What does.....

A perfect card -

some yummy chocolate/pumpkin brownies -

a pretty pink package -

a Coldstone decadent chocolate cake -

EQUATE to?  My BFF for the past 24 years Birthday!  Happy Birthday Mendie Linda =)

I hope you have a great day and perfect birthday!!  xoxo

HAPPY, Happy Birthday Cinderella!

I am sorry I am not there to enjoy your day with you AND I'm missing dinner but hopefully I will be there before the clock strikes 12 =)

I wish you the best day ever, just like you deserve.  I love you very much.

The angels are singing....

Happy 93rd birthday to Ma.....Happy Birthday to you!  We miss you.

They say it's my birthday! - UPDATED 9:43 p.m.

And it totally is =)  As soon as I opened my eyes this morning I heard "HAPPY Birthday"!  While drinking my coffee I was given the perfect card.  Very fitting.  Just perfect.  Then before I left for work I needed something from Cierra and before I could even ask, she says "HAPPY Birthday!"  

Texts and messages started pouring in and when I hit my desk this is what I saw -

Cards just for me and even a present from my BFF who is afar (actually just OC =)

and once opened - it was THE best!

She knows me too well and knows I love stuff like this.  More importantly, the insert was awesome!

Definitely worth reading if you wish.  Let's just say it's perfect for me so thanks Mendie!!

And I still have the rest of the day.  Thinking of getting my toes done, my hair trimmed, dinner with my peeps and maybe even some ice cream.  No complaining here.  Happy Hump Day to everyone else that's not celebrating a birthday.  xo

My day just kept going - Cake with my group - 

Wine glass holder and glasses with gift cert to one of my FAV places in OC - from Cierra (aka C) and Blake

Bath & Body Works gift card and flowers from Mal and Chase.

Awesome card from Nanny =)   And a family dinner - i only have two hours left but I am very blessed, grateful, thankful and appreciative of the hundreds of 'happy birthdays' i received.  Thank you all very much!

It WAS a HAPPY Day!

Our weekend was great! Friday evening was definitely a memorable one, moving right into the weekend. On Saturday morning we slept in and were pretty lazy for the first half of the day (nope, no mimosas!) but did get ourselves together for a shopping event with Cierra to celebrate her birthday. And we were off -


we headed to Fair Oaks instead of where we had intended since there is an actual Aerie store there (plus all the others she wanted)! And what started out as her birthday shopping, ended up our annual 'back to school' day. It was actually very nice and a little different this year.....Ronnie participated! It was truly a 'family affair', ha!

Chase pretty much had in his mind set as to what he wanted....one pair of jeans, 5 shirts and one pair of shoes...so once we hit Hollister and he got one pair of jeans and about 10 shirts (they were on sale), he said he was DONE! Well, Cierra wasn't so while he and Ronnie sat in the mall, Cierra hit Aerie -


This was her first time visiting the store so let's just say 'it took a while' =)! But she LOVED it!

We headed upstairs and Chase was in 'shoe heaven' -


Ronnie really struggles when he wants a new pair of shoes that typically range from $100 - $140. BUT.....his foot appears to have stopped growing AND all in all, he only has 5 pair of shoes. Cierra on the other hand, has about 50! So once reminded, Ronnie was on-board. Needless to say I was really happy when Chase found a pair that he liked for $39! Wow, I think that is a FIRST!

The next stop was AE. At this point, 'school shopping' is over and Cierra is now on her own. Birthday money is required, lol. She was very disturbed with the prices and how few items she could get with her cash =( Chase on the other hand decided to take a break -



Seriously though, the best thing they ever did was put chairs/couches in Hollister and AE! Ronnie was in his glory, too.

Our last stop was Victoria's Secret and I must say that I am very proud. Cierra had printed some coupons from the internet and also had some savings from the mail so....she got a jacket and sweat pants, underwear and small mist for less than $20 bucks. GO Cierra!



It was late but Cierra was determined to share her birthday dinner with J, Ash and Kayden....luckily they were very flexible =) Across the mountain we went and this is how she was greeted....


Kayden was SO excited to give Cierra her Princess balloon -



And at the end of a wonderful day, a yummy meal!


And Kayden was so funny.....she 'hid' from the fire and then squinted when she wateched -



And clapped at the cook's presentation, haha!


But the grand finale' of the night was that she was totally in the mood to have her picture taken with every one of us! LOVE her!






I think Cierra would agree - she had a GREAT day!

Fifteen- 15!?

Say it isn't so...

We will not be making a trip to the DMV for your permit.

We will not be searching for a 'car'.

You will not be scoping out all the 'places' that hire 15 year olds.

PLEASE....can't you stay the little girl we know?!

I guess not.

We will be going to the DMV, taking you back and forth to work AND buying a car that is 'just' right for you. It's inevitable, ha!

But regardless, we LOVE you and wish you the best birthday yet! We love you when you're serious..


we love you when you are being silly =)|

and we love you when you're just being you.....


Happy Birthday Cinderella... we LOVE you very much!

Wow – I have gotten WAY behind in updating our ‘happenings’ so let me start by apologizing. As you can imagine, from the 22nd of July through August 6th, time flew; fun was had; the weather was beautiful; life was good! And with that said, there really wasn’t much time to update during our vacation. Not to mention that SPRINT service absolutely sucks on the bay =(. Oh well…I’m back and I’ll do my best to keep this active for all my dedicated readers…..promise!

One of the important events that occurred was “MA’s” birthday. On Saturday, she was 86! Wow. So….happy Belated Birthday Ma! Mom made her a caramel cake (her favorite aside from Lemon pie of course, ha!)


My birthday also came and went. I was pleasantly surprised on my birthday ‘eve’ to come home and find this in my kitchen!


This old stove was removed from my childhood home many years ago and kinda placed out by the garage. During the winter, I noticed it and thought it would look really good in my country kitchen. (Of course I eluded that to my Dad…..) I honestly had no idea he would remember or even be willing to give it up but he did and I love it.

Then of course my favorite, beautiful, smart granddaughter and ‘DIL’ came to visit me. I would now be flaunting a bangle bracelet that is just my style “follow your dreams” “reach for the stars” “sing with all your heart” and “dance like nobody’s watching” is written around it and I absolutely LOVE it!

Then we headed off to Akron, Ohio (it was just a little warm)


but it was all good....by the time we arrived at the hotel, the temperature had dropped 20 degrees without a 'severe' storm! We actually went for the weekend to share in the excitement of Karra, Ally and Trevor's 'run down the giant hill' as part of the All American Soap Box Derby Race. Fear not though, my birthday was not overshadowed by any means. Ronnie, Cierra and Chase took me to Maize Winery for the evening.


We enjoyed some ‘snacks’, live music and sodas/wine.

Another perfect birthday thanks to all those that ‘love’ me =) Not to mention ALL the Facebook comments/wishes! I was honestly overwhelmed. Very nice!


I think that does it for the birthday’s last month but we DO have one coming up next Saturday, lol! Special privileges will also be part of this one….everyone in our area should be aware… a rookie driver will soon be on the roads!

Happy Birthday Ashley!

We hope you have a GREAT birthday and love you very much!