeline needed ME! As long as she was in me her heart could beat and she didn’t need her lungs. After birth she would have to rely on her own heart and lungs that were in such critical condition. I cried and cried. Kermit was in Racine, WI on business. He cancelled his meetings and headed home.

It was evening by the time he arrived if I remember. They had given me my pitocin…that I actually didn’t really need…my body had already started labor again on its own. When it came time to break my water…whew…that was the hardest ever…there was no turning back these babies were coming and I was freaking. I couldn’t have done it with out Kermit. I was so embarrassed to be crying the way I was but I couldn’t stop. It was the most awful feeling I've ever felt. These babies weren’t ready! Neither was I!

I got my epidural shortly thereafter. At 11pm my doctor came in to check on me. She said she had been up all night the night before and that she really needed to go back home to sleep….that we didn’t want her there on such little sleep. I was so sad because she had been so cool to us all along and had been such a support. She had taken time at the end her exhausting days to visit with me during her rounds while I was in the hospital…she loved Annaliese and was great to Kermit. She tried to help us come up with names…etc. Now when it was time to deliver she had to go home to sleep. I labored all night and into the morning. At 5 am (now November 18th) I felt the need to push. The nurse said no way, you were a 4 less than an hour ago….I asked her to please just go get somebody to check me…I had to ask a couple of times and she finally did…it was time!!! I was a 10 and ready to go. They wheeled me to the OR where 20 doctors and nurses were…. I’m not even kidding. Dr. M (my doctor) was one of them! =) She got the call and came straight over….5 hours was enough sleep for her she said. What a woman! Dr. H was also there…he had delivered Annaliese so I knew he was good too. There were nurses attending then about 5 doctors and nurses for each baby…add that all up and yep…about 18-20 people. I pushed with all my might to get Adeline out. I think it was about 20 minutes of pushing. At 5:35am Adeline was born. They held her up for me to see then went straight away to the doctors waiting to save her life. She looked like a chubby little cherub. A lot like the way I remember Annaliese looking at birth. I remember saying that I thought she looked like Annaliese. Avrie was transverse so the doctor with the smallest hands (a resident) reached in and grabbed her feet and pulled her out 3 minutes later! Whew! Avrie was so little. She was beat red. TINY and RED! She was also whisked away to the other side of the room where her team of doctors were waiting.

I had done it. I had had a “normal” delivery with no complications just as I had been promised in a blessing I had received. I kept remembering that. God had promised me a normal delivery and I had had one….Now my babies would be blessed to make it and that promise would also be kept.

Dr. H kept going over to where our babies were being worked on to try to give us an update. Adeline’s chest tubes had been placed and fluid was beginning to drain…it was straw colored. That is all we knew. We had no idea that the team of doctors working on her little body didn’t know if they would be able to save her. It was bad.
They wheeled her off to another area of the hospital without saying goodbye. A few minutes later Avrie wheeled by and paused to say goodbye before heading up. It was up to recovery for me.

I didn’t go down to the ICU to see them. I felt the doctors would do better without the blubbering mother over their shoulders. Kermit’s brother Gabe happened to be driving through town with Kermit’s mother to move her out west for the winter. Just as they arrived at the hospital our Bishop showed up as well. The three of them (Kermit, Gabe & Bishop) went down together to see the babies and to give them blessings. I remember asking Kermit to tell me what the blessing said…he said he didn’t remember.

Next it was my turn to go see the babies. Dr. Beverly R. had told us everything they had done to try to save Adeline. (I took comfort in her name. It was a reminder that my Grandma Beverly in heaven was near and caring for my babies as their angel.) Dr. Bev explained that she had placed the chest tubes and had given her air but she had seen Adeline “posture” or show signs of oxygen deprivation and seizure. The fluid was draining. Adeline was the sickest baby in the nursery. Dr. Bev flat out told us she didn’t know if Adeline would make it. They were doing everything they could. Tests were being done to see if they could figure out the cause of the hydrops. Things did not look optimistic.

Kermit and I finally went down to see our girls. No pictures were taken. It felt like too sacred a moment to photograph. Adeline was right at the first bed as you entered nursery 7. A huge oscilating ventilator was shaking her whole body as it pushed tiny puffs of air into her frail lungs. She was on a sedation medication that paralyzed her keeping her from moving. She had an IV that fed her veins straight to her heart. Her knees were up and open like a W. Naked sitting on an open diaper. Tubes from both sides draining fluid little by little. She looked lifeless. She was so pretty. Her skin beautiful. Her chub wasn’t chub though…it was the ademia or swelling from the fluid. She had to live. It was surreal.

Avrie was so little, so red, on no pain medication, wiggle, wiggle, mad. She seemed to respond to my voice. I cried. She wore goggles to cover her eyes, she was under lights for bilirubin. Her legs were like a pincushion. Doctors tried and tried to get a central line in to her premptivley but could never get a good vein. Her ventilator was down her throat as well just with normal air flow rather than like Adeline’s. Avrie looked mad and so uncomfortable. She cried but no sound could be made with the tubes down her throat. She only weighed 3 lbs. 5 oz. 16 inches. Little. Neither girl looked good.

The next day we met again with a different doctor with a new update. Dr. __(Can't remember his name)___ had told us that in the teams had pulled out every trick they knew to help Adeline make it…he said that usually when they have to use these “tricks” as he called them they are able to tell immediately which intervention was the one that makes the difference…in the case of Adeline…they weren’t sure which one of their interventions caused her to turn around. Adeline was rallying beyond belief…stunning all those who had been present at her delivery. We know which intervention it was…her blessing. Though Kermit doesn’t remember the words he uttered in her blessing…he remembered that he felt she would be healed. She indeed was on her way.

It wasn’t more than a few days before Adeline was taken off the oscillator ventilator and moved to a nasal canula. It was a few weeks before she could be held due to the chest tubes….finally they came out and she was able to be held. She was getting stronger day by day. She was passing Avrie up in breathing and before long eating. She was started off on Portagen…a formula easier to digest than breast milk. Tests came back…no cause for the hydrops could be found. No evidence in brain scans of seizure, her heart strong, this little girl was strong and going to make it!

Avrie plugged away…breathing was never easy for her, eating never easy, keeping warm wasn’t easy. She was little. She wasn’t ready to be born but had to make due. One thing every nurse that cared for her said…this little girl is a wiggler! YES, I know! My ribs would agree! Every visit to the hospital Avrie always greeted us with wide eyes busy checking us out. Adeline was always asleep. The same is true today…Adeline my good sleeper…Avrie too busy looking around to sleep! =)

One day they were off their “ohio beds” and in to an incubator! =) There for a few weeks and then into open cribs! They were being fed every 3 hours around the clock. They were both now on Breast milk but bottle fed. What ever they couldn’t finish they would tube the rest through their NG tube (Nose). I would pump milk at home and bring it in to the hospital each day. Each day I would visit for a couple of hours. Hold each baby an hour each then go home. It was so hard. I felt the need to be there all day but just couldn’t. Annaliese needed me at home too. I was so worried I would have babies that were emotionless because their mommy couldn’t be there the way others mommies could be. I think I missed one day in 8 weeks…I couldn’t handle not seeing them….I had to go everyday. What mom wouldn’t.

Its late right now..I’m exhausted…but I wanted to get some of this documented before another 7 months slips away. I feel so blessed to have these dear babies. Its been a challenge everyday but one I am grateful for. Twins isn’t easy but is happy. I love these girls with all my heart. I thank the Lord for their safe arrival to our family. The priesthood is real and we have been blessed by its power. "

I know that God hears and answers prayers. Thank you so much to our family and friends who prayed continually for their recovery and our comfort. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Twins Birthday Recap

Yesterday we celebrated the twins third birthday. What a great day! I hope it will be one they both remember. We had a little butterfly party with just a couple of their friends. We made a little butterfly craft, played a little butterfly game, ate a little cupcake with little butterfly decoration in them, tah dah!

I don't think I have ever seen Avrie more excited. She's just been bursting with joy over turning three. It is a pretty big deal to her. When she came downstairs for the first time in the morning she was so excited to see the decorations set up for the party. She did a little dance and just squealed and then plopped herself down on the ground making a super silly face and wiggled some more. She was thrilled!

Addie was cracking me up all week. She's been busy singing, "Happy Birthday to me" or "Happy Birthday to US" all week! =) She was very involved in making the cupcakes that we made the day before. Keeping those cupcakes away from her until the party was quite the trick. I literally had to keep the cupcakes hidden in the cooled oven to keep her from devouring them before the party.

I have to say that these girls are about at the peak of cuteness! They melt me and I love that I am their mother. Happy Birthday to sweet Addie and Avrie! I love you both forever!

Happy 60th Birthday

Better late than never, right. I'm only a month behind and determined not to get 2 months behind!
At the very end of July all of my side of the family gathered in California for mom's 60th birthday bash. A pirate themed 60th bash, no less. What a great time we all had. Mom is an August baby so all the kids went in together and got her a beautiful peridot necklace and earings. We also put together a scrapbook for her listing all the things that we treasure about her. No pirate party would be complete without a treasure hunt. My brother Byron dressed up as a pirate and helped the kids follow clues around the yard to find different hidden treasures. My kids especially loved that. Annaliese is still talking about it! They also had pirate boat races (raingutter ragata style). My mom's brother's and their families also came for the party. It was so much fun to see some of my extended family that I haven't seen in years!
It was a very fun day! Happy Birthday again mom! I love you!

(deep) Birthday Thoughts

I remember when I was 20 years old sitting at church in a BYU singles ward. The girl speaking had just had her 25th birthday. She was going on and on about how blessed she felt to be 25 and how wonderful it was. She was saying how she just couldn't believe she was actually a quarter of a century old. The whole time she spoke I was seriously thinking to myself..."I would NEVER do that! 25 is SOOOO old. Why would anyone get up in front of a group of people and proudly announce that they were 25? CRAZY! That's just suicide! She's never gonna get married!"

Every time I think back on that moment I totally find myself just cracking up at myself! Silly me. =) Here I am at 36 proudly displaying my age for all to see. I wonder if there are any 25 year olds out there wondering why on earth I would ever admit to being 36. Maybe so.

I was talking to Kermit earlier this month about aging in general. It had been on my mind a lot knowing my birthday was coming. Also because this past year I've found myself dieting for the first time ever, buying expensive wonder face creams and noticing that the reflection in the mirror doesn't exactly match the image I think I should see. Jokingly, I told Kermit that if this is what aging was about that I didn't think I was up for it. Kermit had a completely different view to share.
He said that when he thinks of aging he envisions an elderly couple that has shared a wonderful life together. Though they are old everybody of all ages just loves them. They have had so many interesting life experiences together. They've had trials in life and grown from them. They've learned through the years who they are as individuals. They know how to be kind and have the time in life to share the knowledge they've gained through experience. A lovely picture. I was impressed with his views, especially because he is over 40 *gasp*! =)

So the last two weeks I've been rethinking things. Maybe he and I could grow to be that couple someday. I'll diet here and there and buy expensive face creams but the bottom line is time marches on regardless. All I can really do is try to enjoy the ride. Every year from here on out I will think of as another year of experiences. Hopefully I'll grow wiser in the process. I'm looking forward to the experiences ahead this year!

Happy Birthday Derek & Cooper!

Our first full day back in California we headed down the hill to visit my brother Derek & his family! Shannon had prepared an awesome dinner to celebrate Derek's 30th birthday & Cooper's 1st. Of course she had a cute beach theme party. All the different food was served in buckets and pails. She had cute little toothpick beach umbrella fruit skewers and Hawaiian-like flowers hanging from the ceiling. Her cakes were adorable & delicious too! Very beachy & a fun party!

Derek is such a cute brother to have! He is a giant with a giant heart. It was a treat to be able to catch up with him a bit on this trip. I loved hearing him tell some police stories about him & his partner Renzo the K9. I love watching him be a dad. I love that he can still make me laugh. Happy Birthday Derek! If 40 is the new 30, does that make you 20?

A picture of health.

Here is a picture of Kermit and his little girls on his 43rd Birthday! "A picture of Health." I asked Kermit what this quote means. He said that it comes from his father. Every year on his dad's birthday, he gathered his four boys around and made them sit on his lap for a photo, even when they were fully grown. The annual photograph was always referred to as "a picture of health." Maybe his dad thought that the children gathered around him made him feel young and vibrant, healthy. Maybe because good health is also one of the best wishes one could be granted. Whatever the reason, a birthday picture with the young ones gathered will forever be referred to as "a picture of health." So here's to another year of good health and happiness. Happy Birthday sweetheart. May all of your birthday wishes come true.