My birthday!

I got another year closer to 40 this weekend (I'm all for 40!).  Some of you know the problems I had getting to these pictures so I hope you like at least one of them!!!

Photo made for me by the Diva:










Did I get to sleep in on my birthday? NO WAY. I three kids doing four performances at our school's annual "Solo & Ensemble" review, which they do for a grade. That is why the kids are in nice clothes in these photos. I'm wearing nice clothes because it was my birthday.

My 11 year-old's very first year doing this and she got a PERFECT SCORE!!! So proud of her!!

My middle child and my oldest also did their solos, but we didn't stay long enough to see what their score was.

(Me with the kids):

So after that we dumped the boy back at home and went into town to look for dresses for the little girl. She has her very first"formal" dance coming up and she wanted it to be special. (I noticed she wants it to be as special as the oldest daughter's prom....jealous maybe? lol) So we've been doing the dress thing. The day before we had went around looking at different stores and trying on different dresses, but none were "formal enough" for her. So we took the oldest daughter with us and she began to try on dresses in the same place we found Poinsettia's dress.

I think she had lots of fun and all the appropriate attention to make her feel special. The dress she picked (sorry, no spoilers, ha!) was only $15 so we were more than happy to get her a couple of accessories to make the deal sweeter. Now all she needs are shoes since she's outgrown all her nice shoes but she's still too small for mine (I wear a child's size 3 and 1/2).

We then had lunch at Cracker Barrel!!

I had my favorite trout and, of course, a raspberry lemonade

Since we were in town we browsed a few car lots for our ongoing search for an acceptable/affordable car for our oldest. While perusing those, we came across this amazing Jaguar!!!

I have LOVED Jaguars since I was a kid and saw one at the beginning of "Romancing the Stone" roughly 150 years ago (lol). This was the first Jaguar I've seen in real life. I also really love Corvettes but do not yet own one. Maybe someday.

I told Poinsettia she may not have this nice a car any time soon because I'll be jealous and she doesn't have enough driving experience IMHO.

Anyway, this car will make someone a gorgeous ride, I'm sure.

Oh, yeah, while shopping I realized that the awesome 90s are coming back!! Check out these awesome biker pants!!!!

Anyway, after all the performing, shopping,and car browsing the girls were getting a bit sleepy.

On our way home we stopped to see my in-laws (my husband's parents). They were working outside even though it was pretty cold:

THE REASON I WASN'T WEARING MY COAT: 

After we got home I made my cake, a strawberry jello "poke-cake" with cool whip instead of icing. My husband grilled dinner and we played a little Magic: The Gathering.

I also started to teach my stepson how to properly shuffle. I've been a card-fanatic ever since I was 12, and I taught myself how to shuffle in such a way as to avoid bending the cards and to keep them all "right side up." I taught my oldest stepdaughter a few years ago and now my stepson wants to learn (sorry the pic is blurry):

Hes getting it.

We finished off the night by watching "John Wick" as a family

and then I read until I went to sleep.

Here's how much I had left to go on my birthday. I'm 94% done with the book today, and I'm hoping to finish it tonight so I can get started on "Revival" (FINALLY)!!!!

Great birthday!

Thanks Tom, Lois, Grandma and Grandpa for calling me!!

And thanks to everyone else who left Facebook birthday wishes for me.

:)

Time for another year!