40

Today I turned 40.

There.  I said it.

(It happened whether I said it or not.)

You know how you have this envisionment in your head about how a BIG birthday like 40 should be...  but also as a forty year old, you kinda have to roll with the punches...  

So, I decided to rock out my 40th by bringing 40 cupcakes to school.

Today was a sure sign that I randomly bring cupcakes to school for no reason too often...  No one was like, "Hey!  What's the special occasion??"

And you can't exactly be like, "Hey have a cupcake and celebrate my birth, damn it!"

So, I quietly set them in the lounge like I normally do and waited.

Nothing. 

Only one teacher remembered. Great guy that he is.

Even my bestie forgot.

By mid-day, word had spread and, of course, people came and gave their well wishes.

It just kinda felt like a let down...

I mean, I have had some EPIC birthdays!

But then I made the decision that this was silly to be expecting something from others...  

So I decided that I would do 40 random acts of kindness for this birthday of mine...

And I would start with my 40 cupcakes :)

Funny, how when you make a decision like that things turn around.

It started pouring right around noon.  Colby was supposed to have a cross country meet, but because of the rain, it got cancelled.  Which meant we could go out to dinner like we normally do for birthdays.

It just so happens to be Endless Shrimp at Red Lobster - So I made it my goal to eat 40 shrimp for my 40th. LOL  

Crazy, I know. 

I let the waitress know right after I pushed my salad aside and didn't touch it (or the cheese biscuits).  I could tell she was getting worried something was wrong.

She did a fantastic job and kept the shrimp coming!

I'm not sure how the next part went down because I tend to be in a bubble when my boys and I are out together...  But when it came time for our ticket, she kept bypassing our table.  She had been SO on top of everything and then it came time for us to go.., and she just wouldn't stop at our table.

Finally, I caught her and said, "Could we go ahead and get our ticket?"

"Nope.  It's been taken care of."

"What?!!??  By Who?"

She pointed to a table two tables away.

I walked over and shook their hands and told them, "Thank you." and then, "Why would you do that?"

"It's your birthday isn't it?" I nodded. "And the waitress wasn't supposed to tell you!!"

Random strangers.

And I thought *I* was the one who was supposed to be doing the Random Acts.

The Windy City is more than wind

Todd's birthday was this weekend.
He wanted to celebrate big.
I wanted him to celebrate big.

So... when he suggested we go and stay with his best friend, Matt and his wife, Shannon, who was I to say no??

(You should know I have always been a go-er.  Even as a kid if someone was just going into town to wal-mart, I was sure to tag along!!)

Chicago stole my heart a few years ago, so any chance to go back is a chance I'm going to take!!

We left right after my school meeting and ate crazy gas station food on the way.

We arrived well after dark.

We woke up the next morning to the sound of this...  

But nothing could dampen my spirits because it was Todd's birthday!!

I decorated this cake at home 2 nights before and had done everything in my powers to NOT let him know.

When he opened it, he almost dumped it out of the box because he thought it was a plaque to hang on the wall... I guess, I did good. :)

Holding onto my 30's as tightly as I can

I have loved my thirties.
I gone through incredible trials and tribulations in my thirties, but I have also become a stronger, more confident woman throughout them.

I honestly love celebrating my birthday... Until this year.

This year came with some trepidation.
Coming to the end of an era... One that I have loved so much.

So, I specifically didn't plan anything. No party. No get together. Nothing.
I had decided that it would be fine if the boys and I just spent it together... alone.

However, my wonderful circle decided different.
First, my brothers, Nick & Tim and their families came down on Friday night and cooked me dinner.

Then, Saturday we all went and hung out at the butterfly palace.

After I dropped the boys off with their dad and everyone else headed home, I thought I would be alone with my thoughts of how depressing 39 actually is...

Until my bestie calls to tell me to get my butt up to her house.  (That's why I keep her around ;)  We ate and laughed and talked well into the night.

Sunday I recovered. LOL

Monday (when my actual birthday rolled around) one of my co-workers decorated my door way - First time that has ever happened!

Students brought me gifts.

Then I got treated to dinner with more family!!

Yeah... even when I don't have anything in the plan book, I'm sure glad God does.

Sam is nine!!

My boy, Sam, is nine today!!
He continues to amaze me, and confuse me, and frustrate me, and humor me, and...
Yes, Sam is a complexity.
One minute, he is Mr. Independent-I-Can-Do-It.
The next, it is if his hands have fallen off and he has forgotten how to dress himself.
Of course, he hasn't... but he put on a good show.

This year, he has survived a spleen injury, actually had a teacher that Colby hadn't had, and fully grasped the game of basketball.

He can be sweeter than sweet (as he pulls his fingers through my hair)  and a little devil (if I let him ;)
But he is mine and I love him.

Happy birthday Sam!!

Colby is eleven!

Wow.
It sure doesn't seem eleven years ago...

My little boy has definitely turned into a pre-adolescent this year.
The cuddling has lessened.
The attitude has begun.
But he still makes me the proudest momma on the planet.

Happy birthday son!
Your smile brightens my day.
Your compassion and empathetic huge heart melds with mine.
And your go get 'em spirit is something I hope is never broken.
I love you!

Sugar and Spice and everything nice...and maybe a little glitter

Carli rushed at me and squealed.
A pitch that only a little girl could create.
Then she wrapped her whole self around me and squeezed.
My day was made!
I was hoping I would get to see her today.
It is her birthday.
...and Ty wasn't supposed to have her today... she was supposed to spend the day with her mom.
Plans changed.

When Ty told me, I got a little giddy-up to my step.
I can honestly say I love that girl.
She's not mine.
...and yes, I am just dating her dad.
But Carli and I have such a bond...
and I love it!

I baked her a cake. (duh.)
She wanted her dog Chocolate to be on it, so he was.

Then she wanted to do glitter tattoos. (something she got for her birthday.)
How could I say no??

I think I sport glittery stars quite well.
Yeah... I know you're jealous! ;)

My "People of Wal-Mart" birthday Party

For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about by my title... well... you're missing out... or maybe you're not...
Heck, when I go to Wal-mart (a discount store) I don't want to see these things... but then again, it does make me laugh.

So... here is the actual website... if you want to go check out what I based my party on.
Or maybe you just want to watch the video... that's what really prompted my party.

Thankfully though, I have some great friends that have my sense of humor... and are willing to play along.

So, without further ado, My "People of Wal-Mart" party...

We, of course, had to have a cake made like their famous smiley face stickers!

Well... here I am in all of my loveliness... 

I know some of you are out there thinking, "What's wrong with that???" 

But trust me... if you are "discount shopping" you don't need to be in your "clubbing" attire (or lack there of.)

Then we had the "Wurldz Best Mom"... 

Yes, she really is pregnant... NO she didn't really smoke or drink!!

Of course, she proudly showed off all of her "kids".

Then we had the infamous saying on the shirt with a exposure to go along with it. 

We wouldn't want to forget the "cart guy"... I mean how could you miss him in that vest??

Or the person that thinks they are a rock star...

How about the guy that has stains all over his shirt and wears socks with his sandals ??  

Oh yeah, and don't forget about his teddy bear tattoo.

Or the girls who you wonder who taught them to match...

Or the ones who thought pants were an option...

  How about the holy rollers...

 Who believe it's their job to convert others in the store??

 But, of course this couldn't be a full fledged "People of Wal-mart" party without the person who thought crapping their pants and still staying out in public was the decent thing to do.

Yeah... we had a great time!!  

Everyone is already asking what the theme is going to be next year...

Seven

My youngest, Sam, turned seven today.

I don't have him on his birthday this year... it was a hard adjustment for him... and me.

You see, Sam is my child that doesn't take to change easily.
He doesn't want to be in the limelight.

He wants to fully understand something before moving forward.
But he is also my child who (once he accepts you) will be your friend for life.

Yes, I have learned more about the world from him in the last seven years than I probably will the rest of my life.
Happy 7th birthday Sam!!

Today my son turns 9

I think I will have to repeat this to myself over and over again, "Today, my son turns nine." because otherwise I'm not sure I will believe it to be true.

He is definitely turning into someone I can say I am proud to know and call my own.
He is always willing to lend an encouraging word.

He takes the world on his shoulders.

He always offers a smile.

But he is growing up.
He does things on his own...
He has his own ideas and agenda...
and He no longer wants to give his Momma kisses in public.

Yep... Today, my son turns nine.

Angry Birds birthday

Every year I make my boys agree on a theme for their birthday party/cake... with them having birthdays only four days apart, it is just easier this way.
Most years it is a struggle because 2 years can have a world of difference in interests.
Somehow, this year was easy.
"Angry Birds!!!" they both shouted... and so it was decided.

We were SO happy to have a lot of our family and friends join us!

You only turn 36 once

I had a great birthday!
I really did.


My friends surprised me with a mustache party.

Some of them really got into it



We played some Minute To Win It...

 We saw how many people could fit onto one bed...

Don't ask how I came about wearing cat ears... not sure how that happened. LOL
We all had a great time though!!