The end of an era

Or at least a year...So we are going to quit birthday posting. I know many of you are cheering right now (tired of birthday post after birthday post) but that most of you are truly deeply depressed.

The truth is that we have loved, loved, loved doing birthday posts this past year—we really appreciate getting to celebrate each person individually, and we really feel like it's something that's not done enough. But then there were days when it was a bit of a chore to birthday post, and the shame and regret with each late one, the constant fear of forgetting someone, and of course knowing that we're not even beginning to cover all of our readers. So it's time to put it away—plus, we can't repeat all of our wedding pictures. Hopefully this means that we can celebrate your birthday with you in person or over the phone, though, and more than that hopefully this has helped us, if not some of you, think about, appreciate, and sometimes verbalize the fantastic characteristics of the people we love.

So consider this your one big birthday post for 2009-2010, and know that we haven't missed you :) and we'll keep blogging about the house and life and all sorts of other things.

Happy (late) Birthday Mat

Well, somewhat fitting that our last birthday post is a day late, right? We are officially done with birthday posts, but last year, we didn't have all of the birthdays yet, including our (my, Kirsten's) cousin Mat. I have no idea really why I'm posting two days late on this one...I knew Monday, and then I remembered yesterday. Maybe it's the back-to-back guests we had (will post soon) or the heat combined with no air conditioning. Oh well.


Mat (Beth, Jackson and Luke) live in Austin. Mat used to pretty seriously act in plays, loves Star Wars (he even looks like Luke Skywalker), has seen basically every movie ever, and I beat him at Risk once (had to throw that in, I'm still pretty proud of it...). And now Mat directs. He (and Beth) are ridiculously successful, as far as I can tell, I'm pretty sure much more so than I realize. Their company does documentaries, include Lance Armstrong's and several that are on TV. Mat's also a knight. Right—a knight. He was knighted in Belguim for some work he did on a documentary (I could have basically all these facts wrong, so you probably don't want to take them at face-value. I'm too hot right now to cross-check).

these are some of Mat and Beth's (or I guess Alpheus Media's?) Emmys...Emmys!!!

Plus, on top of that, Mat's an incredibly passionate person, sweet, a fantastic father, and great to have a conversation with.


So HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAT, hope it was great!

all the pictures are from Mat and Beth's blog, except the blurry, Emmy, one, which is from my dad :)

Happy Birthday Honey Cate!!!

So last Saturday was Kim's birthday but we didn't blog about it because our year of birthday posts are over. But just when you thought it was over, leave it to the Hills to mess things up.

Sunday July 19 our friends Drew and Natalie welcomed a perfect little girl into the world! Catherine Honey Hill, or Honey Cate as she will be known weighed 7 pounds and was almost 20 inches. You can learn more on their blog.

We couldn't be happier for our friends!! They are going to make absolutely fantastic parents. We can't wait to meet Honey Cate!!

Happy Birthday Luke!!!

Well, Daniel said earlier that we hadn't made a birthday post today, but he just meant not yet....

Today is our second cousin's (is that right? our cousin's child...), Luke's birthday. Better known these days as Lukey, this three year old is by far the most entertaining second cousin we have (no offense to the others, but you'll see what I mean in a second.) He's also the most changed person from our wedding period, so you won't be seeing any pictures of him from that. You actually won't be seeing many pictures at all, just videos. Because Lukey is that entertaining. He's amazing. Just watch...

Here's Luke the Olympic Runner...



See if you can hear the theme song to "batman" in this one (which apparently Luke had never heard when he sang it here), followed by "I'm going to fly to Michigan"



Who doesn't love a baby in the bathtub (Beth, I fear later in life he might be scarred)



And him trying to stay awake on a car trip:



Our personal favorite Luke memory is last Thanksgiving:
(holding up his arm, with his fist tucked inside his shirt sleeve) "Look! I lost my hand!"
(pushes it out) "Oh! I grew an-ut-her-one"
(pulls his shirt sleeve over his other fist) "Look! I lost my ut-her hand!"
(continues...)

Well, anyway, hope you laughed as hard as I do...

(okay, and i just couldn't resist these...do you see that last one? he's got his hand up and he's like growling. Super cute...)





HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKEY!!!

ps. all laughter provided by Beth and Mat's blog.

Happy Birthday Susan!!!

Today is our (Kirsten's) aunt Susan's birthday. Susan is my mom's only brother's wife, and we actually have two "aunt Susans" in the family—the other one on Daniel's side.

Sue loves the outdoors and kayaking and hiking and everything. She's really fun and spunky and you can tell she doesn't love small talk, because she's really good at getting past surface-level conversations. She's also a fantastic mother and just plain great to be around.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUE! Hope it's great!!

Happy Birthday Judd!

Today is our (Kirsten's) uncle Judd's birthday!

Judd is married to my mom's sister, and he and Jackie live in East Texas in a
g o r g e o u s house by a lake.

Judd is an extremely talented (and accomplished) artist, knows a ton about and loves history, and is incredibly sweet, kind and caring. Plus, his birthday is really close to America's, so that's really cool (and provided for a great excuse for a party several years ago...)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUDD!! Hope it's great!!

Happy Birthday Lenora!!

Ok people...I promise you there are a stockpile of posts just waiting to be written... so hang in there, but we are rounding out the birthday year and need to finish strong!! That being said today is our (Daniel's) aunt Lenora's birthday!!


Aunt Lenora is wonderful! She truly is one of the sweetest and kindest women you will meet, and she loves the University of Georgia! What a woman!! She is a fantastic mom to 3 (and two more in-law) and grandmother to 4! All this in her mid 30s!! Seriously she is a great mom, and a pretty great aunt too!


Sorry you had to wait so long for your birthday post...hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday Lana!!!

Well it happened again... we missed a birthday. Yesterday was our (Daniel's) cousin Lana's Birthday! We knew it all day and every couple of hours or so said, "we can't forget to blog about Lana..." All the way up until about an hour before we went to sleep...sorry Lana!!!

And unless our math fails us it was kind of a big one! 16 years old!!!

Lana is a super fun girl! She is smart, funny and really cool. She is also a tremendously caring person. Lana loves dressing (the food, not the act of putting on clothes - if you don't know what dressing is then Lana and I pity you...). She also probably sends more text messages than anyone I know, and I know A LOT of high schoolers. 

So Happy Birthday Lana!! We are really sorry we didn't get this up yesterday, but hope you had an amazing birthday! You are a wonderful cousin and we love and miss you so much. Happy Birthday!

(yeah, the first picture is exactly the same as the first picture in emily's post :) and the second picture is from her facebook. and should be a warning to all about what you put on your facebook...you never know when it will get used on this blog :) ...)

Happy Birthday Emily!!

Today is our (Daniel's) cousin Emily's Birthday!!! Emily has had to wait a long time for her Birthday post since we hadn't come up with the idea of Birthday posts this time last year when we were one day into our blogging career.

Emily is awesome! There's no way around it! She is super fun and funny, and really nice and sweet. Seriously she is hilarious! She is super quiet...probably the most reserved of all my cousins - at least for now, but she is really funny. If you get her in an all night at Grandmother's Trivial Pursuit situation her true colors come through!


She just finished her freshman year of high school...(that can't be right... oh gosh I'm old) and she goes to Young Life! Yay for Young Life! Kirsten and I still get really excited when people from our family participate in our favorite ministry.

Happy Birthday Emily!!! Hope you have a great day!

Happy Birthday Natalie!!

Today is another Colorado birthday, our friend Natalie who lives in Denver!

Natalie also happens to be 32 weeks pregnant..which I actually don't think we've mentioned on our blog. So it seems this is also the official Monroe Doctrine announcement that our friends Drew and Natalie are soon to be parents! SUPER, super exciting.

So happy birthday, Natalie!!!

Oh! And Drew and Natalie have a blog if you'd like...here

Happy Birthday Wyatt!!

Today is our (Kirsten's) cousin, Wyatt's 8th birthday!

Wyatt lives in Steamboat Springs, CO and is a ball of energy. He's a blast, not at all shy, and wears a cowboy hat and boots really well.

This is a much older picture of him from our wedding, and he's grown up a ton since then. I have his school picture from this year, but we don't have a scanner and I'm trying to take pictures of the picture but they're not turning out. Alas.

Regardless, happiest of happy birthdays, Wyatt, hope it's the best 8th birthday ever!

Happy Birthday Jenny!!!

Today is our (Kirsten's) cousin Jenny's birthday! Jenny lives in Midland, Michigan and her husband is Steve and children are Ben and Megan (all of whom have had birthday posts, which is fun).


Jenny is often touted as probably the smartest and most successful person on that (my mom's side of the family.) She got her bachelors and masters degrees together in something ridiculous like 3 years, and then graduated at like the top of her class and now has a pretty prominent, successful career.


But Jenny's also sweet, beautiful, a great mother, aaannnd one of the few other family members who doesn't currently live in Texas (others include my parents, ourselves, and my aunt and uncle Bo and Sue. Oh, and I guess my cousin Catie who goes to school in Oklahoma. But she really still lives in Texas, right?) The Frames are also known for having to evacuate New Orleans when hurricane Katrina came and they were living there. They very soon after moved and, I think, never looked back.

All of these pictures are from the Frame's blog, and I know I have pictures of (a pregnant) Jenny from our wedding, but our internet is down, so I'm posting from a coffee shop and don't have the pictures that are on our external hard drive.

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNY! hope it's wonderful!

Happy Birthday Vanessa!!

Today is our (Daniel's) cousin Vanessa's birthday! She turns (math, math, math) 22 today! 22? Are you serious... Wow. I am old.

Vanessa is finishing up college (just a little student teaching left...) and works about 9 jobs. She also leads the student ministry at Rock Springs (my parents church/my old stomping grounds), and she is great at it!


Vanessa has a special place in our hearts for several reasons...She was a reader in our wedding (and did a great job - from what I hear, I was standing outside). And she is coming to see us this summer! (see it's easy to get on our good list...just come visit - special aside to Amanda: I'm sorry I left you out of yesterdays post. I feel like we somehow offend you all the time with this thing...you should totally come out this summer with Vanessa! It'll be awesome! - end of special aside).



Vanessa is super sweet, and caring, and fun! She loves Jesus and is a great cousin to us! Thanks for being awesome Vanessa, can't wait to see you soon! And Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Today is my (Daniel's) dad's birthday!

dad can actually keep his eyes open in pictures...sorry mom, but it's dad's birthday...

There is so much to say about dad. He is without a doubt the hardest working man I know. I say that both as a compliment and to get you all to help me get him to stop before he kills himself! Dad taught me how to play basketball and then how to love basketball. He taught me how to yell at the tv (a family tradition passed on for generations). He taught me how to play golf and then how to love golf and then how to hate golf and then how to like golf. He taught me how to read my textbook when I had a question about math.


He also taught me those lessons that only a great dad can teach his son. He taught me how to be committed to my wife, my family, and my church. He taught me how to study and teach the Bible. There is no way I could have had a better dad growing up and today. Kirsten and I love you and miss you and can't wait to see you in June!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy (day-late) Birthday Elizabeth!!

I knew yesterday was my (Kirsten's) cousin Elizabeth's birthday...and I remembered all day. I wasn't ever at the external where we keep our pictures and I kept thinking "blog about Elizabeth's birthday, blog about Elizabeth's birthday..." And then I went to sleep, and woke up this morning and thought "shoot!"

SO, happy late birthday, Elizabeth! Elizabeth is beautiful, sweet, an avid reader, AND a high school senior finishing up her last semester. *so proud*

And so sorry we missed your actual day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIZABETH!!!

Happy Birthday Beth!!

Well, I don't have much time because we're in the middle of a big youth group event right now—and I should have done this earlier...

But today is our (kirsten's) cousin, Beth's, birthday.


Beth is beautiful and sweet and talented and smart and a wonderful mother of two precious boys.



She's also so refreshing to talk to and has very much a calming affect—which I love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!!! you deserve a much longer post

Happy Birthday Uncle Steve!!

Today is our (Daniel's) Uncle Steve's birthday! That's an important distinction to make because since we got married we each have the pleasure of having two Uncle Steves! How lucky can one couple get! But this Steve in question is Daniel's dad's brother Steve Monroe...and TODAY is his birthday!!!

Uncle Steve has played a major role in my life. I have vivid memories of him driving a car backwards down the road (I can't even remember the circumstances...but Matt will back me up. It happened). He, along with my dad and their dad combined to show me how to properly yell at the television during sporting events. And probably most importantly, Uncle Steve was one of the people early in life that pointed me in the right direction. I strayed over the years from the straight and narrow path that he put me on, but eventually, I found my way back to the way he showed me at a young age. Of course I'm talking about the University of Georgia. I have many fond memories of Saturdays in Athens (the greatest time and place combination this world has to offer) with Uncle Steve.



In addition to being a great Uncle, Steve is also a great dad, and a pretty good granddad these days! Kirsten and I have always felt so loved and supported by him and his family!

So Happy Birthday Uncle Steve! Hope it is great!

Happy Birthday Jessica!!!

Today is our (Daniel's) cousin, Jessica's, birthday!

Jessica is wonderfully sweet, and gives so much of her time, energy and efforts to all those around her. She's beautiful, kind and caring, an awesome mom, and still newly engaged! Congrats again!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESSICA!!! hope it's wonderful!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Today is my (Daniel) mom's birthday!!!

Sadly she has to work today but hopefully she is finding some way to celebrate anyway. Mom is wonderful (but most likely you already know that if you read our blog) So what might you NOT know about Debbie Monroe....hmm.....



1. She is a really fast walker. Kirsten used to complain about how fast I walked and I had to explain that if I hadn't learned to walk fast mom would have just walked off and left me. I mean considering one step for me is like 3.5 for her think about how fast her legs have to move to walk as fast as she does. It's really amazing when you think about it.

2. She is scared of snakes. Ok, most of you probably know that, but I'm not really sure that I can fully explain the magnitude of this phobia. She probably got nervous just reading the word snakes. Honestly. It's bad. So if you're looking for last minute gift ideas a rubber snake would be a TERRIBLE idea.

3. She has volunteered more hours than you have worked. I can't even tell you all of the full time jobs that mom has had that didn't involve any money. Church, PTA, Band Stuff, the list goes on and on.

4. She probably knows more about basketball than you. Simply through osmosis mostly. I think secretly she kinda likes it.

5. Her southern accent comes out when she's on the phone and when she curses. Really. If you don't believe me give her a call and ask her to say the "s" word. Funny Stuff!

Mom is wonderful! Matt and I couldn't have asked for better parents. My favorite thing about mom is watching her love people. She is relentless in the way she serves and loves the people around her. She truly an example of Christ for me in that way.


Happy birthday mom from all 4 of your kids in Portland! We miss you and love you!

Happy Birthday, Ben!

Today is our cousin's son's birthday. (I always forget what that is and Daniel always remembers...second cousin? I'm not sure...) Regardless, Ben is some sort of a cousin to us.

Today Ben turns five, which I'm sure we all know is a huge year. Ben had a space-themed birthday party on Saturday (during which it looks like he got a lot of awesome gifts, had two really cool-looking cakes, and sent his guests home with super-creative rocket ship good "bags"), but he also rang the bell to commence the service at church on Sunday, and just recently returned from a Disney cruise.


Ben's an awesome big brother to Megan, rock climbs, plays tennis, holds a regular book club and loves riding his bike—a lot for a just-turned five year old!



Plus, he's super cute.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!! Hope it's great!

ps. to follow all of the adventures of Ben and the rest of his family, check them out at theframefamily.blogspot.com/