A Very Blissful Birthday

(Elise admiring beautiful Ellie Rae.)

She was very content just looking at her. : )

I kind of expected this birthday slip by silently and unnoticed. I am now 28 years old, which I just find kind of crazy. A few years back when I turned 25, my sweet younger sister, Vickie said, "Wow! You're a quarter of a century!" When you put it like that, I feel old. But otherwise, I feel the same, young at heart. : )

I have really wonderful family that showered me with calls and sweet friends who surprised me by remembering my birthday. I feel so spoiled and I always love talking to my sisters, parents and in-laws! I have the best family, so generous and thoughtful.

A good friend, Elizabeth H. called to wish me a "Happy Birthday" - I was so surprised that she remembered! She told me that her husband Kent had our birthdays in his palm pilot from when he was our home teacher. Aren't they the best? She brought over these beautiful, delicious chocolate cookies dusted in powdered sugar. I put them in the bowl Michelle had given us for Christmas.

As if that wasn't enough, another good friend, Tiana stopped by with yummy oatmeal cookies and a gift from her and Elizabeth! Then, Michelle, Damon and Taylor came over too for a fun, impromptu playgroup! The best way to spend a birthday.

Elizabeth and Tiana picked out a foresty-olive green jacket for me (my favorite color!) from Steve & Barry's. They also gave me a beautiful set of earrings and a necklace, with blue beads and jewels. They are so thoughtful and so sweet. Thank you Elizabeth & Tiana!!

Every year it seems I make a goal to remember people's birthdays... I made the resolution to remember early this year too but now I am even more inspired to try remember everyone's birthdays better, because I felt so loved. So, if you read this please post a comment with your birthdate!

It's nice that people just remember. In the morning, I had called Trina for some random thing and she greeted me with a cheerful "Happy Birthday!" I thought that was super sweet. She had also offered to watch the kids earlier, but we wanted to include them in our celebrations.

I also got a suspecting email from Michelle, "Did I hear today might be a special day for you?" I think I successfully ignored that question, fearful that she would try to do something nice for me. She had just given me some really melt-in-your-mouth banana bread, which we devored in one day. This picture is Elijah first licking the bottom of the pan and then acting like it was a hat : ) It was so funny. He somehow kept getting it off the dining room table!

And then, there's my sweet husband...

He came home with a rose, some ginger scented perfume and body cream... Then, he took our whole family out to Ruth's Chris Steak House. We really enjoyed it! I got the kids all dressed up and Elise was so excited that daddy was taking us out to eat. They did really well but of course they got restless. I think it was the fastest time we ever spent in a resturaunt! We started off with Caesar salads, then Aaron ordered a "really good steak" : ), I think it was the New York Strip steak. I got the stuffed chicken breast (reccomended by Michelle), with lots of butter and cheese, so good! The kids ate the broccoli, asaragus and mashed potatoes. We took a few bites of our entrees and then asked them to wrap up the rest and bring us the check. haha! At least we got some fun pictures.

(These are before and after pictures of my hair.)

These pictures are of a Christmas present from Aaron, but it feels like it was for my birthday. Last week, I used the gift certificate Aaron gave me to go to a salon and cut my hair. I got some layers and warm highlights. It was so nice to be pampered (I don't think I've ever been to that kind of salon, mostly just hole-in-the wall places : ), and Aaron and the kids roamed the mall for almost 2 hours. I love my husband! I think I pretty much copied all my friends haircuts - Tiana, Michelle, Kaelene... I love it, I feel like a new woman. : ) Thank you, Aaron!!