Dillon's birthday was a success!

Dillon's birthday!!

Dillon opening gifts.
 My darling husband insisted he wanted to do nothing for his birthday and wouldn't even give us a list of birthday gift wishes. WELLLLLL, that didn't work for me! I could deal with not being able to invite his friends over for a party, but no party at all?! NO WAY! So I requested the car for a day so that Opal and I could brave the cold to find something for the man in our life.

I kept it small, but I didn't want it to be just another day. So the night before I wrapped gifts, put out some birthday party decor, baked a small cake, and set out some surprises for him.

We woke him up bright and early, told him to cut his hair and shower, and then made him open up gifts!!

He was blown away at how I somehow got all of this done under his nose. Opal and I are sneaky girls, I suppose!

Opal, Daddy, and the clock she picked out for him.
I let Opal pick out everything, from decor to the cake's icing color. She even picked out the funniest gift for her daddy! We were browsing the shelves in Marshall's when this little girl starts yelling, "Daddy! Daddy!" and pointing at this silver clock. I look around so puzzled as to why she wants me to hand her this clock, and when I do she holds on to it for dear life and continues to say, "Daddy!"... I asked my sisters and mom what to do and they agreed to just buy it and let him return it if he didn't want it for his night stand. Luckily, he did. :-)

Opal watching daddy open gifts.
She loved watching her daddy open all of his gifts. It was so precious to watch her face light up when his did. She is the cutest. I am so thankful to be back under the same roof getting to share these moments together. It means everything to see these two build their bond again.

After he opened his gifts we dragged him out to IHOP for a birthday breakfast full of super sugary pancakes! It was lovely. 

The day was great, we ran around and ended the day with cake and a delicious steak dinner.. (cooked by me!) I am glad I didn't listen to this guy and that we spoiled him. It was great to see him so happy and to know he felt loved and appreciated. 

He is definitely the apple of our eyes.

Singing Happy Birthday!
Dillon's cake.
 
The gifts all wrapped up.
Dinosaurs, hats, and mini pinata were all Opal's doing.


Valentine's day recap.

Opal blowing kisses. Tassel garland from Target- $6.
Hey everyone!

I hope your Valentine's day was amazing and full of love and quality time with the special people in your life. I got to spend Valentine's day with my husband and beautiful daughter. 

We spent the first half spoiling her with treats, shopping for big girl spring clothes, and then we went out and looked for some household things. It was a really great day. That evening when we were heading home we were surprised by a snow storm that came out of no where that we were completely unprepared for!!

This was Opal's second Valentine's day, but first that we got to actually gift her something special. She was so surprised by her little baskets of goodies from mommy and daddy! At first I honestly didn't even know what was appropriate for a one year old, but after some looking around we picked some cool stuff for her.

Opal's baskets from mommy and daddy.
 I found these really cute wire baskets in the bargain bins for $3 at Target. I needed little baskets for her room so I figured these would double and replace bags I'd probably end up tossing away anyways. I found most of the items in the Target bins and in total I probably spent less than $20.

Second Valentine's day for Opal.
The fox, strawberry plant, bath buckets, & bath foam letters were from the target bins.
The unicorn hand puppet was from Ikea, and I LOVE THIS THING. It is so cuuuuute.
The bunny piggy bank was randomly on clearance at target, but they're still being sold.
She picked the Sleeping Beauty PEZ from the dollar tree. We didn't let her have the candy portion.
The fox hair clips were also from Target. Her dad loves foxes, wolves, etc.. self explanatory.
Lastly, the mini M&M's are her favorite thing. We let her have some before she lost them in a Marshall's store. They were her favorite part of the entire day.

Opal and Daddy, 2015.
My Valentine's!

Aren't they just the cutest? I love them so much. 
They have my whole heart.

My last big sister duty.

We're upon my last day! I pick Dillon up tonight, (after a lot of flight changes and drama)..

But last night I got to do my last big sister duty! I took my baby sister to her winter formal, and photographed her and her friends. I love doing this stuff with her. I hope I can be here next year for her senior prom!! I'm so proud of her and how far she has come. She is nearing her last year and then *hopefully* will continue on to culinary school. I say hopefully because she has been second guessing her choices and options. I would love for her to go on to culinary school to become a pastry chef because it is definitely her calling. She is meant to do that for sure. :-)

Well, anyways! I am going to take her to the movies and hang out with her today until I leave to get Dillon tonight. (I have a 2.5 hr drive to San Jose Airport in my future.)

Here are some photos I took: