HaPpY SePtEmBeR 10th

Yes, it was a fantastic birthday!  I know much of the country is in mourning on this 9-11 weekend.  And Yes, I too remember that tragic day.  I also tried very hard to remember today is my birthday, a day to celebrate all my parents gave to me, including life.  I don't believe that I am disrespectful for celebrating on this day, with my family.  I certainly haven't forgotten that day 10 years ago that changed our country forever.  Today, though, I woke with a drowsy smile and celebrated 38 years of life.

Up at 6am for some coffee and some beautiful Sapphire/diamond earrings from J.  They were sitting on the bathroom counter when I went to brush my teeth.  I certainly didn't deserve them, nor could we afford them probably, but he is amazing in all he does for us.

I enjoyed a cup of coffee while I looked through the computer and got to talk to my sister (Where the Ocean Meets the Sand). Then it was off and running to get Jase up on time and off to the rink.  I enjoyed a couple hours of hockey practice then off to drop him off at "work".

I came home to a lovely surprise party planned by Carly.  Caden had stacked wood in the garage for me and Carly had called my brother and his family and I was greeted by everyone with a grand, "SURPRISE"!  There was pizza so I didn't have to cook, the smell of bleach hanging in the air, clean floors and kitchen and a new propane porch heater similar to this one!

Later, Theresa stopped by with gifts from my her and my dad. He isn't allowed to come over during his recovery process because I have many children and dogs (currently 5 kids ages 9-21 - okay, I didn't give birth to the 19 & 21 yr old, but family just the same - I mean, I cook for them, do laundry, provide a car, buy gas, do their dishes . . .) I totally understand that he couldn't come and I don't want him to compromise his immune system (I took him cake later).  She brought in a vase of flowers and a couple things picked out by my dad while he was in Seattle.

Adorably, he picked out a hat that was black and sparkly that says, "Keep it Gypsy".  I have to admit that I don't know what that implies.  I don't wear hats, but my sis has always worn hats and has a great head for them.  The other gift he picked out was a wind chime.  Wind chimes were my mom's thing.  My dad must have been feeling very nostalgic when he was shopping and the women of his life must have been on his mind. I am honored that the gifts he got me were so, completely and utterly, representative of my mom and sister.
I accept them on their behalf, with my mom on her journey in heaven and my sister on her journey in Idaho.

It's not a crazy face!  Its a wink . . . really!

My B cake!

Yep, looks like a rainbow threw up on the plate.  A delicious vanilla rainbow!

I also baked up a birthday cake for friends and family to enjoy.  I don't eat cake on my diet, but enjoyed licking my fingers a time or two (shhhhhhhhh).

So, yeah, a great birthday.  I got to top it all off with one of my favorite movies.  Ahhhhh, Harry (*sigh*).

Happy Birthday Me!

So, tomorrow is my birthday.  I got my nails filled and they are beautiful and it made me very happy.  Tonight I will meet J at the Salmon Bake for dinner (yay for free coupons!!!).

After I got my nails done, I headed out to grab some groceries to make chicken tacos for the rest of the house before I go.  I grabbed some club soda, water, and crystal lite while I was in there.  I shook up the club soda to make sure that was what I wanted.  I could have just read the back and looked for "carbonated" but NOOOOOOOPE.  I just shook it.

Once in my car I started to prepare my beverage.  Yep, you guessed it.  I forgot that I'd shaken up the club soda.  As it was exploding all over and I was in a mad dash to clean it up, my car got hit.

Yeah, I didn't notice.  What I did notice is the pick-up pulling in beside me, parked at a really cruddy angle so I couldn't back out.  He gets out and comes to my door.  I open it up and I'm like, "how do you expect me to be able to back out?"  So he says he's sorry and I shake my head and shut the door (still have a club soda mess all over).  He didn't move.  I opened the door back up and he told me he was sorry he hit my car when he pulled in and he could give me $100.00 right now for the damages.

I headed out to take a look, totally in disbelief because I didn't feel a thing.  there was a scrape on the bumper.  Some of his paint rubbed off onto mine.  It didn't pick off, but I'm sure it would buff out.  I said $100 for that was too much but $50 should be enough to cover buffing it out.

He'd been having one of those days.  First day of college classes, covered from head to toe in grease from the job he just got off of, left all of his books at home . . . yadda, yadda, yadda.

He headed into the bank for the cash and I continued to clean up the huge mess in my car. While I cleaned, I thought about how crappy it was that I had soda everywhere.  I then thought about how lucky I was to be going out to dinner, that my birthday is tomorrow, and that I have basically everything I need.  I then thought about how much we could use the $50.  Especially since I'd just spent at least that on groceries and $150 on parts for J's truck.  Then I thought how selfish that was of me.  Its just a scrape.  My bumper is intact, light didn't break - I'm so lucky.

When he got back to my car with the money, he asked if I was sure it was enough.  I said "forget it."  I told him to do something nice for someone, we all have days like that.

I feel good about that - and yea, I'm a sucker.  He was rushing to park into a spot he didn't fit and coming from the wrong way.  I just hope he takes this and slows down and relaxes a bit so something worse doesn't happen.

I'll look at that scrape from now on and remember to relax.  I'll think of it fondly, just like every baseball and hockey puck shaped dent.  Every ding leads to a fond memory.  Sometimes, coming out on top could just mean the feeling you have about yourself, not something monetary.  Hope ya'll have a great My-Birthday-Weekend!  ;)

Happy Birthday to the Greatest Man

A Huge Happy 39th Birthday wish to my husband, Jay.

He is a remarkable man who never does a thing directly for himself.

He works long hours to provide for his family.

He spends his evenings either watching one of our children play hockey, helping with homework, or coaching baseball.

He is currently the outfield coach for our local high school, North Pole Patriots.

He is also committed to coach travel baseball for the umpteenth year in a row.

In the winters, he goes straight to the hockey rink most days after work to watch and/or pick up one of the kids that is playing.

In the seasons without snow, he has baseball all evening.

We could never ask for a better family man than him. We are lucky to be his priority.

While he is at work, he delivers mail to businesses across town as well as senior apartments and assisted living homes for those adults with special needs.

He is constantly checking on someone and making sure they are okay.

Not only are we the luckiest family in the world to have him, our community is very lucky that he is watching over them.

Happy Birthday Jay!