Logan's 3rd Birthday!

We were able to travel to Houston this last weekend to see family..and also to celebrate Logan's 3rd Birthday on Saturday!!! We had a really fun time...Logan was spoiled as always, and wasn't really sure what was going on. But, he did enjoy the presents, the candles, the cake, and the "B!" ( Bailey) Here are some of the highlights....

Fireman Logan!

The Traditional Ostler Family Ice Cream Cake! Yummy!

Showing off the goods!

Logan, you are a joy! I love your sweet spirit. I love your smooth, easy going nature. I love how you laugh at yourself, and constantly tell us how funny you are! I love how much you love us! I love how much you love your "B!" I love how much you still love Ka-chow, and your "ire-iters" ( fire fighters), and your "ighty-ashines" ( mighty machines). I love how every policeman, fireman, or ambulance is a "ire-ighter," and I love how you can spot them just like your dad can spot golf courses! I love when we sing songs together at night before bed. Your favorite song is "fun to do!", and I love that your favorite part is "giving a hug is fun to do, and giving a kiss is fun to do" ,and I LOVE that every time we sing it you have to give me hugs and kisses over and over..... I love YOU!!

Happy Birthday sweet boy!

The "D's" Come to Visit!

So you all know the whole, "surprise the girls" story...but we also surprised them with an overnight stay in San Antonio, and the next day we surprised them with a trip to Sea World.

Kirsti and Sierra kept on saying," I don't think I can take anymore surprises!" It was really cute!

Anyway, here are some pictures that I took, that highlight the "D's" stay..

The night that the "D's" got into San Antonio we checked into our hotel on the River walk, ate dinner at the Rainforest Cafe ( girl's choice) and took a tour of the River walk scene. The girl's had fun, but the highlight had to have been finding these pink cowgirl hats. They even had light up tiaras on them...only in Texas!

The next morning we walked across the street to the Alamo for the all too important, "Remember the Alamo!" photo op...I think they liked it a lot more than they thought they would!

We then headed off to Sea World! For our first show, we sat in the splash zone...hoping to get wet. It never happened! It was SO HOT so we used the map as shade and a fan.. I felt like Macgyver.... It was so clever...

I post this only to remember that at the Coral Reed Feeding, Kirsti was selected to put her hands on the glass with the diver to show how thick the glass was....you should have heard all the Oooh's and Ahhh's when she said she was visiting from Wisconsin... :)

This is what I found when loading pictures onto my computer....evidently while Kirsti and I were being awesome and riding Steel Eel, the Scaredy Cats were being silly...Sierra loves Vicky!

Just too cute!

It was so HOT that ice cream HAD TO BE eaten....it also helped to get it all over your face!
Refreshing!

Vicky also had the brilliant idea of doing a "spa day" for the girls! Kirsti had her nails done by Ms. Vicky....

Sierra had hers done by Ms. Randi...

We did an excellent job with the painting and the leg massages we offered..

and we even offered a cool cucumber eye mask treatment...

there were a lot of late nights...
and no worries! Logan wasn't left out! He got the "spa treatment" as well- massage, and nail painting. We did mostly clear but he did insist on 2 HOT PINK big toes.....and loves them!

Thanks "D's" for a great 4 girls's and 2 boys's week of fun in our Blazing Texas Heat! We can't wait to see you again...

Love you guys!!!

Sierra's Big Surprise!

For over a month, my friend Vicky and I have been plotting to surprise our girls with a visit. Our girls have been inseparable since they were 4! To be completely honest, so have their parents. We haven't been able to see the "D's" for over a year and a half so when Vicky told me that her and Kirsti were going to visit I was SUPER EXCITED!! And since Vicky and I know how excited 9 year old girls can be we decided that we would keep it a secret until the day of the trip for BOTH of the girls... Kirsti found out at the airport checking in her luggage, and Sierra found out on the way to pick up the "D's" from the Airport! We had a great time and I will post pictures of the visit later but for now enjoy Sierra's BIG SURPRISE!!!"

Marathon Man!

Today, Paul signed up to run the Houston Half Marathon on January 17th 2010! He will be running with my Dad, Mom, Sister Erin, Cousin Elyse, Veronique, and a whole lotta other people. Registration opened today and it is already SOLD OUT!!! I am so proud of him for setting this goal for himself...I know that he will do a great job...as will the rest of the fam!... I can't wait to run with Paul as he trains to run this race! We had a blast when he ran with me for the 10K! OH! and Brock and I are going to kick some major trash cheering them on from the side-lines!

P.S. Leave Paul your ideas for songs he can load onto his ipod to help him train and also run on the big day!!!

Career Change!?!

Summer is sometimes hard... kids get bored, you're border ( yeah i just made that up) and it's HOT! This can all lead to otherwise perfectly behaved children engaging in {gasp} physical altercations. This summer I can report that we have had numerous hitting, kicking, and biting matches to last us a lifetime. This has, for me personally, caused me to look into my current profession and ask myself, " Am I in the right field?"

BUT, occasionally you walk in on something like this...

Or this...

and you realize...."WOW! I guess I'm not a complete failure!"

Never Mind! They're at it again.....

Birthday!

Yesterday was my 29th birthday! I love birthdays. But not for the reasons that you think. What I really love is the little things that people do to make you feel special.

Paul, Logan and Sierra were amazing yesterday. They took me to Sea World, and on the way we stopped at one of my favorite places for breakfast, McDonalds! (Seriously, that Bacon, Egg, and Cheese biscuit is a culinary masterpiece!) When we got to S.W. we fed the dolphins and saw the sharks before heading over to the Water Park..we then saw the ski show, Shamu, and the Pirate Show before heading home. On the way home we stopped and had dinner at Chuy's! I could eat there every night. Paul and the kids were so sweet and thoughtful...it was a magical day!

When I arrived home, I arrived home to a answering machine full of songs, and well wishes from family and friends. And when I checked my email it was full of well wishers wishing me a Happy Birthday!

Today, my friend Mylie brought me over homemade cookies. Mindy brought me over sugar cookies, and Melissa brought me dinner. ( Yes! It was Chuys!)

Seriously, I LOVE BIRTHDAYS! I can not put into words how much it feels to have your family and friends take time out of their busy schedules to wish little ol' me a Happy Day! I feel loved! and THAT folks is what has made this the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!

p.s. Happy 30th Birthday to Kelly, my awesome Brother (technically in-law), who shares this day with me.. I hope you too had a great day!!!