Happy Birthday Burke!

Today is Burkey Boy's 4th birthday!  I don't know where the time has gone- how did he grow up so fast?  I remember anxiously waiting for news of the birth of "baby G."  Aaron and I were teaching Sunday School to the 2 & 3 year olds in Roanoke when Evette called to announce Burke James' arrival!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of that crazy boy:

 Meeting Burke at Thanksgiving 08

 Reading with Burke in 2009

 I got lots of books for Christmas in 2009- and Burke thought they should belong to him!

 Burke loved Hannah from the very beginning :)

Trouble!  Hannah, Piper Jane and Burke just can't pose for a picture at the same time!

Happy Birthday Evette!

Happy Birthday to Nana! 
Here are a few of my favorite pictures of her:

 The very young Gentrys!

 Finding friends wherever she goes: meeting up with Karen on our tour of D.C. in 2006

 Evette loves to match with her grandkids

Even if she doesn't match- she coordinates :) 

 Matching all the grandkids!

 Nana and Hannah in green :)

All the girls at Grace and Todd's wedding rehersal dinner

Happy Birthday Robyn!

Today is my sister-in-law's birthday.  Robyn is such a kind and gentle person.  She is an encouragement to me and a role model as a mother.  She loves our family!  I can not even begin to tell you how EXCITED she was when I called her with the news: "We were going to Memphis to adopt a baby girl. . . and by the way, could we borrow all your baby stuff?!"

The day Robyn joined our family :)

Thanksgiving- with her wonderful family

I love how much Robyn loves Hannah!  I have some super wonderful aunts in my life and I am so thankful that Hannah does too.  We will just have to work on getting a picture of you two together :)

Thank you, Robyn, for everything.  I am so happy that we are family!

Birthdays 2012, Hannah's cake and presents

I made a 2-layer butter cake with white chocolate chips for Hannah's birthday cake.  Mom bought some cute Pooh characters for the top.  Hannah adored the singing but stuck her finger into the candles instead of blowing them out! 

All of her presents were a hit: books, musical intruments, dolls, stuffed animals.  But her favorite was her tricycle!  Hannah and Aaron skyped with Nana (so she could witness Hannah's reaction) while I snuck through the garage to the front door for the big surprise.  Thank you Nana- Hannah really loves that bike!

Birthdays 2012, at the park

Surprise!  It's your birthday!

Hannah plays with the letters on the fridge at lunch

Hannah said, "Swing you Mimi!"

After all the excitement at the Rain Forest Cafe, we decided that it might be a good idea to have a low-key birthday celebration for Hannah at home.  She woke up to find her door covered in streamers and ballons and streamers throughout the house (thanks Mimi and Papa)!  Unfortunately, I had to take her to the doctor for her 2 year check-up.  Hannah is 26.8 pounds and 34.75 inches.

After the doctor, Mom and I took her to park to play on the swings, tunnels and slides.  After that it was lunch and then nap.  I made a cake and a simple dinner before we opened presents.

Birthdays 2012- Rain Forest Cafe

Checking out the alligator

So scared of the alligator that she wouldn't let go of me!

Checking on those sneaky elephants

Finally enjoying her pizza

Here are a few pictures from our birthday dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe.  We thought Hannah might like this place- we had gone by there a few weeks ago and she really liked the fish and the alligator.  But when we got there Hannah FREAKED OUT!!!!!  She was so scared of the motorized alligator that she was crying and shaking!  The fish tanks were a calming influence but then we went inside of the restaurant.  The Elephants really scared her!  We finally sat down by all the monkeys-- then they started to move and make noise.  Hannah wasn't too sure about that at first but got over it pretty quick.  However, she still looked over her shouders every time to make sure those Elephants were not sneaking up on her!  Silly girl!

Birthdays 2012, part 2

Here are some pics from Aaron's birthday.  Aaron and I went out to Abeulo's for dinner-yummy!  Then we ate some banana pudding.

Birthdays 2012

Here is the first batch of pictures from Aaron and Hannah's birthday celebrations.  We had the Smith family birthdays on a Sunday evening to celebrate all the Smith birthdays [we are honorary Smiths!].  Lots of fun presents (mostly books and a sit and spin!) and a great time catching up with everyone.

Mimi Jane is 90!

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Tyler this weekend to celebrate Mimi Jane's 90th Birthday! 

Happy Birthday Mom!

Here is a late Happy Birthday wish to my Mom! 

Birthdays

Well, my birthday was last week.  My super sweet husband took me out to dinner and to a show. Not just a show.  It was a super fabulous show: Beauty & the Beast on stage at the Bass Performance Hall in Ft. Worth.  Fantastic and very comical.

We are also celebrating Molly's 5th birthday today!  I love that fuzzy bunny!

Even more birthday pictures

Here are more birthday pictures, this time from Evette.  Thanks to everyone who make this celebration of Hannah and Aaron so special.