How Did This Happen???

Jordan had his birthday a few weeks ago, and it's now official:

(This is the part when you think to yourself, "Oh, but Jason and Karen are much too young to have a teenager!!)

Jordan celebrated by going to see the Percy Jackson movie with some friends. Then it was back to our house for pizza, ice cream cake, and Wii.

It was the preference of the teenager that we all disappear upstairs, but I did manage to sneak in a few pictures. =)

Happy Birthday, Jordan!

The Perfect Southern Snow Day

• It snowed Friday night, so it didn't affect school. (We don't have snow days built in here.)
  
• We got about 3 inches - enough to get everyone excited.
• It was "good snow" for making snowballs and snowmen.
• It was warm enough Saturday that pretty much everything melted by the end of the day, and Jason didn't even have to shovel the driveway.

Life is good.

One Step Closer to 40

Jason's birthday was two weeks ago, and he's now a mature 38. We waited until the weekend to officially celebrate, and Jason wanted to go to Red Robin for dinner. While we were eating, someone at another table apparently had a birthday because the wait staff came out to sing. The kids tried to talk Jason into letting our waitress know it was his birthday, but Jason refused. He told the kids they'd have to tell her themselves (thinking, of course, that they'd never do it). Well, the next time she stopped by our table, she asked if anyone needed anything. Jordan said, "I need something. There's a birthday in the house." The wait staff was back a few minutes later to sing to Jason. =)

The kids at Red Robin - undoubtedly so happy because they embarrassed their dad.

Back home and ready to open presents

Jason really likes the show "The Office." Jordan surprised him with the gift of being able to play the theme song for him on the piano. (Jordan had worked on learning the song in secret - whenever Jason wasn't home.)

This picture is a little blurry because I was laughing, but it's still my favorite one. This was the surprise gift that turned up magically at the end. Jason started to unwrap it, saw what it was, and gave me the I-told-you-not-to-buy-this-for-me look. But hey - sometimes a wife has to ignore what her husband says when it's in his best interest. =) Happy Birthday, Jason!

The Mind of a Middle-School Boy

How does it work? Not completely sure at times. Especially when I walk into his room and find this:

No cause for alarm, though. The only crime committed here was one against the carpet.

Snowy Saturday

Snow in Charlotte is always a big deal because we usually only get it once or twice a year.

Unfortunately, the snow was really icy, so it didn't pack...at all. So no snow balls or snowmen. Hence, the kids didn't stay out very long.

But at least there was still hot chocolate...

...with lots of whipped cream. =)

A Night Out with Jerry

Jerry Seinfeld was in Charlotte again.

Guess where we were last night!

Merry Christmas, Jason!

Dining at its Finest

Ok, not really. But the kids had the day off, and Ikea was having kids-eat-free day, so it was a fun diversion.