Isaac's 5th Birthday Party

Seth's Birthday Ralley

♫ Happy Birthday To Seth ♪

♫ Happy Birthday To Me ♪

Today is my birthday. I'm 33. Whoa! It seems so much worse when the numbers stare you in the face! Anyway, some years are better than others as far as birthday celebrations go. I usually feel weird about my birthday and have mixed feelings regarding it. Of course, everyone wants a big to-do for their special day, but often it doesn't turn out that way. Well, over the past few years, I've found a way to celebrate that doesn't require that your birthday be a perfect day, which usually brings dissapointment in some way or another. This isn't the way my mother did it one time by buying everyone else in our family gifts for her birthday because at least someone would be happy and gifts would be given on her birthday. No, I'm not so philanthropic. My self-ish new-found way to celebrate is to spread the cheer over as many days as possible and eat as many birthday "treats" as necessary. So, here's how I did it this year:

THURSDAY...lunch with some of my closest friends at The Crab Pot with Strawberry Rhubarb Cake and icecream for a birthday treat.

FRIDAY...Dinner with more friends at El Torito that turned into 3 hours of fun! Laser tag would have to wait for another night. We were surprised they didn't kick us out as it got close to 10 pm, but we're not sure they even knew we were out there anyway! And, yes, Chrissy, I LOVE flan!

SATURDAY...we went to Knott's for some family fun and had to celebrate with a funnel cake.

SUNDAY...Natalie made a delicious chicken cordon bleu dinner with twice baked potatoes, homemade bread etc., etc. We ate some chocolate cake and then we headed over to the Browers for their daughter's birthday celebration where we ate more cake and icecream! By this time I was more than happy to share the celebration with my sweet friend Audrey, who turned one on the 13th, but had her "friends" party today.

Of all of the great presents I received (THANK YOU everyone!) I'd have to say my most favorite gift, by far, was this telephone message left by my fellow birthday girl.

I'm so lucky to share my birthday with my sweet niece, Lillian. Ealier in the day I had left a birthday message for her on her phone and I'm so glad that she did the same for me! Thanks Lil!

I'm so thankful to have such wonderful friends and family to make my birthweek such a great one. Thank you so much!

Happy Birthday Samantha!