Happy Birthday Nick.... and a few updates:)

Before I get on to the Birthday Wishes, I wanted to thank everyone that supported the first "Black and White Wedneday" by linking your own beautiful black and whites or by stopping by to leave such sweet comments to all those that posted. I was blown away with how many people took an interest and cannot wait to see what y'all have up your sleeves for this Wednesday!!

Secondly, my friend Colleen started a Recipe Monday and a Friday's Find on her blog. Click HERE to check out the details.

On Mondays you can post and then link your favorite recipes back to her. If you are anything like me, you are always on the lookout for new things to cook for your family....especially when you know they are tried and true by other bloggy friends. So stop by today to see what Colleen has in store for us.

We have been in full birthday mode around here this weekend. Unfortunately, I had a viral thing that hit me Thursday morning and I have not been 100%.... fever is gone, so are the aches, but my stomach is still feeling uneasy. Just enough to slow me down, but not put me totally out of commission......thankfully:)

Nick spent this past weekend with his Dad, so we decided to do our family celebration tonight. Nick is out of school for the holiday and he has midterms the rest of the week, so we figured this worked out for the best. My Mom and Dad are coming over for dinner, cake, and of course...... presents!! Next weekend, after midterms are over, he will have some friends over to celebrate.

Before the party starts tonight, Nick and I are going to spend some time in the kitchen. I took the easy route this year and ordered his birthday cake, but I promised him we would bake his favorite cupcakes so he could take them to school for his classmates and teachers.


Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

We made these last year for Valentine's day.... for obvious reasons, we won't be using food coloring to dye the icing pink, but the recipe is the same.....and trust me, they are heaven on a plate!!

You can click HERE to get the recipe we followed for the chocolate cake, but we sustituted Cream Cheese Frosting for the Peanut Butter Icing. Here is all you will need:

1 package of 8 ounce cream cheese
1/4 stick of butter
2 tsps of milk
1 tsp of vanilla
4 cups of powdered sugar


Since we are going to be pretty busy all day today and tomorrow, when it is actually Nick's birthday..... I figured I would do his post a day early:) I don't have any new images of him, but wanted to share some of my personal favorites from this past summer.


"You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes"~Author Unknown


Nick, you are truly a one of kind child that melts my heart on a daily basis. You are so kind and compassionate to others and always know the right thing to say or do when a friend of loved one is in need.

I am in awe of the young man you have become..... I get sad at times to think of you as a baby and some of the special things that I did not get to do with you or missed out on becuase I was sick.

Your birthday is such a special day, but it is also a reminder of how and when my life changed. Your toddler years were some of the hardest times of my life....and I distinctly remember your Second birthday party and thinking it might be the last time I would celebrate a birthday with you. I did not know what my future held, but I knew that I would fight the good fight because I wanted to not only see your next birthday, I wanted to see you grow up. You and I struggled together those first few years, but I know that my love for you is what pulled me through.

I am so very proud of who you are and feel very thankful that I was given a second chance at life....so I can watch you live yours.

Happy 12th Birthday Nick!

I Love You,

Mom