Momma’s Birthday 2018

Just about a month late, but it’s all good. This is my year and I’ve decided I will put more effort into this blog and not feel bad about late posts. This is just how it’s going to be. Thanks to everyone who follows along and reads these! Each of you makes this even more enjoyable.

So, here it is…

January is one of those months that people tend to dislike, in most of the country its dreary and very, very cold. Even though, I think it’s a pretty magical month, because it’s my birth month! (YAY!)

For me, my birthday is a big deal. I’m not one of those adults that let it slide by. Honesty, if my friends would let me I would take an entire month to celebrate, I would. As it is, I can usually get away with a week, which is just fine with me.  I love celebrating my birthday, it’s the one day that is totally mine and I really like the idea of a “me” day.

With that being said I have to admit that the last few years have been tough birthdays. Remember this? Then, last year, I skipped blogging about it all together! Me without anything to say…can you believe it?

Well, you didn’t get so lucky this year.

This year it’s been tons of fun. I had a wonderful birthday week filled with lots of love from far and near. In a way, I think I needed to tip-toe my way into mid-life. Now that I’m here and feeling more like me than I have in a while, it feels pretty darn good.

Now, let’s review the celebrations!

My birthday landed on a Monday, the day we have Outdoor Class (my favorite activity of our week). The teacher has become one of my friends, whom I completely adore, and she had the whole class sing to me along with a heartfelt intro about how much she appreciates me (probably made my heart grow three sizes).

Then, the boy took a long nap in the car, so I got to just sit and relax before we picked up LL. It’s been a long time since he took a good nap, so I was stoked.

That evening, we had a Girl Scout meeting with LL’s troop (which I co-lead). One of my co-leaders had the girls present me with a birthday dessert and planted tulips! The girls were so sweet and excited to surprise me.

After the kids went to bed, Gil and I enjoyed a bit of relaxation and the speciality beer (Moment of Weakness limited edition bottle) he had given me for Christmas from my favorite local brewery, Eppig.

The next day, my old college roommates called me to have a virtual hangout so they could sing to me. It was beyond sweet and a big surprise. We joked that this needed to be a new tradition for us to be able to have “dinner” together more often. Since they both live in LA. (btw – they were unaware of the screenshots I was taking, sneaky devil – but looks like a great time, right?)

 

On Wednesday, my family took me out for a celebration dinner. It was a bit of a struggle to get the kids to behave since it had been quite a while since we had taken them to a restaurant, but they we managed and had a good time.

Then came Thursday, luckily my monthly ladies night fell on my birthday week and it was awesome! Such a great time with lovely ladies. I look forward to this night so much each month and was very happy that I got to include it in my birthday week celebrations! We went to Polite Provisions, just up the road from us and had craft cocktails with yummy grub from Soda and Swine, next door. Plus, I got zombie parrot to take home as a souvenir. He will, forever, remind me of the sweet memories.

 

A day later, we had an adult party and it was ah-mazing! I forgot how fun it was to host our friends. I couldn’t have been happier with our decision to do this. While I was equally appreciative to our friends, Kristen and Mike, who afforded us the chance to have a kid free event at our home. Big props to them and all my wonderful friends who made it out!

I’ll follow this up with a post of more party pics, don’t want to overload you in one post. Go here to see them.

Lastly, a week or so later…a friend who was unable to make any of these events invited me out for a special San Diego Restaurant Week dinner. She surprised me with a couple more friends who joined us and we had a lovely dinner at The Wine Vault and Bistro. It was quiet with great conversation and three courses of deliciousness paired with great wines. I couldn’t have asked for a better wrap up to such a wonderful birthday.

BIG THANKS TO ALL who made me feel very loved and appreciated. It’s just the way I look forward to celebrating each year. Can’t wait for next year!