33 is such a random dumb age (only because there's nothing particularly significant about it), but despite that, how AWESOME to be 33! Every year of my life is something that I embrace and celebrate...and how awesome to celebrate this brand new year of my life...and one that WILL BE one of JOY and amazing growth! I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend my 33rd birthday, than spending it with my little ones. And from the moment I woke up on my birthday, they treated me like a QUEEN. How precious are these two little angels that woke up their Mama on her birthday with BREAKFAST IN BED?! So sweet. They even served my toast on the red "YOU ARE SPECIAL TODAY" plate that I use for THEIR birthdays. :-) Ooh..LOVE THEM. My birthday breakfast was toast and Apple Jacks...with a mug of milk to wash it down. Such sweethearts. Oooh..and their Mama is SO PRETTY when she wakes up in the morning. LOL! Funny. Love this picture of me and my baby girl...even though I am a serious hot mess. But I am a HAPPY hot mess...to say the least. :-)
A funny little story about this "sweet as ever" breakfast from my little ones. I have two places for bread in our kitchen. I have a spot for the bread we use to eat...and a spot for bread to feed the chickens (meaning, it is old and even slightly moldy). So, it took about a half of a bite of this yummy toast, to realize that my sweet Kaden had used bread from the "chicken bread." Oh wow...it took all I had to eat that moldy toast. But it was the best moldy toast I have ever eaten in my life...because it was made with SO MUCH LOVE!!! :-) Love my babies so much. After breakfast, Kaden told me to go back to sleep and rest for a little bit. I didn't argue. :-) They were so good to let me sleep in a little bit on my birthday. After I got up, we did a little bit of tidying up and then headed out to meet my sweet "mirror friend" Heather and her babies (Cessna and Lance) at the movie theater to see "HOP!"
After "HOP," (which Heather and I both thought was more than slightly lame, but still enjoyed it since the kiddies loved it so much) we decided to go to dinner at IHOP. :-) The kids thought that was so awesome...that we had just SEEN "HOP" and were going to I-"HOP." LOL...I should have pretended we did that on purpose because Heather and I are so clever. LOL! But it was purely by accident. Ha ha! We had so much fun. Heather is such a sweetheart and SPOILED me rotten with gifts....nail polish (that looks FABULOUS, btw!!), a gift certificate to Vanity, hand soap and THE cutest necklace and BUTTON RING. Heather knows how much I love BIG RINGS and I have NEVER seen one like this...so freaking love it!!!
While we were there, they happened to have a lady there making balloons for all of the kids in the restaurant. YAY..lucky us!
Kaden asked if we were going to tell the waiter that it was my birthday. I told him that we didn't need to do that. While Heather and I were talking, the waiter came to check on us and I heard Kaden quickly say, "Um excuse me, it's my Mama's birthday today." LOL! Little stink. So love my Kaden. When I looked at him, he gave me that SMILE..the one I love so much. The "trying not to smile, but can't help it" smile. He and his daddy both have the same smile.. and that's something I always loved about them both. LOL! Such a sweetheart.
So, thanks to my sly and thoughtful little Kaden, Mama received an awesome birthday serenade from the IHOP waiters. Hit it!
Along with the serenade, Mama also got a free sundae..which all of the little ones shared. SO funny to watch them pass the ice cream up and down the table and STRETCH their arms out to grab one more bite before it was passed on to the next person. LOL! Oooh..so love all four of these sweet babies.
Spending the entire day with my little ones was pure heaven...BEST BIRTHDAY EVER...and being able to also spend it with my best friend Heather and HER little ones, that I love so much, made it an absolutely PERFECT DAY.
After dinner, we headed to our house to visit for a little bit while the kids played. When I got home, I was greeted with the cutest sign EVER and two cans of MOUNTAIN RUSH (MTN. DEW), sitting on my bed, from my sweet CIERA ("Ciec") who lives upstairs. Love her SO MUCH! My gosh..she is SUCH a doll..and made me feel SO special to come home to that sweet sign!! LOVE HER!
Also, while Heather and I were visiting, my sweet friend Steve stopped by to bring me a gift. Steve is my best friend's Dad and has also become such a dear dear friend of mine. I love him so much. He takes such good care of me and is so thoughtful. He is one of the kindest men I have ever met. The card he gave me brought tears to my eyes...and his gifts were so sweet. I can't wait to read both of the books that he gave me. My dear friend Kathy also stopped by and brought me the most thoughtful gift - one that showed just how well she knows me...and made me cry. Kathy...I can't express to you just how much I love you and how grateful I am to have you in my life. You are a miracle to me. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such angel friends and family.
Overall, I can't think of ANYTHING that would have made my 33rd birthday more perfect. An entire day with my babies, time with one of my dearest soul friends and her babies, hundreds of birthday greetings on Facebook (seriously...wouldn't you agree, that celebrating a birthday since Facebook came around makes you feel like a million bucks? LOL! So fun to hear my phone "BEEPING" all day long with greetings from friends!!), tons of happy serenades on my cell phone from my awesome family and friends (which I STILL listen to over and over again) and sweet and thoughtful gifts.
This past year has been a challenging one, but filled with SO many miracles and growth. I can't wait to see what lies in store for me and my little family this next year. So happy to celebrate my birthday with my two greatest miracles. SUCH an amazingly perfect day. HAPPY DAY! What a MIRACLE to be ALIVE!! I am so greatly blessed!
(EDITED LATER TO ADD: Love my friend Zach Jacob's comment that he just left on this post...had to share: "Nothing special about 33? Um, hello! How old was Jesus when he wrought the Atonement to save all mankind?? Special things happen at age 33. This is the year you can CHANGE THE WORLD! Hit it! :)") Thanks Zach! All about perspective right? So love you bud!)
sounds like your special day was as wonderful as you! I love celebrating birthdays....You're little ones make me smile! So stinkin cute!
Posted by: Dawn | April 20, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Nothing special about 33? Um, hello! How old was Jesus when he wrought the Atonement to save all mankind?? Special things happen at age 33. This is the year you can CHANGE THE WORLD! Hit it! :)
Posted by: Zach | April 20, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Ooo! I like what Zach said. Good one! I totally forgot what I was going to say....other than HAPPY HAPPY birthday again....and you are SO cute! Look what a great mamma you are.....teaching your kids to have the biggest hearts ever! Awesome.
Posted by: lynn Crapo | April 20, 2011 at 05:04 PM
I am glad you had such an amazing day, you deserve it!
Posted by: Kate Brodniak | April 20, 2011 at 05:17 PM
Happy birthday to you! I cannot believe you ate the moldy bread!! I'm pretty sure that makes you rockstar mom of the YEAR!
Posted by: emily kate | April 25, 2011 at 04:46 PM
I am glad we were able to make such a special person feel special on her special day!
I said Special three times!! Happy 33- here is to 33 more- Loves to you!!
Posted by: Heather Hubrich | April 26, 2011 at 05:49 PM