It's My Birthday!

I love birthdays!   I love my birthday!  I have always loved celebrating birthdays and I just feel so special when it's mine.  I love that I get to start celebrating early and continue celebrating even after my birth day.  It's just so much fun!

This morning I woke up to many birthday greetings on the internet and through text and they continued through out the entire day.  Larry and the kids sang to me while I was still in bed and I couldn't help but laugh. Singing together always brings a smile to my lips and laughter follows. (we might not be the best singers)  Church was great and more wishes there.  A smile was stuck to my face all day.  (I usually try to smile but today I didn't have to think about it)

We had corn on the counter from gramps to go with our dinner and it had been strategically placed all over the counter.  Thank goodness Braxton clued me in that it might say something because since I am shorter I didn't notice the message right off.   It was a little "corny" but was cool enough for me to grab the camera so I would always remember it.  I love that my kids are creative!

I love that my sis and I have Birthdays back to back.  We celebrate together and I'm pretty sure we wouldn't all get together is they weren't.  My mom and dad do most everything but the last few years we have held the party here.  It's a lot easier for us to have everyone over and we fit better.  I think it helps mom and dad out a little.  They say it does.  I really appreciate my parents for working so hard to celebrate Susan and my birthdays!  It's a fun time for me being together with everyone.

The day was long and it was fun and when we went to bed I couldn't sleep.  I got wondering if there was caffeine in the pop I had even though I purposely tried choosing a drink without it. I stayed in bed for about three hours and couldn't handle it any longer.  I got out of bed at 1:00 am and finished off my birthday cake that I remembered was just sitting on the counter without being wrapped. (I found out my pop didn't have caffeine so not sure why I couldn't sleep...maybe just like a little kid still on a high)

I can't help but laugh because some times I wonder why I can't lose weight. hahaha  Oh well....I look pretty good for my age and having seven kids right? (I started being told that about ten years ago...cracks me up but I accept it)

Cherry Hills...The Greatest Fun Spot You'll Ever Know

We just spent a fun week at Cherry Hills.  I had never been before and it was a lot of fun.  The camping spots were tight....reminded me of sardines, squished in a can.  It wasn't noisy though and so if you didn't look around it was fine.  Scott and Erin and their cute girls also camped with us.  It was so much fun being around them.  I know Kimleighel and Jared had a great time playing with their cousins.

On July 24th Trichelle and Justin and their cute families came and spent the day at the water park with us.  I really enjoyed the park and thought it was really fun. I really enjoyed having my family there too.  I want to go again sometime.  Everyone had fun together and it was just nice being together.  Kevin and Julie and Kam were visiting Julie's dad in Wyoming and Jaydan was studying so we didn't see them.  Braxton did show up for a tiny bit and it was nice having him there for a little while.

I am thankful for my family.  I am thankful for Holidays and Family time.  I am thankful that we are blessed and can do some extra things.  I am thankful for relaxing times.  Looking around makes me realize how blessed we are!  So thankful for Everything! (family, freedom, religion, friends, fun, food, etc....the list goes on and on)

I kind of forgot.....

Dang! I almost forgot....NO, I DID forget that today I had a lunch date with my mom, sister and Linda. (I remembered all month until this weekend....then....well then....I forgot)

My mom decided a while back that it would be fun to start a new tradition.  I love traditions and so I was in.  She decided that on her friend's birthday we would go to lunch at Chili's like her and Sevim use to do and have baby back ribs....just like when they went.  Mom also thought it would be good for Linda to have us with her on her mom's birthday.  I think it's a fine tradition.....and just a week before Susan and my birthdays.  So we celebrated Sevim's birthday and mine and Susan's....3 birds with 1 stone! ha ha (my mom's still a Stone)

Thank goodness Susan called and reminded me....after I was already late. By the time I got there our lunch was just minutes away from being brought to us so it worked out great!  I'm so glad they called .... I would have felt terrible if I would have missed it. We had so much fun reminiscing about Sevim.  Sevim was a classy, little Turkish lady.  She was a great friend to my mom...and my mom was her best friend!

We had such a great time that we decided to go in February too since Linda and my mom have birthdays that month.  I told mom we should start that tradition now while she was still alive.  Fun Times!

Pedi's

One of my favorite things to do is to get a pedicure.  I love having my feet pampered.  I really love going where they take time and don't hurry.  That didn't happen today but I knew it wouldn't.  The place close to me likes to hurry for some reason....I'd tip them more if they let me stay a little longer.  I didn't have a lot of extra time today though and so that is why Kathy O and I decided to go close.

It's fun going with friends and Kathy and I have gone together a few times.  Some how are timing got off....I think she goes more often than I do.  I would like to have a pedicure every week but can't afford it so I wait 4-6 weeks.....by then I am so ready!

I decided to break out of my norm today and change it up on the color. (I usually pick pink or mauve) I let Ivy pick out a blue for me and I think she did a great job.  Ivy came with me since she spent the night and the kids went to piano. She was entertained with my iPad while sitting in the chair by me. We bought drinks first and I brought each of us one of my favorite candy bars....Crunchie by Cadbury....the honeycomb candy bar. We were set and enjoyed ourselves while being pampered!

I'm glad people are willing to be paid to rub feet and massage legs and make those toe nails shine!  I love feeling spoiled!  I also love the massage chairs....that's part of the enjoyment too!  Mmmmmm!!!

Guys and Dolls

I love going to the plays and I am really glad that this group of ladies invited me to join their group.  It has been so fun getting to know them all better.  Barbie told her sister that they invited me because I was fun and believe me so are all of them.  I'm happy that I add to their fun.

I love the whole experience.....riding together, eating together and laughing together.  It's just a lot of fun.

I enjoyed the play tonight.  It was "Guys and Dolls" and was fun and upbeat.....a bit of a difference from "Urine Town".  I was glad Barbie leaned over and asked me if I wanted to do this again with them next year.  "Heck YES"  I love girls night outs.....they are just fun!

Barbie and I had the same color combo going on tonight and so I figured we should get a picture. Things like that "call" out to me. ha ha ha

A Tree for Gina

In memory of Gina....our little group of friends planted a tree for her.  It was a fun and awesome experience.  These women are such a blessing.  In fact, Rex told Karie that the timing for Gina to be united with them again was perfect and a blessing in her last years of life.  I believe being together with friends and family is a blessing and makes living and passing easier.  It's nice hearing that we were a blessing to Gina because she was such a blessing to each of us.  Each and every friend is missed when they can't be with us.  We are all important.....that's the truth!

My favorite part of the whole tree experience was when it was planted and the dirt (mud) was put back into the hole and the ribbons were tied on it with each of our names and we held hands forming a circle around the tree and Rex (Gina's Hubby) offered a prayer to God.  We all had tears in our eyes....it was so sweet.  He blessed that the tree would provide shade for those that came to it.  If only those that will come to this tree in years to come knew why it is here.....they would feel a little more than the comfort of being shaded....might even happen without knowing.  It was truly a spiritual experience.  No doubt sweet Gina was there to witness this and I believe she brought some friends with her.  One of the pictures has a bunch of "angels" in it!  They really are so close!

I loved that Mr. Talbot (Gina's daddy) was also there.  He is such a remarkable man and I have grown to really love him.  It must be so hard to have a child go first.  He's so sweet.

Afterwards we went to breakfast at Kneaders.  I always say it isn't about the food but maybe it's a little about the food since that is what seems to keep us together just a little bit longer.  I love these ladies and will help plant a tree for each and every one as they to pass.  I'm certain I will be the last standing because I am so willing to go.

I notice my blessings, I really do and each and every friend is right there under my family.  Life is better because of each of them.

the Celebrations Begin

I love celebrating Birthdays with my friends!  This month it is mine we are celebrating!  This month has been busy with our camping trips but this week a few of my friends took me to lunch.  Each luncheon date was really fun and meant a lot to me.  I appreciate my friends, Crystal, Cathy and Kellie for taking time to spend with me.  I love spending time with my friends and it is fun celebrating each of our births.

One of the nice things about getting to go to lunch with friends is sharing thoughts and feelings and laughing and bonding.  Each of my friends are great examples to me and I always want to be better because of them.  When it's my turn to be celebrated I am reminded of how truly blessed I am.  I have the best friends!  I am happy that another Birthday is approaching and for all I have learned and experienced to this point!

Last night Zaden spent the night with us and I was in the other room and heard: "gramma come here"
I went into the front room where Zaden was playing and he jumped up from behind the couch and shouted: "Happy Birthday" then he went over to the cups he had stacked and told me that he had built a castle for my birthday because I was a Princess.  He said it over and over and was so cute!  Totally made my night.  I sure do love my grands and so glad that they love this gramma!