"If I had a wish, then it would be..."

Kevin's ingenious wrapping job.  So crafty.

David and Michelle at work on their portraits.

"A Happy, Happy Birthday to you from me".  Kevin and I share February birthdays. (Best birthday month ever, so glad to have another join our ranks, our niece Kamryn Kate born February 24th.)
So, for my birthday activity I decided that I'd get everyone to dabble in artistic endeavors. We all drew names and painted a portrait of whomever's  name we drew.  The fam was a little skeptical at first but everyone ended up enjoying it. 

Everyone with the painting that was done of them.

 I love birthdays.  A lot.  I think it's such a fun time to celebrate. I love for the day to just be all about the "birthday boy" (or girl).  Kevin really took this to heart with my birthday and was basically ready at my beckon call for ANYTHING he could do for/with me.  He already arranged for me to spend some time at my favorite clothing store when we were visiting his parents in Sacramento the week prior to our birthdays and Mom and Dad we're generous enough to donate the funds.  (thank you!) I love that birthdays are a time to reconnect with people, even if only simply via text or a facebook one-liner post.  It is so easy

 for me to get caught up in the busyness of the day to day that I really lose sight of all the people that love and support me and vice versa.  When I was serving an LDS mission in Hungary several of my Tanner cousins were serving at the same time as me and each night as I prayed I included each of them, by name, in my prayer.  I felt so much strength and faith from them. On some days, the thought of them doing what I was doing in some other place in the world was what got me through, bolstered my spirits and pushed me forward. I recently realized, after a few cousins let me know
                                                                                    that they were praying for us in our desires to
                                                                                    have children, that the support and power I felt in
                                                                                    my family and friendships didn't have to end with
                                                                                    my full-time missionary service.  We all have people who love us dearly and most of all a loving and perfect Heavenly Father who will never stop loving us. And a Savior who has already given everything for us to be able to develop the charity that
perfects us and allows us, such imperfect beings, to become like Him. 

Me and my Red Velvet Cake of Glory!

On a less serious note, have I mentioned how much I LOVE birthday cake?  This year's was of the Red Velvet variety. First time.  For years I've had a German Chocolate cake or an ice cream cake.  But this year, I just couldn't get rid of the hankering for Red Velvet.  Courtesy of Kevin's creativity it was literally bursting with candles, another first for me.  (Caution: if you plan on trying this at home be sure to put newspaper under the cake to catch the wax drippings.)  Last awesome tidbit about the cake: glitter frosting for the letters.  What?  Yep, you heard me right, what will they think of next? (Caution 2: I hear that in large quantities the glitter frosting doesn't taste too great so, use sparingly.)

Can you see the ring of fire?  Sweet action.

Kevin doesn't like cake.

Who's excited?

 Really, Kevin doesn't care for cakes, cookies (except for the occasional "cookies for breakfast craving" which is bizarre because he doesn't like cookies OR breakfast, but that's a tragedy for another time), or pastries...But he does love a good fruit pizza.  I think he'd honestly be just as happy with a big bowl of fruit but I have my limits.  It has to somewhat resemble a birthday cake.  So, I made a fruit pizza for Kevin.  He kept asking if we could put more fruit hence the "layered" feel.  I do love fruit pizza, though how could you not love something topped with mounds of fresh fruit?

Jam Berry Jam.

Nicole...best friend extraordinaire.  Nicole has been my best friend for 18 years now.  For my birthday she made me Van Gogh's "Starry, Starry Night" cupcakes.  It was such a delightful gift, she is a rock star. 


Well, happy birthday to all...and to all a good night.