Birthday Thanks

My birthday was this past Friday. Apparently I have made my sweet husband scared to death when it comes to birthday bashes and he needed me to tell him exactly what to do. Poor guy I guess I have done some psychological damage in the past 11 years of celebrations.

So ....
he took the day off from work per my request. I love it when he's home, and I love it even more when the girls are at school and he's at home.

He was kind enough to watch Rainier and some friends children while we went out to breakfast. Finding Rainier just in time before he ate some of Echo's droppings offered by another child.

He took me out for an afternoon of shopping, something he truly hates. Doing it all with a smile and wrestling our little one year old while I took my sweet time, browsing, trying things on and deciding.

He arranged for a babysitter and graciously allowed me to change the plans he already had for our night together. (I guess I am difficult) He wanted to take me down to Tempe to listen to a band, but I was stressed and wanted to run errands and have a yummy dinner in towm.

So instead...

He took me to Sams Club, The Dollar Store and back to a store we went to that afternoon so I could return/exchange somethings I had already changed my mind on and didn't grumble at all. (What a guy)

And then....

He took me to dinner, where the wait for our food was LONG, and once we received our food mine was cold, and his was not cooked... blah. Poor guy choked down his steak that the french chef assured him was a classic french recipe that inspired french fries and it truly was supposed to take like that. All the while he kept me entertained and amused.

He then took me home, took the babysitter home and tucked me into bed, I was so tired from not sleeping much the night before I was falling asleep on some shopping bags.

This past birthday has made me thankful. Thankful for my wonderful husband, who does so much for me, who always goes the extra mile for me and who made this birthday perfect.

It made me thankful for my friends here. Thankful for the fact that I have
'sisters' I can rely on and who offer up help, advice, love and lots of fun when its needed.

It made me thankful for my family. For my husbands grandparents, and parents, my father and his wife, brothers and sisters and in laws alike.


To top off a perfect birthday my sister in law and her son flew in Saturday to visit and surprise Alli for her birthday. The girls had no clue as we were circling the airport.

I thought that they might figure it out when we pulled to the curb and I pulled out my camera, it looks like Alli was starting to connect the dots, but Claire was obviously anxious to pose for the camera. (I love that girl)

And finally as we were loading things up it clicked with them all.

And how fun it was for Alli to have her cousin to spend her birthday with, and how fun it was for me, to have my sister in law to celebrate with also.