HAPPY BIRTHDAY LESLIE!!!

And I am SO glad that we're going to get to see you in just a few hours!

Be safe driving and we love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPOP!!!

We love you so much and we hope you have a wonderful day today!!! As Poodle would say - here's a big squeezy hug and a big smoochy kiss for you!

Happy Anniversary!!!

To my love, my best friend, my joy, and my laughter. To the music of my heart and the dance in my toes. I love you so much, and these past five years have been a dream come true.

Thank you for being the good, kind, Christian, loving person who fills his family with happiness.

I love you scooper lobster!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KDBOO!

I hope you have a wonderful day today!!! The Zoo loves you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOTER!!!

To our precious, darling one year old Tooter Pooter!!! You are the belly laugh we work to hear and the smile we tickle to get. You are a blessing that we don't deserve but for which we are daily grateful. God was so good to us with not just your sister, but with you also. We love you so much, you precious, sweet little boy!!!

And, for everyone else, Tooter has said his first word! We were getting in the van after church yesterday, and as I'm buckling him into his seat, (we had already turned him around to face forward), he points right at Jmk and says "Dahdee".

At which point, Jmk steps away from the van, and does the "I'm the King of the World" pose. To which he gets a "yeah, yeah, yeah" from me. ::grin::

We had his first of 3 mini-parties yesterday. (He's having 3 small ones with various groups of family. I felt bad about planning one big affair this close to all the Thanksgiving gatherings, so we're working in several little parties as we are gathering anyway for the holiday. We'll have LOTS of cake smashing photos to share!)


Tooter - we love you so much. You're our groovy boy, and you never fail to make our hearts and faces smile!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOOMOO!!!

You are due a most wonderful day today!!! To such a beautiful woman and friend and sister in Christ.... I hope your day today gives you a chance to feel as special as you are! You've always given so much to so many - there are times I wonder how you juggled the "everything" that went along with four kids. Especially now that I'm beginning to see JUST how busy things will always be as a mom myself. But, then I realize that the great love that you always had for us just pushed you forward, and for that love, I am so grateful!!!

You are a dear soul and a beautiful person, and everyone at the Zoo hopes you have JUST that kind of birthday today!!!

We love you so much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!

Or, should I say Happy BOOOthday?!?

lol...... I know. Don't give up my day job.

You are an absolute gem and truly one of THE sweetest people that I know. What a blessing to have you as a sister! We love you honey - have a wonderful birthday today!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT!!!

To a most wonderful brother AND friend. (And diving buddy!) And to a most excellent Uncle.

And to the fabulous to-be-father of my future niece or nephew!

We love you so much - have a GREAT day, despite the Monday'ness of it all!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!

Happy Birthday to my darling Jmk!!!

You are such a devoted husband and a beloved father. You are the smile on our faces at the end of the day. We are so blessed to have you as the head of our home and the strength of our hearts.

Thank you for being so giving and loving and for being the epitome of dependability. Thank you for for being YOU!

Your day can’t possibly be as wonderful as you are, but I hope it’s at least close. We love you so much, and would be lost without you. You’re the best Scooper Daddy in the world!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!

Because today, you ARE a princess, my darling daughter. Three years ago, you came into our lives and changed the whole world for your daddy and me. We have learned a love that is all encompassing. A love that makes us even pray for our own safety so that we may always be here for you. A love that was given to us by our Heavenly Father.

The Lord blessed us when He gave us YOU. He gave us the precious gift of a beautiful daughter. All the praise is HIS that we can celebrate this day.

But all the celebration is yours, our Monkey Poodle Princess! The day is yours, and we will look for Nori, we will play at CFA, we will eat pink cake with pink icing, we will watch whatever movie you want to watch, all day long. You can wear your tiara that you made with Mommy for the rest of the day if you want. And if you want to take a nap in your princess dress, that's okay with me too.

Mommy will not worry about laundry or email or anything that will keep me from playing with you today. You may be excited to be three, but I get a poignant reminder of how blessed your daddy and I are. And our hearts are full. With love for YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAGA!

Yes - Happy Birthday to my sweet father! The man who for all my life has worked hard and loved his family hard. I have so many favorite memories of my childhood with him, but one that is standing out at the forefront of my mind today is how he used to hug me in the mornings before he left for work. I'd come downstairs for breakfast just before he left for work early in the morning. And he'd hug me, and I'd stay cuddled in his arms for as long as I needed to be hugged. Some mornings I only needed a short one, some mornings I needed a long one. And no matter what, he didn't move until I was "through" getting hugged. I know now how difficult that probably was some mornings. I'm sure there were times that he could barely stand still because of all the things waiting for him at the office that day. But I never knew it. He was there with me 100%. And he still is today - although now it's *my* babies who get most of the hugs. :-) You are the greatest Dad I could have had!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!