{by the way...}

Anyone one want to by a brand new Nikor f1.8 55mm lens?? So sad, I bought this lovely lens with the knowledge it would only work in manual focus on my D40 (other models it is auto focus capable). The sales lady ensured me it would not be difficult to do this. Ummmm, maybe its just me, but it's way hard. Even when I look on the screen on the back of the camera, the photos look fine, until I get them up on the computer. Then they are a fuzzy mess. so sad because I lose adorable moments to terminal fuzziness. So I think I'm gonna sell this puppy and look for a 1.4 auto on sale somewhere. Here are some sad sad examples.

{Round Two}

We had a full on birthday party on Sunday so Jilly could have some friends to celebrate with. A little background on recent life in the Estrada house. As many of you know I have been in nursing school for the past two years. Consequently, weekends have usually consisted of me disappearing half of Saturday and Sunday to study and my family flying solo while I'm gone. Tests are always on Mondays, and the few weekends I haven't been scheduled for a test, I have picked up shifts at the hospital where they have been training me (super sporadically) in the Medsurg department as an LPN. Well. Jillian's birthday weekend I had, of course, a test to study for Monday, so I decided to hold off on the big shindig until the 15th. This happened to fall on the weekend before my final exam, but I figured, ehh, I have all day Monday and I'll just sneak out on Sunday am to study for a few. Well, that would have been fine and dandy if I had remembered what time I had set the party to begin on the invites. Me, in my infinite busy-ness, seemed to think the party was to start at 3pm, eh-hem, you could imagine my surprise when I arrived home at 1:30, with food to set out, tables to set up, flowers to arrange, cupcakes to frost, et al, and my lovely mom-in-law informs me of my error. At that exact moment the first of the guests began to arrive. Thank heavens they were all friends and so understanding as I rushed around like a chicken trying to pull some semblance of order to the chaos in my breaking heart. I couldn't believe how silly I felt, as I ashamedly asked Linda to frost the cupcakes with the delicious Wilton frosting that had yet to be mixed up. Linda Lou, my wonderful mother in law, who is THE consumate party holder & always volunteered to host family holidays, was probably shocked to her core at my party faux pas. She was polite enough not to share her thoughts if she was. =) Needless to say, I was grateful I had decided to forego the homemade pizzas Desi was going to originally make, knowing how much pressure I was already going to feel, for the much more time saving veggie and fruit trays from Costco. Sigh, so with the gentle encouragement from good friends I let it go, my ideal of the perfect party and my shame, and it turned out to be a fun little gathering. Thank heaven for good friends.


Some of the lovely guests:













It was cute, Jillian (in her staunch avoidance of the lime light) invited all her friends to help her open her presents. They were, of course, more than willing to oblige =)







I got Jilly this little HK tent kitchen for her B-day, with her party in mind. I was wracking my brain for something fun for the kids to do at the party in the middle of rainy March. It worked out great! We had spent the better part of Saturday afternoon tidying up the house, and Jillian painstakingly set up her very own tea party for the friends she knew would be coming over. She decked her table out with tea sets, crayons and paper for the kids, party bag, and lots of toys of course.



I wish I'd gotten a photo before the party, but here's the idea and it was a hit with the little girls, until the boys decided to attack them (so funny the difference) in which case the tent became a shelter.






some of the girls.






Party hats, worn for about 2 minutes =)



Thanks to this lady... (and Apee too)



these were frosted. Since Jilly is not a fan of the birthday song, I decided to skip the singing and everyone got their own candle, which they wished upon and blew out. Very awesome actually, and what was better was lighting them over again so everyone could make another wish. Sweet bees. (I'll have to get pictures of that from April, as I was the designated lighter so not many pics)



Desi, "Just FIVE more POUNDS!" ha ha



The boys hammin it up, showin their booties.




The BEST friends a girl could have!

{just because}

{The Evolution of a Fart}

Some trouble was a-brewing...



Caught a whiff and...WHOA! LACTOSE INTOLERAAAAAAAAAA-NCE!! (Emi, hee hee, think French Kiss)




...and let me tell ya, I was downwind and it was hilariously potent.




Oh how I love them...

{En Plus}

Girlfriend was a bit tired, as you can see. She picked out her favorite "party dress" and feels so beautiful in this hot little number.
Thought I'd add a few more from Jilly's mini party at Nana's


Nana and Papa saved the day, since I had to study all morning I was so bummed trying to figure out a way to make a special dinner for Jillian. Linda called Saturday and asked if I didn't have plans already, would I want her to fix up some dinner. I could have cried, I was so grateful!




I picked up the cake (from Lamb's Thriftway in Wilsonville, incredible!! Highly recommend their cakes!)and MONSTER unicorn balloon and headed straight there after studying. We had a blast and enjoyed the most delicious ham (which I don't normally like, but it was quite scrumptious) salad, asparagrass, rolls, and mashed taters and gravy. Mmmmmmm, so delish! April, Tony, and Sebastian joined us and it was so nice to be together.






Jilly got spoiled to pieces by her family,






although she is NOT a fan of the Happy Birthday, song. Tears were shed, eyes were closed, and ears plugged till the misery was over. She explained that she only likes it when the GIRLS sing, not the boys. Desi then proceeded to tell her, "Okay, how about if I sing like a girl?" and serenaded her in a high falsetto. We were all laughing, except Jilly.






She still has the old tomato head in her. If you look really close at the picture you can see her expression. She cheered up though, and forgot all about the dreaded birthday song. =)

Just an aside, this guy is sooooo funny. He can't get over this baby doll Jillian got. He swears it's posessed. It talks and crawls at the most random times. He just has the best sense of humor. I hope our kids get that from him.





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