The Birthday Fun

Sorry Mom and Chris... you'll have to wait til next Monday for the high school memories and the really great music.

Thank you all so much for the sweet birthday wishes. I did indeed have a wonderful day! It's amazing how much fun you can have when you and your family are pretty footloose and fancy free.

I posted the birthday list before we did anything that day, so there were a few minor additions to it.

First of all, the weather was supposed to be rainy and cold, but one of God's gift to me was a beautifully sunny 70 day. The kids and I took the opportunity to plant some flowers while Mr. Right was mowing the lawn. The hanging pots were missing from our pretty view.

Secondly, our neighbor, the one who works for AMC, came over to see if we wanted to go see a movie. (He gets free tickets and he offered them to us.) So we went to go see Iron Man, which I must tell you was thoroughly enjoyable. There were a couple of parts that I wish the story left out - like a one night stand, but they only implied the one night stand, not showed it. But the story was witty and enjoyable, the graphics were phenomenal and the time was well spent. Oh! And stay to the very end past the credits. (We always stay to find the caterer... don't know why, we just have always done that.) Anyway, we stayed to the end and there was an extra little bit at the end.

Dinner couldn't be any better... except maybe if Addie and Ben could have made it. The food was delish and the company was even better. I think we all had a great time together.














Everyone came back to the house for desserts, wine and fun. The funny part about the evening was that a couple stopped by to pick up a sheet for the house and began looking in the back yard. The Girl came running in to say that a weird man was checking out the house, so Mr. Right went out to check him out. Next thing I know, the man is inside looking around the house. Ummm, did I mention the fact that it was my birthday and I didn't waste anytime cleaning a thing? So there were unmade beds, dirty laundry and a kitchen that had the telltale signs of baking. I ran up to at least try to compile the dirty underwear into one place and to put away the ironing board. Next think I know, the man's wife is looking at the house, and I begged someone to come upstairs with me to make the beds and to clean the toothpaste out of the sink. (Thank you, Laura!) The funny thing is that if that couple buys this house (and they did seem very interested), then that will prove once again that it's God in control, not us, because we broke every house-selling rule that day. We had guests, we didn't have a clean house, our kids were climbing the trees, and we literally aired our dirty laundry. I find the entire situation truly humorous and fitting to the honor of God. Kind of like the walls of Jericho falling down with only some people walking around and blowing trumpets. We'll see if they want it, but if not, it's at least a great story...

The rest of the night we relaxed, played charades and SWAP! and enjoyed each other. (Oh, and I received some wonderful gifts. I'm geared up for chocolate, coffee, there's a new planter on the front porch, an AMC giftcard, a new Bluetooth piece for when I'm willing to talk on the cell, and three wonderful massages in my future. Oh, and my kids made me the most precious coupons to use with them later. I can't wait to use them!)

I plopped into bed, tired and happy. I couldn't have had a better birthday at all. It's good to be 37.

I've taken the day off to go on a field trip with The Boy. I'll catch y'all on the flip side tomorrow.

37

What does turning 37 mean to me?

1. Lunch the week before with my boss (steak with blue cheese crumbles)
2. Gift card to favorite Chinese restaurant
3. Lunch the day before birthday with coworkers for worlds best salad
4. Thoughtful gifts from them (I'll be smelling really great for a while.)
5. Smiling at the number of “birthday gifts” from my online friends (Yay y’all!)
6. Waking to kisses from the not so little ones
7. Morning snuggles from them (still!)
8. Coffee in bed with the man I love
9. Biscuits and gravy
10. Morning serenade
11. Homemade cards
12. Special gifts from the kids
13. Checking to see if I still look young
14. Having a day with no plans (that I know of anyway)
15. Being waited on hand and foot
16. Time alone with Mr. Right (ahem)
17. Reading next P.D. James book in series
18. Not having to make lunch
19. Spending time with my favorite people
20. Calls from the family with well wishes
21. Dinner at my favorite place (see #2)
22. With lots of friends
23. Much laughing
24. Much conversing
25. Returning home for games
26. Charades
27. Strawberry pie
28. Apple pie
29. Brownies
30. Decaf coffee
31. Wine
32. Opening gifts
33. Tucking tired-but-not-sleepy kids into bed
34. Thanking friends for their love and the pleasure of their company
35. Falling into bed happy
36. Knowing that I have an extremely blessed life
37. Thanking God for giving me another wonderful year

Birthday Bites

Hey, did you know that my birthday is coming up in a week? Normally I wouldn’t beg for a gift, but seeing how it’s not actually for me, I think I’m allowed this little faux pas in birthday etiquette. I mean, you would generally WANT to get something for a friend’s birthday, right? And I'm your friend, right? So I’m just going to cut to the chase and tell you want I want most in the world. And it’s probably within your grasp to provide it.

What I want more than anything in the world for my birthday - which really isn’t until next Saturday, May 3rd, but hey at least you won’t have to worry about it arriving on time - is for you to make a donation of $10 for a mosquito net. But it’s not for me. It’s for others who really need them to stop the malaria epidemic. Want to know more about it? Watch the following to find out more.



Want it in print? Head to Bite Back to find out why these nets need to be bought… now. So that we can bite back at a senseless, stoppable disease.

I would love to have the donations to be in the hundreds or heck thousands! To encourage your outpouring of birthday love (but more importantly love to families in need), I’m holding a special giveaway for those who donate for those who give me this special present. There’s nothing like a giveaway to encourage this blogging force!

Leave a comment when you’ve bought one for my birthday. And if you made a donation already, yay for you, but it doesn’t count! You have to buy one with me in mind… because buying one for someone else and then giving it to me just doesn’t have the same special feel in a birthday present. (See? I’m nothing if not self-centered, but you knew that already, I think.)

So the giveaway will work as such: for every one hundred comments that state that you’ve bought my present (on blogger’s honor of course), I will give a prize to one randomly chosen commenter. The prizes are yet to be determined because once again I’ve had a brainstorm without having all the details. But they will be good prizes, I promise… not some piece of candy that I found squished in the side of the couch. I’ll post pictures as soon as I figure out what the prizes are.

Obviously you don't have to be a blogger, but you will need to make sure that you leave a working email where I can reach you if you are one of the chosen ones. And to spread the birthday cheer, these giveaways will be open to the entire blogging world. No matter if you live in Idaho, Italy or Ireland, you give to Bite Back, you're in the drawing!

If you could go one step further and blog about my birthday present and the giveaway, asking your readers to give me a birthday present and directing their “I bought your birthday present” type comments to this post, I'd really appreciate it. (I’m only doing that so that I’ll be able to keep track of the number of giveaways I’ll need to have.) Then ask them to blog about this birthday present thingamajig to their friends… and so on and so on. Get the word out people! It’s party time, and I want everyone to know that they’re invited! And really, I want a lot of presents… because I am greedy presents are part of my love language.

I'm not going to give dates for the drawings because as soon as each 100th comment mark is reached, I will have a drawing. So it might be multiple drawings in one day or it might be a drawing every few days. The number of drawings will be left up to you and your generosity.

Personally, I’m someone who loves to celebrate her birthday. I love knowing that I’m still alive and kicking. And I really like the cake and ice cream deal too. I’m looking 37 in the face and laughing myself into a new year.

I just hope that this year I will get best birthday presents that I never got.

Sending a Bit of Birthday Love

Do you know who has a birthday today?

Antique Mommy is celebrating the fact that she looks absolutely nothing like an antique mommy.  She is one gorgeous, youth-filled woman - on the inside and the out!  That girl... if it weren't for the fact that I think she's the greatest thing since slice bread, I'd be totally envious.  But I won't be because she's too sweet to let someone feel that way over her.  

If you haven't read Antique Mommy, then head on over to her place and see why she's all that... and more.

This suggestion comes with a contingency though: You can only go read her as long as you promise to come back here too.  Once you read what really great writing is, you may not be so inclined to visit me as much...  So come back for your daily dose of mediocracy, okay?  Okay.  I'm glad we've got that settled.

Happy Birthday Antique Mommy!  

Happy Birthday Mr. Right

Today is a special day in the Diner.  Ribbons are flying.  Pies abound.  Balloons glide from stool to stool. Presents are stacked high.

Why you ask?  

Because Mr. Right turns 41 today!! 

So it only seems fitting that for my post I define 41 of the millions of reasons that I love that he’s alive and kicking.

1. He’s a great kisser. (He says I taught him well, but I think it’s the other way around.)

2. He’s the world’s best Daddy.

3. He’d rather spend time with his family than do just about anything else.

4. Patience is definitely one of his virtues.

5. He has a funny, dry sense of humor that catches me off guard consistently.

6. He laughs at most of my idiotic moments, of which there are many.

7. He’s dependable, trustworthy and a hard worker.

8. He loves to volunteer when someone needs help.

9. Our lawn looks great because he puts in good time to make it nice.

10. He’s the official bug killer at our house.

11. He volunteers to clean up puke when the kids are sick.

12. He reads with the kids almost every night.

13. He’s not afraid to cry or to let me cry and turn into a big blotchy blowfish.

14. He tells me that he loves and needs me and then his actions back his words.

15. He has warm, wonderful-to-hold hands.

16. Without him, there would be no pie at our house. He’s the crustmaker extraordinaire.

17. He likes to watch chick flicks with me.

18. It’s not uncommon for me to be awakened with a kiss, followed by a nice hot cup of perfectly made coffee.

19. He vacuums… and he LIKES it. (Of course he likes it even more now that we have a Dyson…)

20. He likes to be in the great outdoors with me.

21. He loves God.

22. He does the dishes before he goes to work.

23. He walks our daughter to the bus stop per her request.

24. He plays a mean hand of Spades, a great round of Sorry and his the King of Yatzee.

25. He’s great at *ahem*. (Oooo – am I going to get a talking to for including that one on the blog!)

26. He likes to play with our children – games, sports, pretend.

27. He encourages optimism when things look dire.

28. He loves the beauty of God’s world and His nature.

29. Road trips are fun and lively when he’s in the car. He makes a fantastic traveling companion.

30. Seeking God’s will is a desire that he has everyday.

31. He writes marvelously romantic love letters.

32. He’s not afraid to try new things.

33. When he sees others hurting, he goes to pray with them.

34. He’s not afraid to use his past mistakes to help others avoid making theirs.

35. Dancing together in the living room gives him pleasure.

36. He encourages me in blogging and in meeting my friends.

37. He’s learning to sign with me so that we both can communicate with the deaf.

38. When I cannot sleep, he’ll wake up willingly to massage my back to help me relax.

39. He has the best smile. His entire face lights up when he smiles.

40. He can make fun of himself (but maybe that’s because he knows that if he doesn’t, then I will…)

41. Having an amazingly beautiful relationship with me is one of his primary goals.

Happy Birthday, Baby. You are my greatest blessing. Oh, how I love you so!!  

Looky What I Got!

My sweet friend GiBee was so generous. She sent me a wonderful birthday gift too! (To be honest, I received it about a week and a half ago, but I couldn't find my camera. But now that I've found it, I'm finally posting a blog thank you. However, I did have the wherewithal to thank her when I did receive it. Not to worry, Mom; I'm watching my p's and q's!)

So look at this sweet purse! My purse right now screams "SPRING!" When GiBee saw this little beauty, she said it yelled, "I need a cute cabana boy to bring me a drink with a yummy drink with an umbrella on the top!" And then she immediately thought of me.

I see a connection her... Shalee = lush Hmmm... not exactly the image I was going for, but hey, I can live with it. Heck, I'll even live up to the reputation if I have to.

I love it! What a cute strap! The stripes are fun and summery, the size is small, yet roomy enough for all my junk and it has great pockets. I have a feeling that this purse and I are going to have a wonderful relationship...

And to go with the "cabana boy" theme to the purse, GiBee sent me these perfect notepads. Look at how fun they are. And the best part is that they have beautiful scriptures on them relating to feet. I think I'll leave these at work to remind myself that my feet are for God's service no matter where I am.

So THANK YOU, GiBee for your sweet heart and your kindness to me. I'm undeserving of it, but I'll treasure it. And each time I carry my new bag, I'll remember the friendship that I'm carrying with it.

Oh, and as a side note, Mr. Right is sick. I think it serves him right for having a fling and such a great time with her...

I Need Another Holiday

There was just too much stuff going on this weekend. So lucky you, I'm going to break it all down into bite-size pieces.

My daughter was part of a "Congressional Hearing" at school. They broke up items about government and had to explain it well to the audience (parents). Then they had judges ask them off the cuff questions and they had to answer well as part of their grade. My girl was part of the "rights" of citizens: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, rights for all people - no matter age, color or ability.

The first question out of the shoot was "Do you think prayer should be allowed in school?" Three students answered in the negative, but then my daughter answered thusly, "Well, I disagree with them. I think prayer should be allowed in school, but it shouldn't be a teacher-led prayer. I think others should be allowed to pray, that time should be set aside so that if anyone wanted to pray, they could. They could even go to a separate room to do it. But I think telling someone that they can't pray is going against their right to freedom."

I sat there awed... and smiling.

Another question asked was "Do you think that we as a country do a good job with respect to those with disabilities?" Again, most of the panel agreed that those with any kind of disability was treated well. But my daughter spoke out in the negative. "I think we don't do a good job with those with disabilities. For example, the deaf have a very hard time communicating when they go out. If they went to McDonald's, they could not order very well unless someone who knew how to sign went with them and communicated to the employee what they wanted. I think if we really wanted to be fair to those with disabilities, we would learn their language to help them feel more a part of the community. If we all had to learn some sign, then they could communicate better with those who could hear. I think we should have a choice to learn signing, maybe in 6th grade when we get to choose our classes. But as a whole, I don't think we do a good job including everyone in the community."

I'm telling you, I was a very proud momma at that point! She gets what so many adults still have yet to learn. Just because we're different doesn't mean that we're not all important... I went back to work feeling so glad that I was able to go to hear my girl.

Do you remember when I lamented about not ever doing birthday parties on time? Well, I decided that I wasn't going to do that this time, at least with my daughter. Her birthday is in July, but with summer vacations for her friends, traveling for us and the general laziness on my part, I thought I would have her birthday party before the end of school. So on Friday, we had our very first multi-girl slumber party for the girl's almost 11th birthday party.

All I can say is that Mr. Right and I are still very, very tired... How is it that tweeners can stay up so late? I was tired just watching them have all that fun!

Dinner was at the girl's request: chicken tenders, KFC coleslaw, homemade mashed potatoes and corn. Everything else was chocolate- chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, chocolate snacks, and for breakfast she requested chocolate chocolate chip muffins. Even I was sick of chocolate at that point, so I had blueberry muffins. Oh so much better for me... Anyway, the girls all had a fun time talking, watching movies, talking, listening to music, talking, doing their nails, talking, dancing, talking... I think you get the gist of it. By 11 AM, they where heading home with instructions from us that they weren't allowed to be grumpy. I bet there were several girls who had naps that day.

Even though we were tired, we went to a free outdoor concert, which was sponsored by a Christian college around here. Although it was overcast and sprinkling every so often, we had a good picnic and we were able to enjoy the music of Brandon Heath and Bebo Norman. It was so relaxing (probably because we had no energy to do anything other than to relax...) The kids even managed to have a good time. And yes, the kids went to bed VERY early without much of a fuss. You know they were tired.

That's it for now. I'll post about our Memorial Day tomorrow, but you probably already know how some of it went.

The Day After

And no, this post has nothing to do with nuclear war...

First of all, let me thank each and every one of you for your birthday wishes. When we checked it out this morning, the girl was delighted to see so many comments. Now that I mention it, so was I! Thank you for sharing the birthday wishes, and thanks to those of you who sent me e-cards. I was smiling all throughout the day as I thought about them. Hoops and Yoyo were playing a lot in the office y'all. It's a good thing my boss had a flight to catch. I think I would have driven him nuts... well, more than usual anyway.

Here are some more highlights from my special day:

• I talked with GiBee and Jeana.
• My mom and dad called and also received her gift subscription to "Taste of Home Simple and Delicious"... And can I tell you what I think of it? Oddly enough, the recipes look simple... and delicious. Who'd of thunk?
  
  
  
• My in-laws sent me a cute change purse that wasn't empty, and yet - it wasn't full of change either. Nice!
• Mr. Right planned a surprise birthday dinner at one of my favorite restaurants (it's a mongolian grill) where he invited people who I might expect to come and others that I wouldn't. He stole my phone and called some people who were more "my" friends to invite them. And Addie, all I can say is that you should tell your relatives to plan their visits to be a little more Shalee-centered and not show up on my birthday... I would have loved to have you and Ben there as well.
• My friends are too generous, but I thank you for the gifts and gift cards. They will be spent quickly I'm sure. As a matter of fact, Panera just got their first swipe from that card... And I had to laugh at my friend John's gift.
  
  
  
  He said he found it three months ago and he's waited all this time to give it too me... It cracks me up! "I blog, therefore I am." Hmph... "Comments (0)"... not with you people around the internet.
• The girl really surprised me. She found a cookbook called bills food that she really liked and bought it for me with her own money. She was worried as to whether or not I would like it (which I really do!), but knowing that she really invested a lot of thought and spent her own money on it, I would keep it no matter what... Fortunately, I'm not put into an awkward position of wanting to take it back but not being able to do so. It's a delicious-looking keeper with some simple, tasty and fresh recipes. And to give you a teaser, the first one we're going to try is the chocolate self-saucing cake.
  
  
  
  Mmmm mmmm is all I can say... And if you show up, I'll share.
• And just look at this card from Mr. Right.
  
  
  
  He's such a romantic man. I don't deserve him at all, but I'll just hold tightly onto him, because there's no way I'm letting any other girl have him! (And Shannon, I'm glad I didn't try to think BIG as you suggested with the Admin Gift... Mr. Right had it all along.) And to top it off, on the back of the iPod he engraved:

Proverbs 31:10-29

Shalee

Before going to bed, he read those scriptures to me. Sigh... My life is so blessed. And I well know it.

Lastly, Mr. Right left this comment for me on yesterday's post, but I had to share it front page and center. It was too good not to highlight, in my opinion, and since it's my blog, I guess mine's the only one that ultimately counts.

36 Great Memories of Shalee in a Nut-Shell by Mr. Right

1. Reading James and the Giant Peach aloud to you on the bluff at Wildwood
2. Not enough garlic in the spaghetti sauce (defining moment!)
3. “Doubly Good”
4. Playing in the rain (Harding)
5. Fire alarm at the ski resort (Colorado)
6. Monet in Chicago
7. Tubing down the Platte (and the walk back)
8. Dancing on roller skates
9. Posing for drawings
10. Kissing in the Rain Forest (Omaha Zoo)
11. Crab ambush (Galveston)
12. 4th of July on the Peabody, Memphis
13. The ultimate Battleship finish (Brocks) (cheater)
14. Gravy balls
15. Ice cubes for Thanksgiving, 1999
16. Moo Juice (Jamaica)
17. Castor oil + long bumpy ride = baby
18. Reading Sense and Sensibility to each other (York)
19. Breakfast at Chances R
20. French Quarters (Memphis)
21. Hot tub in the rain (Eureka Springs)
22. Riding horses in the rain through the forest (Eureka Springs)
23. 4-wheeling to the access road around traffic jam
24. Long walks holding hands
25. Halloween at the Colts-Chiefs game
26. Stogies and a Mango Martini (J Gilberts)
27. Jumping in the pool fully clothed after a long walk on a hot day (convincing the kids that it’s ok)
28. Dancing all night in Memphis
29. The “Nerd Dance”
30. Your love letters on flowery paper (and perfume!)
31. Seeing you, your son and your daughter sitting up on our big bed reading books
32. Tying a cherry stem with your tongue in ten seconds
33. Mashed Potato fight (NYCamp)
34. Halloween in footy pajamas (no, not the kids)
35. Throwing Mystery Dinners (all out)
36. Being in my arms

36

I'm one of those women who loves birthdays. Love the attention. Love the parties. Love the hoopla. It doesn't bother me at all that I'm older, that I have a few more silver hairs than I used to have, that I just got my first reading glasses, that my body doesn't look much like the day I married... Okay, that last one doesn't bother me much.

I love the celebration of life, the idea of being recognized by friends and loved ones, the way that they tell me, "You matter to me, Shalee. I'm glad you're alive." That, for some reason, is what matters to me the most: someone saying, "I see you, and I'm glad you're here." I don't know why that resonates with me so much; it just does.

This morning, I received the best birthday wake-up call from Mr. Right. After sweet kisses, he brought me breakfast in bed (coffee and croissant and cinnamon roll - I don't know where he thought I'd put it all, but I loved that he was covering my breakfast tastebuds. He told me he tried to get pain du chocolat, but the french bakery ran out after a busload of kids came into the store. Oh what a beautiful man for even trying to get that for me!)

My daughter awoke really early, and she was excited to give me her card.





I know you can't see it, but the sticker on the bottom of the card says, "Thou shalt indulge." It's sitting on a picture of a huge sundae. That girl knows me too well.




I love her sense of humor...

She also gave me an adorable coupon book full of cards for help with making dinner, help with making my bed, free snuggles, a movie night with her, a night to read with her and her making one of my favorite foods. I love the thought and energy she put into it.

The boy remembered to tell me happy birthday, and then he kept talking about birthday stuff... he was trying to say more than he should, but I just told him to go brush his teeth in hopes of distracting him. I don't think he's learned the fine art of "not giving away a surprise" yet. (Don't worry, Mr. Right. The distraction worked. I know "nuhsink"!)

And looky here... I've been blessed even from bloggityville, too.

(Click on the picture to see the details.)

The adorable bag is a Chilihead original. I absolutely love it. It's perfect for carrying everything... books, papers, food into the movie theaters. Thank you Chili; I really wanted one of your bags!

The coffee, scrub and candles are from Jeana. I was so excited when I opened this gift. The scrub smells yummy and it's sitting by my sink so that I can use it often. The coffee is deee-licious, Jeana, and I think you've just made a new best friend with Mr. Right. He loves it as much as I do. (I had to share. He gets up before me plus he makes the coffee. I couldn't keep it from him even if I tried... which I won't do because I love that he makes the coffee. So thank you for your generosity, Jeana. I'm thinking of you with each sip.

The gorgeous bracelet is from Shannon. It's so me! It's fun. It's light. It's sassy. Shannon, with this sweet piece, you've brought my fashion status up quite a few notches. And believe me, that's saying a lot. Thank you.

And at the bottom you will notice the gift from Antique Mommy - dark chocolate and a loaded Starbucks card. Oh my lands. In case you can't tell, the candy bar has been opened already... And this morning, I used that wonderfully handy card to order the most fabulous (non-alcoholic) drink in the world of coffee - a Brevé Mocha - in celebration of life and all things coffee and chocolate in cup. Mmmm mmmm! Thank you Antique Mommy for the high-energy gifts! My boss, on the other hand, may have different words for you as I bounce off the wall...

So thanks to my ever-so-sweet bloggity friends. You've totally helped to start this year off right.
All you other bloggers/lurkers, would you mind doing me a birthday favor? I'll consider it my gift from you. My daughter said that it would be neat to have at least as many comments as number of years that I am. Would you mind giving a shoutout so that she can see what neat really is?!