Welcome 40!

I promise this is the last post about my birthday! haha. It's the birthday that kept on giving all month long. And yes, I saved the date by posting a title...and filling it in later.

The actual day was fabulous! In the early morning hours I heard a few balloon pops and woke up to the front room all decorated by my sweetie. He had put some of my cloth ruffles around the table, a few balloons here and there, had my beautiful flowers out (that he had brought home the night before), brought out my dressmaker, adorned with my Disneyland birthday button (he kept trying to tease me into wearing it) and even wrote a birthday message on the sliding glass door. It was very sweet and totally made my morning!

I opened a fun package from my friend Vonda - I call it my birthday in a box, complete with streamers, party hats, party blowers, pin the tail on the donkey, punch balls and a stuffed bear wearing a shirt with the message I'm not 40, I'm 39.999...I'll take that! It was so sweet of her and was such a fun surprise!

At this point Rod had to leave for work and I had to get ready for the day. As is a tradition, we take note of the first song we hear on our birthday. Mine was "September" by David Daughtery. Whatever that means.

I received phone calls from a few of my friends and was soon on my way to meet Natalie for a birthday lunch. When I walked out to my car, to my surprise, Rod had decorated my car! haha - I felt like a princess. He had written "Birthday Girl" on the back window and "It's my birthday" on the front window backwards, so I could see it and people could read it in their rear-views. How sweet is that?! There were hearts and balloons and ribbon streamers.

I had to laugh as I drove around in my birthday mobile. I was sure everyone thought I was driving my teenage daughter's car for the day! haha It was awesome.

By the way, as I started the car, the first song playing on my car radio was my new absolute favorite Christian song by Audrey Assad called "Restless". I secretly wished it would be that one. It was a bday miracle. haha. My family laughs at me because I listen to the Christian music channel but I can't help but love it.

I met up with Natalie and we got to drive in her black Boxter with the top down. The weather was that nice. It was fab. (this is what it looks like - although it's not a picture of hers)

She took me to a delicious lunch at Coho Cafe, where I got tangy chicken tacos and we shared an almond joy fudge sunday. Oh yum. The whole meal was seriously good. It was such a great treat!

After lunch I headed to work. When I whispered to the kids that it was my birthday, they swarmed me like I was a pop star, screaming and jumping and pulling me every which way. It was pretty funny. The ladies at work hadn't calculated that it was my birthday that day, since I'd been celebrating all month long...who can blame them for the confusion? They ended up bringing me a cake the next day.

After work I headed up to Mercer Island to meet with my family. Those of us who could, met at Roberto's. It was so fun to get together and we were lucky enough that Jeremy, Emily and Pearce had driven down for the weekend, so they got to be there too!

It was a special treat to have fancy cupcakes, compliments of Scott's office. I LOVE cupcakes - I chose the vanilla with pink frosting, of course.

So there you have it. I'm officially 40. And after being showered with love, kindness and generosity over and over again, I can't help but be happy about it. Seriously happy - and I'm not just saying that. It changed me and is turning out to be one of the best years yet!

Thank you to everyone who made this birthday so special for me. It's one I won't ever forget!