Suprise!!!

My birthday was this past Friday. The big 3-0. I wasn't totally dreading it. I think that my 28th was really hard. Maybe it's because I am preggers and something about that makes me feel younger, ironically seeing as how it is hard to bend over, I get short winded, and have experienced incontinence as of late. You'd think I would feel extra old. Maybe it's new life coming and also the perspective of a different body coming that makes me feel hopeful. I spent the morning humming Denna Carter's line "I still remember when thirty was old...", just thinking that there was a time that 30 was old to me, but now it still feels relatively young.
Anyway, it was a good day. I spent the morning feeling productive and cleaning. I showered and did my hair. (I got my hair colored the day before as my big gift bc it's so dang expensive!) That night Steve had arranged for his sister to sit for us while we went to dinner. We decided on the Olive Garden. It was delicious of course,... Have you had the stuffed mushrooms? wow!
When we dropped off the kids all was normal at Lissa's. Nothing suspicious. The kids were all playing. We chatted for a bit and thought we would be on our way so we could get back. Lissa's daughter's birthday was the next day, and I knew she needed to make cake and cupcakes still that night. So off we went. Nothing suspicious about Steve. We ordered from the waiter that was struggling and sweating and weren't terribly surprised that the order got messed up, and I had to wait 15 minutes to get my plate after Steve already had his entree. No biggie, but in hindsight, it was curious that Steve was more preoccupied with the time than usual. I could see he was annoyed with the delay and the waiter, which is a bit out of character. Nonetheless, we ate casually, enjoyed each-others company, and headed to Lissa's as planned. All was normal, nothing suspicious. Steve rang the doorbell, and I expected little Christian to peak through the window and answer the door as usual. Well when the door opened the house was full of people, there were balloons, and tables set up and decorated and everyone yelled, "surprise!" Ahh, it was for me. It was really humbling. It's hard to explain, I felt so loved that as a grown woman people would still take the time to celebrate me, and I mean really celebrate and conspire! How nice. I was so surprised, then happy, then I cried briefly before hugging everyone.
My friend Tiff even drove up with 2 of her kids 5+ hours to be there.
There were 40+ people there. Liss had made me a fondant cake, people brought gifts, there was a trivia game about me, and a jeopardy game all about the 80's and door prizes to boot. They even made a list of things I should do in the next 30 years, including run a marathon and swim the English Channel. Geez 30 better not be old!
Steve has always talked about the big 3-0. I feel bad that we were somewhere in a snow storm after leaving our house forever in Cedar when he had his 30th. He and Lissa, who may be one of the most talented, humble, genuine, kind and beautiful people that I know, both wanted it to be special for me.
Thank you so much Lissa and Steve, you loving connivers! Also thanks to Jeff that apparently was in the basement when we dropped off the kids, waiting to set up tables. Thanks to Christian for being a good husband to Liss while she spent time and no doubt money to make it so fun for me. Also thanks to everyone who parked a block or so away at the Thank you so much Lissa and Steve, you loving connivers! Also thanks to Jeff that apparently was in the basement when we dropped off the kids, waiting to set up tables. Thanks to Christian for being a good husband to Liss while she spent time and no doubt money to make it so fun for me. Also thanks to everyone who parked a block or so away at the golf course so that I didn't suspect anything when we came to get the kids. Thanks for the great love and affection that I feel from everyone. I had to wear a crown and beads and did feel like a queen.

Zac Steven, Zac, Zacy, Zac Attack, Zac-a -roni!- It's all about you Bud!

Zac has had some exciting times as of late. His birthday was Sunday, we celebrated Saturday AND he started school on Weds (yesterday) after his open house Tuesday night!

When we lived in Kentucky there were brochures at doctors offices and other places that told about fun stuff to do in Lexington, there was always an ad for inflatables that you can rent for parties. I bet there were 15 on the page. He would ALWAYS tell me that he wanted to go to wherever this place was. There is a warehouse in Utah that has about 12 huge inflatables that the kids can play on for an unlimited amount of time. So... Happy Birthday Zac! Jump your heart out. He did have fun running and playing and jumping and sliding and sweating. He had his cousins and bro and sister to play with too! That was fun. Then he chose to eat at the Texas Roadhouse for lunch because he likes shelling the peanuts and knowing that it's totally acceptable to make a mess with the shells all over the place. That evening we had a "waffle bar" for dinner and didn't even eat the ice cream and cake because we were too full of sweet goodness already, but he liked blowing out the candles. The picture of him being sung to in front of his cake is SO Zac to me. He does have a big heart and was grateful for each gift that he opened. I hope he felt special!
I made his Mario brothers shirt (iron on), and we decided even if it only lasts 2 washes, his reaction was worth it. He wanted a Mario birthday and short of ordering online, I couldn't find anything Mario and felt bad. Thankfully he is pretty easy to please.
His room is a project left undone, that darn wall paper border and this belly of mine are to blame. It is still on the agenda to finish as a part of his birthday. Blue walls and a Mario poster are musts!

Yesterday was his first day of school. All seemed to go well. He said that he made a friend named Ryan that "tried to steal my cool backpack, then gave it back and now we are friends." Sounds about right for Kindergarten little boys. He loved the bus and accommodated me with a few pictures. (found my camera- the babysitter had it accidentally)
So we chose to send him to Kindergarten even though he makes the cut off by a mere 2 days. I think he will do ok. I hear that his teacher is "animated, loves kids, stays on task, and is on the strict side" Sounds perfect for Zac for 3 hours a day. (Can you believe K is half day here. Those work horses in Ky- LOL).

Anyway, Zac is fun, sweet, wild and 5! We love you Zac!