And, yes, even this one:

I am so proud!

Today you turn another year older and for your birthday I got you kids that go back to school tomorrow. You’re welcome.

I figured this year you should have a birthday letter since you included me in the the school blessings. I do like to follow your lead. Wow, I almost typed that with a straight face!

So what have you accomplished this year? Well, you continue to work at that state agency that so graciously deposits money in our account every two weeks for me to spend. (That’s my favorite part, you know?) As long as they keep doing that, I’ll keep sending you. And they keep doing that because you keep doing a fantastic job directing their communications, (what ever that means.) Seriously you consistently put together amazing fairs, PR campaigns and annual reports. Everyone says so and I honestly couldn’t be more proud of you.

You continue to play softball for the Wombats. In fact you had a game tonight in which you went 2 for 3. The whole family really enjoys going out to your ball games, even grandpa Bob regularly gets in on the action.

You also continue to perform amazing feats on the grill and throw killer LSU parties. But that is weeks away, and I’m more a what’s right in front of me, oh look shiny, kind of girl so I’ll move on.

Now honestly other than work, baseball, LSU and well us, your lovely family, I really can’t think of anything else that you are in to. If I’ve missed something I truly apologize, but I’m really thinking that you need to get some extra curricular actives. Let’s work on that okay? Especially if we are going to continue with the birthday letters.

Jeff, all joking aside, you are the best thing that every happened to me. I can’t imagine life without you in it. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, mostly those damn cherubs, but you? You are the smartest decision I ever made. Thanks for making my life better.

Love,
Erika

*Title taken directly from Jeff’s facebook birthday status.

Again, I’m going to spare you the I’m having my hair done, shopping and over all being indulged details, but what I do want you to know is that I know how truly blessed I am. That I have gotten to spend the last 10 years with a man that would agree to put on a suit he wore 10 years ago and spend tons of money to make my dreams come true. To a man that always puts me first no. matter. what. To a man that I have experienced some of the roughest times of my life, but with him by my side, I not only survived, I have prospered. He has my made my life better. Period. He not only blesses my life and my family’s, (he didn’t have to accept Jacob, he didn’t have to work 2 and 3 jobs so that I could stay home with the cherubs) but he blessed the lives of so many others. He makes me a better person, and through that I am able to help others. He is the man behind the curtain. The machine that makes all this run.

So I guess what I want Jeff to know is, thanks for the last 10 years. I hope you know what you have done and how much I appreciate you. Thanks for being my best friend.

Here’s to the next 10 years and some great pictures to remember it all.

Take work for example. I’ve repetitively said I would quit when I became licensed. That’s just not happening, even if I wanted to. Between shortages, schedules and hiring freezes, there is no way in hell I’m leaving my office high and dry right now. But here’s the truth of it: I don’t want to. Since starting the application process and becoming licensed, I find myself much more energized. I no longer feel like a second class citizen, doing the same things as everyone else and getting over looked and paid half. Mostly because, well, I’m not any more. That’s helped, I have to admit, but there’s more. Somewhere in this process I have found my bliss again. I have relearned why I do this. Part of this is due to some successes I’ve had and part of it is just really being needed. But what ever it is, it’s working. At least for now. I’m not saying I’m now immune to burn out. It is still there, I feel it below the surface, but for now it is staying below and as long as it does, I’m going to keep my head down and keep working. And hopefully helping and making a difference for some people.

So this is where I sit today, as I try to wrap up some projects around the house before heading out to Beach Week ’09. Which is no easy task, because I’ve recently discovered decorating blogs. (I know, as usual, I’m really late to the party.) I started building a new bench for the mud room at eight o’clock last night. Jeff has threaten to put parental control software on my laptop to monitor the use of my newly discovered porn. (Yes, it is that bad. How did I not know this stuff was out there people? I blame you.)

But I’m gonna keep sitting, and working and killing Jeff with my late night/heel wearing projects, because I’m liking where I’m sitting right now. It’s different, but it’s really comfortable.

Now let’s get packed people, ’cause we head out early in the morning. No pushing or shoving and last one on the beach is a rotten egg.

*Completely stolen from Rae, who stole it from her nephew.

Yeah, me neither.

And Bunny thought the beard was bad.

Saturday, we headed out to the State Capitol for a family photo shoot. Our photographer took some fantastic pictures. Becky treated me to a sneak preview, and now you get to see them too. Lucky you!

Look at that crowd. You do not want to meet them in a dark alley.

Hard core cherubs. Do not make any sudden movements.

Oh look, the gangs all here.

Becky kept saying “She has so much personality!” Were looking into where that came from.

Dance baby, dance.

Awww, look what we made honey.

My monkey. I love that buck toothed boy. Even if he is the world’s youngest teenager. And yes, I am running his life.

How did he get bigger than me. I did not approve this people.

Really, I’m the only one who committed here. Work with me people.

My stair steps. Sorta.

A big thank you to Becky Thalgott Photography for her amazing pictures. You can see more a few more here. You know you want to!

BTW Becky has a guest post up over at Lexi’s blog (which is how I found her), where she gives some fantastic basic photography tips.

After finishing up their first day in ski school, the cherubs were jazzed and wanted to show off what they had learned. We go up to the top of a green mountain, for the last run of the day and wouldn’t you know it, all hell breaks loose. Emie is scared because she hasn’t been up that high, but is totally getting it because we go the easiest way. Jack is having a really tough time because, wouldn’t you know it, it’s too flat. He is falling apart. I tell him to take his snowboard off and walk to me. Well, that doesn’t work out at all. The board goes flying down about 40 feet below us. Evidently you don’t take your snow board off, because well, it slides. How am I supposed to know? I’m a skier, not a boarder. So I pop off my skis I go down after it, until a ski patrol guy wants to know why I’m down in thigh high snow out of bounds. I explain and he gets the board and gets me back to Jack, Em and dad, where guess what? Em is having a huge nose bleed. The guy is freaked, but I assure him it’s normal and clots that big are actually a good thing. I get it stop and start down the mountain again with Jack, still struggling. Of course, Em’s nose starts again, and she can’t even see enough to ski any more. The snow is really picking up about now and I’m totally stressed how I’m going to get the cherubs off the mountain. About that moment, the ski patrol guy just sweeps Em into his arms and zips down the mountain with her into her waiting father’s arms. Who is really worried why everyone has come off the mountain, but um, his entire family.

Guess what the first thing Em asked to do again this morning was?
“No, Em, you can’t ride down in the ski patrolman’s arms, but you can ski down with me.”
Yeah, she thought that sucked too.