Papa and Nana's Birthdays!

We celebrated Papa's birthday in Williamsburg this year.  Usually my parents venture to Des Moines to celebrate, but this year we were able to go to their house instead.

We made him a picture album full of pictures from our Florida trip in November.  Like most Nanas and Papas, they are hard to buy for as they have everything they could possibly need.  So I try to always lean toward the sentimental side and usually come out a winner.

Papa LOVES custard pie for his special dessert.  And somehow he has trained Kate to love it as well.  The rest of us think it's okay, but those 2 just LOVE it.

Make a wish Papa!!

And then a few weeks later we celebrated Nana's birthday at our house.  We cooked her a yummy dinner and picked up some pastries from the local Bake Shoppe, one of her favorites.

I wonder at what age the kids won't want to help Nana blow out her candles?  A little spit never hurt anyone, right!!
Happy Birthday to the best Mom and Dad I could ever ask for!  We wish you a fun and healthy year ahead!

Winter Ouchies!!

This was a big winter for my dad this year.  He has been battling horrible knees and a really bad ankle for a LONG time!  He finally had enough of it this fall and decided to sign up for bilateral knee replacements and a right ankle replacement.  The knees were done on Dec 11th and then exactly 2 months later on Feb 11th he had his right ankle replaced.  CRAZY right!!! He was a total ROCK STAR through the whole rehab process with his knees.  Here he is working on bending his knees with his physical therapist in the hospital.  I could tell he was in a ton of pain, yet he powered through and was out of the hospital in 5 days!

My dad not only has a pain tolerance like the man of steel, but he has my mom the rockin retired nurse to help him through the healing at home.  Even though they are spending MUCH more time together right now than they are use to ( YIKES!!) , they make a great team and my dad will be back to his old self by spring.  However, watch out as he may race past you with his new bionic legs!!!

So many people doubted my dad regarding if he would be able to handle both knee replacements in the same surgery followed by an ankle replacement.  Even his ortho doctor had his hesitations on his pain tolerance.  But he totally proved them all wrong!  I can't wait to see how my dad's life is going to change now that he will be able to move without pain.  My kids can't wait to race him and roll around with him on the ground as soon as this cold Iowa weather takes a hike and spring comes out to play!



On a funny note,  Will made a silly choice a few weeks ago and decided to stick a suction cup onto his head and left it there for awhile before anyone noticed!  So he got to walk around for 5 days or so with this beauty mark on his face. 
Gotta love him!!