Birthday Surprise!

I turned 33 this week.  I like 33 so far.  It is going to be a good year. 

I was fully prepared for my birthday to be a pretty insignificant event this year.  With a new baby and Christmas fast approaching, it just kind of felt like it was going to a non-event and I was totally OK with that.  That was until I got the surprise of a life. . . 

The day before my birthday I took the boys to see Mrs. Claus read stories.   Chris told me I had to be home by noon to meet the cable guy so he could fix our Internet.   I rounded Grady up from story time and headed home to be there on time a little annoyed that they always seem to come at inconvenient times.  We had lunch and sat around waiting for the cable guy to come and when the doorbell rang I went to answer it telling Grady it was the cable guy and he needed to stay put to finish his lunch.  Well, it was not the cable guy.  It was my dearest friend Becky.  It took me a minute to even put two and two together.  I couldn't believe she was here, standing in front of me, while I stood there with droopy pants and a fork in my hand.  I had NO IDEA that she was coming and was just so thrilled to have her here.  She was here for a day and half and it was just the best.  We had two nice dinners out, spent a day hanging with the boys and letting Becky experience Grady's full throttle personality and my exciting daily routine, and made a trip to the Botanical Gardens to see Winter Gardens a Glow. It was just the surprise of a lifetime and so wonderful that she was here.  I cannot say thank you enough for helping to make my birthday absolutely unforgettable and amazing.  I don't know how she does it, but she is a best friend to many.  I count myself among those lucky enough to call Becky a friend and for that I am unimaginably thankful.

Grady hit it off with Miss Becky right away.  He loved her and wanted Miss Becky to do everything.... "no no no, Miss Becky take me out of my carseat"....."no no no, Miss Becky put my shoes on, not you" . . . "those are cool shoes Miss Becky". . . "You look cute in your hat Miss Becky!" I don't blame him for being attached to her, he can recognize a gem when he sees one.

Braving the cold to play outside.

Warming up with "krispy treats" and hot apple cider.

Making the move to sit with Miss Becky.

Fast friends at the park.

Having a picnic together. 

Graham was tough as usual . . .  :)

Pictures with Graham = not hard.

Pictures with Grady = very hard.

Pictures with all three = impossible.

Group pictures = also very hard, but we tried. 

Dinner out and the Botanical Gardens.  Such a fun night for me.

Chris and I continue the birthday tradition of signs and streamers on birthdays in the kitchen.  This year his signs were some of the best . . . it is good we can have a sense of humor about getting older.   The first one takes a bit of explaining.  Grady has taken to calling me "honey" sometimes.  It is usually when I ask him to do something, he'll reply "well, I am just working hard honey" or something like that.  Graham is delightfully easy (at least for now), sometimes we even forget he is around.  Bella is not loving another baby in the house and may be a little depressed.  She gets sick (outside, thank goodness) if I haven't fed her by 9:30.  My life could be a comedy strip some days, I swear.   Chris also had a sign reminding me that I am 1/3 of the way to 100! - geez, thanks for the reminder. Life is short, this I know. That is why I plan to make 33 a great year!