{another} birthday weekend. {translated: pictures of Caris}

We planned a party to celebrate Kent's birthday this past Sunday, so I headed to Lexington on Friday afternoon and spent the weekend with the family. 

Caris's Saturday morning pjs were so cute I had to snap a picture.

Duck butt!

After being a nanny for a few months, I have begun to figure out some things babies like. Apparently shaking blankets is one of them. She was entertained. :)

Also on Saturday, Kait and I stopped by to see Wes and Sara before they photographed a wedding and then walked over to see the inside of Ben's new place (pictured in this post). We also spent entirely too much time in Kohl's debating on how to best spend our mother's $10 reward cash she got in the mail. I like to think we spent it wisely in the end. :)

Then on Sunday we got together to celebrate Kent's birthday! We enjoyed spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread and topped it off with carrot cake.  

After eating cake and giving Kent his gift (tickets to the Clemson Georgia Tech game), we headed to the living room and hung out.

Caris practiced sitting up with Aunt Sara.

She also chewed on her mom's finger.

The brothers + Patch

Kent was the life of his own party!

And Patch eventually became bored...

birthdays & a weekend with the family

A few weekends ago I went home to celebrate the brothers' birthdays. It was great to spend time with my siblings and see my niece!

 I couldn't pick just one picture of her because she's just too cute. :)

I fed her sweet potatoes. She wasn't a fan.

On the way to Wes and Sara' and so excited about it!

Wes and Sara just finished the application process for adoption, and they will be approved in about two weeks. 

I'm so excited for them. They're going to be fantastic parents!

Hanging out 

Kent grilled for us.

We walked down to the park after lunch to throw the frisbee. However, the mosquitoes soon drove us back to the house.

Max joined us, of course. 

Ben tried to perfect his throw with Kent's tutelage. 

Watching all of the action.

On the way back, we stopped to show Ben and Kent mom and dad's new house. They had never seen it, and Ben will be moving into it at the end of this month. 

Why the parents bought a house while they're half a world away is beyond me. But it's exciting nonetheless!

Sara made the bomb dot com cheesecake which we ate when we got back.

It was a fun weekend with the family, and I can't wait to go back again to celebrate Kent's birthday!

happy {belated} birthday, sister!

January 23rd was my sister's TWENTY SIXTH birthday. gracious, where has the time gone?! 

I went home last weekend to celebrate.

We ate yummy homemade pizza, salad, and an (awesome) caramel apple cake.

Question: How many times does it take a pregnant woman to blow out candles on a cake??

Happy birthday, sister!

hooray for birthdays!

wednesday was my 22nd birthday. it was a thrilling birthday that consisted of studying, studying, and taking a final from 6-8 pm. but there were some good moments in there, too. my parents called me, michelle took me out to lunch, and my sweet roommates planned a little celebration for me after my exam.

I got this in the mail on monday. sisters are the best. :)

the best way to start a birthday morning: presents, phone call with the parents, and Jesus.

and tea!!! I have never been more thankful for tea than I was this week.

I got back from my test to find the best gift ever from my roommates and this awesome cake courtesy of michelle's mom.

julia & leanne

michelle & me

leanne, hilary, & eva

jordan showed up! and so did pizza and breadsticks!

michelle modeled the pizza very nicely.

and this picture just made me laugh.

so happy and thankful for my roommates and friends. they made my birthday fantastic.

one of the best birthday presents I ever got.

I came home wednesday night (after taking an exam from 6-8 pm. fun.) to find the best present ever!!! my roommates got a christmas tree for me and some pretty lights and a star to put on top. they even went to goodwill and found a box of random ornaments. I got to decorate my tree with them, and it's so lovely. I love it. and my roommates. I love my roommates too.

I also got a $25 barnes and noble gift card, a meal with leanne at the place of my choice, and a wonderful candle. hooray for birthdays!

happy birthday brother!

happy 23rd birthday to one of the coolest brothers ever!

I love you Ben!

happy birthday wes!

happy 28th birthday to my ever stylish, curly haired twin brother.

I love you wewo!