Happy Birthday, Happy Easter, Happy Visit

Easter was so late this year, that it came after my birthday! Michael was up in Normal celebrating it with us this year. Thank you, God, for your blessings and sacrifice!

Needless to say, it has been a Happy week. I celebrated my birthday three times: once with the Girls, who made a delicious coconut cake for me, once with JD and Michael on Wednesday, and once with JD and both Michaels when my brother came to town this weekend. It was a 29th birthday to remember!

Although the rest of our families are far away, we got to have a big meal with our Illinois family! Michael was obsessed with Emily's cat, Ella, and they got into a few tiffs that were hilarious to watch.

Besides all the celebrating, it was fun hanging out with brother Michael. We biked, went to the Children's Discovery Museum, hung out at the Coffee Hound, went to church, saw friends, celebrated my birthday, and watched movies: quite a bit for 2 days!

Hey, no beer for that Michael yet!

ABD!!

I am finally ABD, All But Dissertation. That means I've finished all my classes, passed my exams, and defended my dissertation proposal successfully. Technically, I'm hirerable as a professor, if only there were some jobs to be hired into... Now all I have to do to finish this everlasting degree is to write a book. No problem. Just let me get on that. Well, it's another normal Sunday night. I'm watching Oprah: Season 25, JD is working at the computer, and Michael is eating his baby monitor with one bare foot and one foot with a sock and shoe on. We're 45 mins. away from bedtime; that's Michael's bedtime, officially, but I think I'm going to be adopting it for my own tonight too. We're two weeks away from the end of the semester. JD is getting his motorcycle out for the season, and he cut the yard for the first time today. We're also looking at some fun swim lessons for Michael and his friend Miles next month. Fun times ahead!

Asheville, North Carolina

Mom's Spring Break was last week, so I got to enjoy it with her by traveling to Asheville, NC together. We had the best time! We ate out, visited the Biltmore Estate (wow), spent a day at the Grove Park Spa (wow again), then rode horses through Biltmore's grounds, and shopped in downtown Asheville. I ate some of the best food and saw some of the most beautiful sights that America has to offer.

Our bed and breakfast, the Princess Ann Hotel.

Biltmore! It outshines some of the castles I've seen in France and England.

It was such a beautiful day! In fact, every day gave us perfect weather.

The gardens: all tulips!

The winery. We had fun trying the different wines.

Grove Park Inn and Spa. Gorgeous!

Mom rode Goose on Saturday morning.

Guess my horse's name - Gizmo!

Shopping in Asheville. I spent all JD's money.

Meanwhile, Vickie traveled to stay with Michael because JD still had to work all week. I hear that things went very well, and Michael is now trying new foods! It also looks like he has two upper teeth trying to break through.

Now to get back into work mode for three more weeks!

Fun in the Park

Lately, we've been able to spend quite a few afternoons visiting the park, which has been so much fun. It's like opening a brand new toy that just doesn't get old. Some days we have to wear winter hats and jackets, and other days call for shorts and sun hats, but we'll take whatever we can get right now. Michael is everywhere: crawling, cruising, rolling, trying to climb. I'm defending my dissertation proposal on the 13th, reading, and even doing some writing. JD is preparing for summer both outside and in. He even set up the camping tent in the living room this weekend to get Michael used to his future home!