A Lovely Birthday!

So I had a birthday this past week. On Thursday I turned 35! I guess I'm officially on the back half of my 30s & speeding rapidly towards that next BIG, round number 4-0!!! I cannot complain though, life is good, God is good & I am truly blessed! I have to laugh now looking back to my 34th birthday...this year didn't have far to go to already be miles above my last birthday...When I turned 34 I was pregnant with awful morning sickness AND I was recovering from a violent stomach flu that had kept me in bed throwing up for the preceding 36 hours...now that is a birthday that I will not soon forget! And for the two prior years, I remember having horrible colds on my birthday! Thankfully this year, despite one or another of the kids being sick for the past 2 weeks, God granted me grace & allowed me to feel wonderful & be healthy on my birthday!

I had a great day! My sweet mom took the day off of work & we spent the morning doing our favorite mother-daughter activity--shopping! The older 3 kids were in school, so with just the baby, we could go several places. And my mom was kind to spoil me with many fun things! Then, Jeff & my dad met us for a delicious lunch at a cute diner. After that, the afternoon was filled with school pick-ups as usual, but when we had gotten all of the kids we did a little more shopping...we decided to get a few pumpkins to help it feel more like fall...because the temperature was 90 degrees and HUMID! For sure, the hottest birthday I can remember!

After our busy afternoon, Jeff's kind parents came over to babysit so Jeff & I could go out to dinner. We just went to a very casual place to get burgers, but we talked the whole time...without interruptions! So simple, but it was honestly a perfect end to a great day! Just not having to do baths & bedtime was a treat (not that I don't love my kids & enjoy spending time with them, but y'all know what I mean!)

And to top it off, when we returned home from dinner (to a nice quiet house!), I was greeted by this: (See the little arrow taped under the light switch...)

I have such sweet kiddoes! Jack & Sophie had been whispering earlier in the day about some secret plan...Jack made a birthday sign for me, then he & Sophie taped the little arrows up where they knew I would come in from dinner. I followed them all the way to the office, where the last one pointed directly to my chair and a big Happy Birthday sign taped there!

The sweet sign that greeted me on my office chair (do I spend too much time there?)...

In addition, Sophie worked very hard this afternoon to make me a sweet card which she presented to me along with her present...a prized bead necklace she had made at school & a $1 bill...because she knows Mommy & Daddy are trying to save lots of money to fix our new house! Aw, my heart melted!

And here is the new stroller I mentioned briefly in the last post! On my birthday eve, on our way out the door to church, Jeff surprised me with the stroller that I have had my eye on since Drew was born. It is a Phil & Ted's in-line double stroller. It can function as a single stroller or a double that is basically the same size as a single. And it is super easy to convert from one to the other. I LOVE it! It is super lightweight & "drives" really well! Here it is with both kids...

And here it is with just Drew...this was when we were shopping on my birthday. Of course Yaya couldn't resist getting a little treat for her grandbaby, too!

So, I have to say that 35 feels pretty good so far! And, I am so blessed & thankful to have such a sweet family that makes me feel special, not just on my birthday, but every day!