A Fabulous Birthday

My birthday was yesterday. I started the morning in bed singing "The Wheels on the Bus" with all of my girls. My friend showed up at the door early in the morning bearing flowers and a gift card for a craft store. She and I went to a day spa for a day of pampering, courtesy of our husbands. We each received a facial, sea salt scrub, massage, pedicure and lunch. It was the best! When I got home, my family was waiting for me and wanted to take me out to dinner. On the way, we stopped at another friend's house where they had dinner cooking in my honor. The host made ice cream (his gift to everyone on their birthdays) and my husband bought a cake for after dinner. My friends (one of whom requested the list) bought a digital camera and accessories for me. I also received cards and gifts from my children. I think this was one of my best birthdays!

Birthday Wishes

A friend asked me what I wanted for my birthday. This is the list I sent him:

1. candles* 2. a real piggy* 3. a smoothie from Starbucks 4. a fence around my back yard 5. flowers* 6. a laptop computer 7. dinner with my friends 8. a fan* 9. a new job 10. a day off 11. a trip to Disneyland 12. a digital camera 13. a card* 14. a blanket* 15. a day with no kids (inspired by the kids) 15. ice cream 16. bubble bath 17. a horse* 18. a new bedroom* 19. a day at the spa 20. a weekend in the mountains 21. anything from Michael’s(a craft store) 22. a family picture 23. a maid 24. cereal and milk 25. a car wash 26. chocolate 27. a dress 28. a cake* 29. a garden* 30. shoes 31. if all else fails, $$$

There are thirty one items for my thirty first bithday. The items that are starred are suggestions by two of my kids, ages 7 and almost 4.

She would be so proud

Last Thursday the children and I planted three trees in memory of my coworker who died in a car accident. It was so crazy to coordinate that I almost was sorry I did it. Until it happened and then I knew it was so perfectly right. I read two books to the children. All of the rgulars showed up. After reading the books, the children each took a shovel and we went to the front of the building where we had a huge hole ready for the trees. My friend's mother-in-law was there, the only representative from her family. I asked her to put the first shovels of dirt on the trees and she did. Then each child was able to gather around the trees and heap dirt intot he hole. There were about twenty kids there and I had a moment to step back in the middle of the chaos. Children were happily participating, exactly as she would have wanted. It took my breathe away. I was so proud at that moment, not of anything I had done, but of the legacy she left for us to carry on with our children.