10 on the 10th!

Wow!  I'm almost on the ball and ready for Mer's 10 on the 10th on the actual...10th!  Holla!

True confessions:  I lurve my b'day.  And, I like it to last as long as possible (no, I'm not 14, I'm 41, but still...)  So, w/o further ado, this post has to do with my b'day memories.

1.  My mom and dad must've lurved b'days, too, because I had a half b'day celebration when I was 4.5.  And I don't know why.  I was crowned with a paper-towel tiara.  Worked for me.

2.  On my 8th b'day, my cockapoo ate my b'day cake.  Yes, she lived.  I also received a snappy red jumpsuit.  Handmade.

3.  When I turned 10, my mom threw me an honest-to-goodness party at Happy Joes pizzeria and invited all the popular kids to come because I had just moved to CO 7 mos. before, and I was lonely.  Looking back, I see what a sacrifice this was for her.  We never had money.  Especially for a party.  I even remember the Snoopy (on roller skates)cake and the roller skates, complete with blue vinyl carrying case. I tried scanning a picture of this, but it wouldn't come out of my magnetic-death-to-pictures-album, so you'll just have to imagine me at that awkward age. ;)

4.  When I was 14, I receive this album from my Dad.

 

5.  Sweet 16 was my first b'day celebrated with Big.  And a surprise party, to boot! I also had a Garfield (playing the flute) cake.  I know...cool.

(ah, Polaroids...remember them?)

6.  On my 21st b'day (ahem...20 YEARS AGO), CU Boulder had an unusual event:  A Snow Day!  I had lots of snow days in school, growing up, but it was nearly a never-event for a University to shut down.  This meant that the only one cheering me and Big on as I did the "mall crawl" on the deserted Pearl Street Mall was...ahem...a homeless schizophrenic lady who yelled at us.  Talk about a buzz-kill, literally.  I do believe the next day had us all wearing shorts.

7.  My 29th b'day was the last where I received a present from my mom (since she died right before I turned 30).  I remember opening the package with the gLee of a 10 year old kid.  I don't remember all of the contents, but I did get a Clinique lipstick in Raspberry Glace.  For all our differences, she did love to celebrate me. 

8.  On my 30th b'day I was understandably not exactly in the mood to celebrate.  However, my girlfriends and my hubby were so amazing.  First, my husband tried his best to make the day special, and bought me some what-do-you-get-your-wife-when-she's-just-lost-her-mom?-jewelry.  And my girlfriends waited a month, then threw me the best party ever.  Knowing that I lurve me some 1:1  or 1: few time, they arranged an entire day devoted to dropping me to be with one or two friends at a time, all after one another.  I was treated to a homemade, delicious breakfast, painted pottery, had lunch out, went to a fun bookstore, had pedis, and decompressed over a glass of wine with my last friend of the day, who took me home.  Bliss.

9.  When I turned 32, I was packing a 2.5 and 4.5 year old and all our stuff to get ready to move to WA. Wow!  I cannot believe it's been 9 years.

10.  This year was extra special, too.  I was celebrated sweetly by all manner of friends and family.  And though you probably can't read my cake, it was inspired (and made by the kids) by this website.

"Hoppy Birtday.

Next line Mo". 

I.Am.Blessed.