Best. Birthday. Ever!

 I had been thinking about my 40th birthday from about the time I turned 39.  I was a bit obsessed with it actually – and decided around January that I wanted to have a party at the skate rink.  I reserved the rink for a private party on the day of my birthday (I got lucky it was on a Saturday) and then started letting people know.  I really wanted it to be a celebration of all the friends and family that have helped make the first 40 years of my life so wonderful.  One of the most amazing things was that three of my best friends from grade school drove down from Georgia with their families to join in the festivities.  We all turned 40 this year, so it was a fun way for us to bring in this new decade together.  When they all decided to come I started to think about a second component of the party – an adult only event back at the house since everyone was sleeping over at our house anyway.  This component of the party required my Mom and Dad’s help – they would be in charge of watching 12 kids at their house overnight!!  Then we started thinking about the timing and since the skate party was from 5-7 and we were just having snacks and cookie cake, maybe we should have dinner together after skating.  We decided to go to my favorite Mexican restaurant El Jalisco (and other than the long wait for a table for 30 it was awesome!). 
    

Since P.J. and Kimmie and their families were here on Friday, we were able to stay up late reminiscing and being silly – it is a very cool thing about friends you have had since you were little – there just doesn’t seem to be any awkwardness at all, everything just picks right back up and the feelings of friendship are just as strong as they were when we were 16!  Saturday morning we went downtown and got so lucky because there was a free IMAX space movie for kids and a space ship at the Kleman Plaza.  One of the highlights or our trip downtown was the fountain at the Capitol.  I will never look at those dolphin the same way again now that Micheal has climbed up on one of them!  The girls were all so excited to have their pictures taken, so of course I was loving that – they are all so beautiful! 
    

Being at the skate party reminded me a bit of my wedding day.  I was surrounded by only people I love and cherish and they were all there to celebrate with me!  I didn’t skate much because I was having so much fun talking with everyone and giving out nearly 100 hugs!!  We did the hokey pokey and I was so glad Chris came out and helped me with that!

As I mentioned, El Jalisco was super fun (although the margaritas are so strong – and the tequila shot they had me drink as they sang happy birthday was probably a bad idea).  A little too much was consumed back at the house and I had my first ever two day hangover – but as I walked around work on Monday, in a headachy daze, I couldn’t help but smile and think that was the Best Birthday EVER!!!

The morning after! Best friends forever!!