33

To quote a friend, "Your husband puts all our husbands to shame!"

Yes ma'am, that is indeed true!

My 33rd birthday turned out to be quite the ride and lasted a full week. I began documenting the details Wednesday morning at exactly midnight when my husband volunteered to take a fussy, hadn't-slept-yet baby so that I could finally get some sleep.

Join me on my journey of gifts as I recollect on the day...or should I say week, that was all MINE!

12:00am Rob takes Hazel

4:50am I rise to feed Hazel, who is crying, and I notice that someone put in an order for sunshine for my special day.

9:01am My mom calls to wish my a happy one and tell me that I am her favorite child.

9:30 Hazel smiles as I coo at her

9:50am Kids pepper me with small tokens of love all from a neighbor's yard sale. A necklace, a book, a mug. I open cards from sisters, in-laws and friends.

Precurser: Rob tells me to be ready for phase I by 10:00am

10:25am Pam knocks on the door wishing me a happy birthday and hands me a bag with two gourmet cupcakes in it. Thank you Pam. Not a totally abnormal gesture but then another familiar face was at my door and then another and before I knew it...ONSLAUGHT!! Within minutes my cul-de-sac resembles the parking lot of Wal-Mart on black Friday as car after car spewed faces of dearly beloved.....all with two cupcakes each...and one sucker because she forgot.

Just like people from all walks of life, so were these cupcakes. Some gourmet, some grocery store. Some store-bought, some homemade. All because they value my friendship. My cup runneth over!




11:29am The house is quiet while Rob takes the 4 older and heads to Subway to bring back lunch. I nurse Hazel in silence.

12:00pm A sitter shows up and we begin phase II. Melain and Jon Blue show up. Hazel, Eden, Rob and I all get in the van with the Melain and Jon. I am instructed to take Dramamine just in case and then Wild Waves showed up on the master plan. Heck ya!!

We spend the next 2.5 hours riding roller coasters to our kiddie heart's content. Eden babysits while we ride and then vice versa.

4:20pm We arrive home to my neighbor Lori doing my dishes. "You shouldn't have to do dishes on your birthday."

5:02pm My sister Jessica calls

5:10pm I go to Fred Meyer without a baby in tow.

7:20pm Phase III - Dinner at the Ram with the Zappes and Blues

9:09pm Phone call from my dad and sister in California

10:30pm In bed asleep. (Baby Hazel decided to give me the final gift of the day and hit the sack 2 hours earlier than usual.)

Thursday, my neighbor Lori and friend Melissa brought me lunch since 5 kids tends to cramp your dining-out style.

Friday - My friend Jen takes me to ameRAWcan Bistro in Tacoma and we both moan ourselves into hysteria over fresh, organic, vegan faire. It was absolutely thrilling and converting!! Probably one of the top favorite restaurants of all time. (Stay tuned for a post all about it!)
Saturday 11:00am - Louise and Lori take me out for a pedicure and frozen yogurt.

Patriotic Red
2:00pm - Mother-in-law arrives and we get all the grandkids together for the first time ever.
7:00pm Cake
Superb amounts of fun, friends and food. I had such a blast that now I might never return to household chores. I am also officially DUN with cake for a lifetime.

My husband really outdid himself. I am forever in his debt. Warm fuzzies to last me another year!