The birthday that just keeps giving...

Wow! The flowers just kept coming! I got two more bouquets on Friday and two more on Monday! On Saturday, after surviving the sleep over, I got to spend some time with my awesome mom! I scored a Ann Taylor Loft skirt, pair of Chico's capris, pair of earrings, beautiful necklace, and a reindeer (that is missing an ear) for a whopping $12!!! Thank you mom and Value Village! Then we did some furniture shopping and I may have found a set of bunk beds that Sugar and Spice has to have. By then we were hungry girls! Our favorite home team was playing in a very important game so our first restaurant choice didn't last long and we ended up at CPK (for those of you who aren't already on a nick-name-basis that would be California Pizza Kitchen.) CPK and I are old friends. I was tickled pink when they finally came to Tucson. So, we got some yummy food and got to watch the game. Too bad about the final score, but hey- the apple/ice cream dessert was able to mute the pain. Then it was off to the store closing sale at Borders. I got some great bargains and mom bought me some new books! Oh...and I forgot the BEST part of my birthday this year. The part that is going to make my mom groan and probably call me as soon as she reads the next sentence. (It is something I have been giddily waiting to say for a month now....Are you ready for it???) My best birthday present was my mom sending me to Disney World! Now I can always claim that she took me for my birthday as a kid and as an adult! Thanks, mom!!

Lucky Girl

Today is shaping up to be sooo much better than last year! Three new books by an author I fell in love with last week (more on that in another post) new lotion and shower gel. A cupcake for breakfast! Flowers from my students (3 beautiful bouquets!) and from my in-laws! 7 People I work with actually remembered my birthday this year! A HUGE improvement over being completely forgotten last year! And it is early release-the kids left 30 minutes ago!! Last but not least, a yet to be determined yummy dinner tonight. 34 is definitely better than 33! Now if only the cats could win tonight it would be perfect!

Happy Birthday Aunnie!

Hey, sis!
Hope you had an amazing birthday!!!
We have a super cool present for you in Mesa...
Now it is just a matter of getting
my over-worked brother to deliver it to you!
Hope today was filled with tons of smiles
and some yummy cake!
Love ya!

Sugar and Spice Turns 4!

For Sugar and Spice's Happy Birthday dinner he of course wanted Sweet Tomatoes. It is, after all, his favorite place to eat. Unfortunately, he had a bit of a tummy ache the entire time, and ended up getting sick once he got home. :( But, he did get some great presents! A few days later he got a 2nd Birthday party complete with more presents and friends. His favorite part was getting cards from everyone. With each new card that he opened he would ask if he could keep it. Too cute!

Princess in Training Turns 5

Today My Princess in Training had her Princess and the Frog Tea Party. Last night after she went to bed I set out a new dress and shoes for her. This morning I listened as she squealed when she woke up and saw both waiting for her. Then in true Princess in Training fashion she went into the bathroom, climbed up on the sink, admired herself in the mirror, and said, "5, yes!" Too cute. She was bursting with excitement. Next she snuck around the table that was set for her tea party. Again, more squealing as she delighted in the fancy dishes, tulle on the chairs, and tablecloth set out just for her. The table cloth was my personal favorite as it belonged to her great grandmother. The Tea Party was a hit complete with fancy food, real tea cups, a "Kiss-the-frog" version of pin the lips on the frog, and musical chairs. It was a perfect day!

Wednesday was...

...the day 30 preschool students visited our school to transition into kindergarten. Their visit was scheduled to be 30 minutes. When they arrived we were told they were staying for 90!

...a long day on a normally short day. Usually, we leave at 12:45, but instead our dismissal time was pushed to 1:55.

...a day without specials.

...finding out my kids had been exposed to Whooping Cough.

...a call to the doctor to find out what that means for my under 5s that are not fully immunized.

...more than an hour wait for a call back from the nurse on duty.

...a yummy Oreo cake at lunch.

...four parent-teacher conferences...with the students that are really struggling this year. One conference lasted more than an hour.

...a grumpy babysitter when I showed up an hour late (see above!)

...kids arguing the entire 10 minute ride home...thank goodness the ride is not 40+ minutes like last year!

...take and bake pizza from my favorite pizza joint. One of the many benefits of having moved home.

...homemade brownies.

...a pot of tulips.

...laundry all over the living room.

...a call from a long ago friend. Someone that I miss and was so surprised and happy to hear from!

...no call from the friend that has always mattered the most.

...money from the piggy banks...that I had to give back once I was done looking at it. :)

...$5 from the PTO to the ice cream store across from our school. YUM! Well...maybe when My Princess in Training can remember where she put it.

...an apple necklace for his favorite teacher

...finding out that my kids were actually exposed to RSV.

...a nifty machine to clean my rings.

...listening to Sugar and Spice cough all night and wondering if he was a lot sick or only a little sick.

...my happy birthday.

Thursday though...was dismissal at 11:40! Still no specials...and no recess...but also no conferences. Two cute necklaces from Target...delicious dinner with mom...a brand new birthday dress...and a beautiful butterfly necklace...

Thank goodness next year my birthday falls on Thursday. I don't think I could take another Wednesday.

Friends are GREAT!

From my inbox...
"Hello my friend! Happy Birthday!

You are truly one of my favorite people on the planet, and I think the world of you!"

Thanks, Jan! I can't imagine what I did before I met you!

You made my day!

ps...congratulations on your LAST day of radiation!!

HIP HIP HOORAY!

Happy Birthday Aunnie!

We hope that you had a wonderful birthday!
It has been so much fun watching you grow
to the sweet, fun loving girl you are today!
I feel so blessed to call you family!
Sorry we couldn't make these for you today,
but here is the recipe so that Kyle can make them for you!
Love ya!

Happy Birthday Ben!

Happy Birthday!!!

I am sorry you have to spend it in Cincinnati! We all miss you and can't wait to have you home for a few days before you jet off to your next exotic location. Does it make it stink any less if I call all of your travel destinations exotic? I am glad that you picked me. I can't imagine what my life would be like with anyone else. I know that Paula is my oldest and best friend, but you are my everyday best friend. My now until forever best friend. Happy Birthday! Can't wait to see you tomorrow.

Love you monster!

Have a safe trip home!

The aftermath...

The friends...

We were so glad you could join us, Bella and Dave!

We will miss you heaps and bunches when you move!

We promise to visit though!

The cake...

Happy Birthday Sugar and Spice!