Happy Freaking Birthday!!!!

I have to tell you....I had THE best birthday this year. I have had some pretty amazing birthdays in my time. I LOVE my birthday (if you are reading this-this is probably not new information to you) and my friends have blessed me immensely over the years w/ fabulous surprises, parties, amazing gifts, visits, etc... I am so blessed. The ONLY thing that could have made this year any better, would have been to have all of my friends and family there to celebrate with (especially Amy and Alex :)). As it was, it was a great day...and then another. Here's the summary...

I woke up in Birmingham at 4:15 in the am (for a 7 am flight). Got ready and then got my b-day present from Shauna!! It was a great way to start the day! Then we went to the airport and Shauna even came in w/ me and ate b'fast in the terminal. Then I flew away and landed in Baltimore (after sitting in a very roomy and comfy aisle seat w/ very little turbulance) almost 30 minutes early!!!

Mine and Shauna's fancy b-day manicures. I'm still wearing this color. Badly, I might add.

So Anne met me at the airport at almost EXACTLY the right time (not too early and have to wait on bags, not too late and me have wait on her!) Perfect-o. I got b-day flowers and a balloon at the airport--tulips my fave! We drove back to Silver Spring, made a stop at a bike store (my fave thing to do) then went to this cool coffee place, Myorga. So fun--we just sat and chatted for well over an hour. We rarely get to do that, so it was a sweet time for me. I couldn't help but notice, however, that Anne kept checking her cell and answering calls and texts. She disappeared in the bathroom for a while, too, so I figured something was up. "We decided" to go to lunch--we showed up at Tratoria in Rockville, and all my friends were there!!! So fun!!! I got presents and food and so much love! Love those girls. I don't have the pics off Anne's camera yet (mine died), so I'll add the group shot later...

Blowing out my candle

Me and the party planning Anne-chovie. Seriously, you should hire her for your next birthday planning needs!

At lunch was Megan, Merideth, Lisa J., Susan P., Lisa O., Michelle, Jill E. Bean, Anne and me! On the way to lunch in the car, I discovered a long scarf that Anne had in the backseat. I was like..."what's this for?" Anne was like, "that's a blindfold for later"....I was SO EXCITED. Cause a blindfold means something GOOD is coming!!! :) Well, I guess it could mean other things, too...but not on my birthday! After lunch, we got in the car, I put on my blindfold and we drove for a few minutes, I was led into a building w/ stairs ( I thought it was the mall) but it was the MAC Center--the pool!!! I had a REAL LIFE POOL PARTY!!! We had 45 minutes to ride the crazy slide and do all the diving boards. After that was over, we even had cake up in the fishbowl. Totally a real pool party. I loved every second of it. Everybody went off the diving boards w/ me (noone ever wants to play w/ me at the pool--but they HAVE to on your birthday! :) After we played, we sat around and waited for the lap lanes to open--then swam some laps and hit the hot tub before our next appointment at 7 pm.

Anne and I got ready, got in the car and drove way out to Gaithersburg (way out in MD) and I had no idea where we were going. We stopped and got a quick snack and directions...then low and behold, Anne had found this church out there that had a really contemporary worship service on Saturday nite (I really miss contemporary worship--so this was such a treat). We had a really neat sermon and great music. There just isn't a better way to celebrate a new year than in God's house.

After church we went to Rio for 'to go' fajitas then back to Dawson where I had 2 kids movies to choose from-"Ratatouille" or "Over the Hedge." See, I LOVE kids movies and no one will ever watch them w/ me, so it was so fun to get to watch 2 of them!!!! We only made it thru "Ratatoullie" cause we were so tired...then I got a midnite present (kind of a tradition) and we went to bed. It was the best of the best of birthdays. My sweet friend Anne did it up right.

On Sunday morning we slept super late--till after 11 (we had gone to church on Saturday, remember). Got up, had a great breakfast, sitting around chatting, taking our time...when Lisa brings down this random shopping bag. I happen to look in it and see my own clothes--the kind of clothes you wear to stay warm. So I'm digging thru it, and at the bottom is another present, which when I open it is a pair of silky long johns. I think we are going skiing at this point, but like 15 minutes later, I happen to look down and there on the ground (it had fallen out of my long johns) is a TICKET to the Cowboys/Redskins game for that day at 1pm!!! Thankfully, the time of the game changed to 4:15--and we made it to kickoff!!! It was cold and rainy, but so much fun. So much fun. The best birthday ever.

I can't even give Anne enough props for the 2 days of my b-day celebration. It makes me feel so full and so loved (not to mention all of my precious loved ones who called or were there to celebrate w/ me as well!)...but mostly, I feel KNOWN. Understood. Everything we did was fun--and anyone would have enjoyed it--but it was chosen for me b/c each activity is something I want to do so much, but don't get alot of. The downtime w/ just Anne and I at the coffee place hanging out w/out being in a rush....the lunch w/ my worlds colliding w/ all my girls....the pool and everyone playing w/ me--doing whatever I wanted to do....church w/ music I love....movies I love....it's just so perfect. It was my perfect day. Of course, I wish you would have been there with me (you all know who you are), and that would be the only thing I would change. Let's just go w/ it was as perfect as it could be....

Thank you, Anne-chovie for planning it and caring so much about me. Loverman, for the frantic last minute calls and for remaining calm! Susan P. for cheering me on to do a real dive off the high dive! Jill for wanting to do laps after the chocolate cake. Michelle for setting up the pool party and watching me even tho you couldn't get in the pool b/c of your knee. Lisa J. for sexing the place up w/ your awesome hair! Megan and Mer for leaving your families and letting your worlds collide w/ mine. Shauna for starting the day off right. I am beyond blessed and humbled. I can't imagine better friends or a better life.

I'm gonna stop complaining about you all. ;)