Tag Archives: birthday

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Twelve is Sassy!

Sassy is 12 today!  Of course, 12 in kid years = 3 in mom years.  (Mom years are the number of years I feel I have aged since she was born.  Basically, it’s kids age divided by 4.  This totally makes sense.  Right?…)

Sassy got to pick where we were went for dinner.  She picked a bar-b-q place that is a local, nationally recognized favorite. We got there to find they were closed for remodeling!  Talk about a buzz kill.  We passed the word on to the rest of the family and picked another restaurant close by.  Unfortunately, our options were very limited and time wasn’t on our side.  We ended up at a Firehouse Subs.  Fine by me!  Their veggie sub is really tasty.

Firehouse Subs

Then our small group headed to my great aunt and uncle’s house for cake, ice cream and presents.

cookie cake

She paired her choice of cake (cookie cake!) with rainbow sherbet.  Um, okay.  Whatever you want, Sassy.  It’s your birthday.

Then it was presents time!  She was very excited anticipating a cell phone.  She was hoping, wishing, thinking she might get one since OMG Becky had gotten one for her twelfth birthday…

She was not disappointed!

cell phone gift

Hoppy wanted to check it out, too.  She is thinking she might want one…

OMG Becky got Sassy a case for her new phone.

cell phone case

How cute is that little owl?  I want one!  Though I doubt Sassy wants us to be twinsies.

If tomorrow was your birthday, what would you wish for?

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Happy Birthday OMG Becky!

It’s official.  I am now the mother of a child old enough to legally drive.  Midwest neighbors beware!

One tradition we have always had, is my daughters get to pick where we eat on their birthday.  Anywhere they want!  They have picked everything from Red Robin to a casino buffet.  Whatever they want, on their birthday their wish is my command.  And today OMG Becky picked Olive Garden for lunch.  Guy’s parents were meeting us there to pick him up.  He and Sassy passed the time by playing on the iPad he received for his birthday.  Lucky little man, right?!  We brought it in with us because leaving it in the car seemed like a bad idea.  Can you guess what the game was?…

Football!  Duh.  Told you, he is all sports all the time.

She got to open one gift at lunch.

Vera Bradley lanyard

It was one of the most wanted items on her list.  A Vera Bradley lanyard in Island Blooms!

At the end of lunch, the waitress asked us if she could bring us anything else.  OMG Becky whispered to me, “More mints!” The waitress overheard and said she would be happy to bring her more.  She came back with almost an entire cup full!

andes mints

OMG Becky was ecstatic!  And lucky for the rest of us, she shared!

Later in the afternoon, there was a discussion as to why we were sitting in the dark at the table.  My mom said it was because we were enjoying the Christmas tree ambiance.  And she pointed out to Sassy, if we saved money on electric now, we would have more funds for the summer electric bill = swimming pool.  Sassy agreed that would be better money spent.  My dad on the other hand thought we could shop less for Christmas gifts so he could have light when and where he wanted it.  OMG Becky told him she would just buy him a headlamp.  He then came out with this on…

headlamp

Some sort of safety glasses with a lamp on each side!  Not sure where he got them or what he does with them, but so funny!  My girls were tickled.

Tonight we went to my aunt and uncle’s house for a little birthday party with them, my parents and my youngest brother and his family.  I brought the cake I had made.  It was soooo good!

chocolate cavity maker cake

OMG Becky got to open the rest of her gifts.  Her final gift from me was another most wanted item!

Vera Bradley zip id case

A Vera Bradley Zip ID Case in Island Blooms.

Then it was time to put our local fire department on standby and sing Happy Birthday!

blow out birthday candles

I was scared her hair was going to go up in flames so I made her hold it back.  Safety first!

On the way home, we drove through another lights display.  This one is in a neighborhood  shorter and tells the story of the life of Jesus from birth to Resurrection.

Christmas story lights

Christmas story lights

I need to get to bed soon.  I have to work a couple of hours tomorrow and then I am off for a week!  It was a good day and I think OMG Becky enjoyed it, too.  She just came to my room wearing her lanyard and ID case.  She had one question for me…

Vera Bradley

“Do I look like I am ready to drive?”

No, no and NO.

Do you have a teen driver?  Please tell me how to survive this exciting scary chapter!

Where would you pick to eat on your birthday?

Do you have to work on Christmas Eve?

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Month Long Celebration

So we are still in the midst of my mom’s month-long birthday celebration.  It’s really never-ending or at least it feels that way.  I suppose that is one thing about getting older to look forward to… longer birthday celebrations.  Maybe it’s something like you get a half day per year?…  So if it’s your 50th birthday, you get to celebrate it for 25 days?  I think that sounds about right.  Or at least that seems to be what she thinks.  And it does seem to be working in her favor.  She may very well be onto something!

I needed coffee to start this day.  I tried a new-to-me place, Caribou Coffee.

caribou coffee

I had their Salted Caramel Budino because that drink was 50% off that day.  It was yummy!  A little salty at first sip but then mellowed out.  I would buy it again.  And for those, like me, who don’t know what Budino is:

DEFINITIONS OF: budino

any of various soft sweet desserts thickened usually with flour and baked or boiled or steamed

(source)

Good to know!

Then it was party time.  This party was at their house with her aunt and uncle, an older brother, his family and myself over for lunch.  They brought a Mexican chili and I made dessert.  My youngest nephew helped with blowing out the candle.

birthday candle

He cracks me up.  Before lunch the two of us were playing, arguing over whose birthday it was.  His birthday and mine are just a couple of weeks apart, followed by my mom’s a few weeks later.  I like to try to mix him up.  Such a good aunt!

<Mom stop reading!>

He decided to hide from me behind the entertainment system.  I’m pretty sure he is not supposed to be back there.  And as luck would have it, he got stuck.  Or as he said, his butt was stuck.

boy stuck

I decided for the good of the blog, I had to take a picture of the situation before helping him out.  I’m a good blogger like that.  I sacrificed my nephew’s comfort for you.  You are most welcome. 

<Mom, you can resume reading now.>

After that, my mom and I took her aunt and uncle home and I forced her to stop at the mall.  I was on a mission to find tall, brown boots.  I think we hit just about every store in the mall because my mom found a great parking spot.  Unfortunately, it was at the other end of the mall from the store I really wanted to visit.  So we were forced to do more shopping.  I hate when that happens.  Yeah, right.

I found the perfect boots.  And a sweater.  And…  nothing.  I only bought what I went for.  The boots were on sale for 50% off and the sweater was 75% off.  Love bargains like that!

My mom found something else…

letter to santa, macy's christmas

A place to write a letter to Santa, complete with a mailbox and believe meter!  Macy’s is all decked out for the holiday and this has to be my favorite part of their decor.  Can you tell how excited I was?  So excited I couldn’t hold the camera still enough to take a decent photo.  That is excited!

Have you tried Caribou Coffee?  What is your favorite drink there?

Any good shopping deals you want to brag about?

How long is your birthday celebration?

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Sunday Celebrations

Yesterday was another special day for us.  My girls were both baptized in a private ceremony.

baptism

Their aunt and uncle were their sponsors.

It was also OMG Becky’s first communion!

We have so many family photos of this church.  Many of our family members attend there and have for years.  We have photos of weddings, confirmation and baptisms.

After the ceremony, we had a family dinner to celebrate the baptism and my birthday.  I made Slutty Saintly Brownies for the occasion.   You must try them!  That is an order. Yes, they are that good!

What’s your favorite inappropriate dessert?

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Homecoming Weekend! Maybe.

We have a BIG weekend planned.  Tomorrow is OMG Becky’s first Homecoming dance!  I’m not sure who is more excited, me or her.  We purchased her dress last spring on the West coast.  It’s beautiful!  Since then we have had it altered, personalized shoes and found jewelry that is a perfect match.

Tomorrow will be full of nail services (at home) and a professional hair appointment.  Mid-afternoon two of my nieces that attend the same high school are coming over so we can get photos of the three girls together.  We haven’t done that in years!

dance class

Then I get to be a chauffeur for the evening!  I am one of two parents driving 12 kids.  We are meeting at one house before heading out to a local park with a waterfall for photos,  dinner and then the dance.  I cannot wait!  And did I mention tomorrow is my birthday?  I really, really, really want to buy a big princess dress to wear!  I’m thinking hot pink and taffeta  maybe even a princess tiara…  OMG Becky is not having it.  She says I will no longer be allowed to drive if I dress up.  I think I may try anyway.

But there may be a kink in our plans.  OMG Becky is home sick today, no Homecoming game tonight for her.  She woke up with a sore throat Wednesday.  Yesterday she had no voice and a lot of throat pain.  She also wanted to sleep non-stop.  That is always a sign that she is sick.  I took her to the doctor yesterday afternoon.  The rapid strep test came back negative   The doctor thinks it is not strep.  Apparently strep would be higher in the throat and not effect her voice.  Laryngitis is probably the cause.  So far OMG Becky doesn’t have a fever, thankfully.  Today she woke up for school feeling worse.  We decided to keep her home.  She immediately went back to bed.  Hopefully, all this sleep will help.  Looks like another day of salt water gargling, hot tea with honey, chicken noddle soup and a cool-mist humidifier.  We need her to feel well enough to feel like attending the dance tomorrow night.  Please send some positive healing vibes her way!

What did you wear to your first Homecoming dance?

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Magic Birthday

Last night was a birthday party for my niece and nephew.  They are siblings with birthdays in the same week, but 14 years apart.  The birthday boy spent the afternoon with us before the party, while Sassy stayed behind at his house to help decorate.

OMG Becky likes to tease him.  She spent most of the ride to the party trying to make him play with her.  He’s got four older siblings so he’s mastered the art of ignoring someone.

birthday boy, cousins

OMG Becky does not like to be ignored.  Poor Guy.

birthday boy, cousins

He was too cute with his little suit on and birthday boy button!

The party was huge with almost 70 people in attendance.  It made getting photos hard since it seemed to be wall to wall people most of the time.

The main attraction of the party was the magician!  Guy got called up to help out with a trick.

birthday boy, kc magic man

My niece, Hoppy, found a comfortable seat on Sassy’s lap.

birthday party, cousins

After the show, we headed back upstairs to mingle for a bit before cake and presents.  Sorry but I totally missed out on pictures of those.  But the cake was an adorable rabbit coming out of a magician’s hat.  Adorable and delicious!  Chocolate, chocolate chip.  Enough said.  I tried really hard to avoid it.  But then OMG Becky delivered a piece right to my seat far, far away on the other side of the house.  I felt obligated to eat it!…

The magician also walked around doing more tricks up close and personal.

magic trick, kc magic man

magic trick, kc magic man

I also ran into a high school classmate of mine!  Because the party was so crowded, we didn’t even notice each other until I was leaving for night.  We got to catch up for a couple of minutes, before I had to rush out.  Hi Peter!

In other exciting news!!…  I finally unpacked my point and shoot camera!  I would say this is the end of crappy photos you will see on here, but let’s face it, hat’s probably not true.  BUT, this recent discovery should bring that number down.  And now, you may thank me.

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Penguins, Pie & Pancakes

My daughter, Sassy turned 11 last week.  She wanted to have a couple of friends spend the night versus a bigger party for just a few hours.

Presents!  Yes, that is Christmas wrapping paper, but in my defense, she loves penguins.

Birthday pie!  Key Lime pie is her favorite.  She decided that is what she wanted instead of a cake.  So pie it was with a side of Birthday Cake ice cream!

Pajamas on, waiting for popcorn, watching a movie.

Pillow pile!  Luckily, they were pretty quiet most of the night and only woke me up a few times.

The next morning I made them peanut butter, banana pancakes.  They ate no less than three each!

When was the last slumber party you were a part of?

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Running Birthday Pirates

I may have mentioned I work a less than regular schedule.  For the most part, I set my own hours, but there are a few events/classes I have to be a part of each month.  And those events sometimes collide all within the same week.  Last week was one of those weeks.  Plus, there was my younger daughter Sassy’s birthday, a pirate-themed employee party,

(Sassy won 4th place in the costume contest!  OMG Becky was too cool to compete officially.  My dress had a pirate ship on it, but I wasn’t in an actual costume.)

a school dance and a PTA meeting.  Everything collided at once making for a very long week, full of very long days.

But it’s finally over!  For this month anyway.  And now I can relax a bit and get a few things for myself done.  Actually part of the busyness included joining a running group.  This group is training for their first 5K next month.  We run together two mornings a week.  I thought it would be a good opportunity to build up my hip.  It’s been fun!  I’ve never run with a group before.  And I like trying new routes and the challenge some of the have presented.  We also do a bit of strength training, too.  I really hope the group wants to continue running together after the race.

Do you like running with a group?  Do you run with a group on a regular basis?