THE BIRTHDAY AMONG OTHER THINGS

Finally. I have a few spare moments to finish this one. I mean, it was a milestone of a birthday so of course  this post could not be rushed. 

Without further adieu, let's begin. 

We kicked off the birthday festivities the Friday night before Bethany's birthday with a whole basket of fun gifts from Country Girl, complete with some of B's favorite grub (Reese's cups, Dr. Pepper and Cheerios), a homemade pink and green Auburn blanket, and this:

Some fun and very thoughtful gifts!

Saturday morning we were all up bright and early to officially kick off the birthday celebration.

7:47 a.m. - officially 15

You see, I'm a procrastinator. Always have been. Probably always will be. It's my nature. I work best under pressure. So this is the look on the birthday girl's face when she thought (because I tricked her into thinking it) that I had waited too late to try to get what she really wanted for her birthday - a David Yurman bracelet to start her collection. I printed a copy of the bracelet, enlarged it, slapped some glitter on it, and wrapped it up with a note saying that would have to suffice as the "stand-in" until the original made it here - that I had waited too late to order it to get it here in time for her birthday.

Which totally made sense because I AM Procrastination Polly. But Grant and I had a plan all along that after she opened that one I would ask Grant to go get what he made her for her birthday and in he would walk with the real present.

See? Now that's the look I was going for. :)

Sorry, Umby. But it's so hard to surprise you, I had to try to throw you for a loop. I think I succeeded.

I fixed one of her favorites for breakfast - a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. We sang, she blew out some candles, and we were off for more birthday celebration.

Mary Lou Grace had a gymnastics meet that day in Montgomery. Most of her meets are further away, so we were so excited to be there and see GaGa in action. Oh my nerves. So much adrenaline for such a short time on each apparatus. She did a great job. AA's so proud of you, Grace! Now she's off to State!

(Thanks for the pic, Mayree. I stole it from you.)

By the end of the meet we were all famished so we let B pick the restaurant. Her choice?? Hooters for "hot chicken." For her, the hotter the better. The day wouldn't have been complete without a phone call from Dawnie. We kinda felt like she was there with us. And her timing couldn't have been more perfect!

She had plenty of help opening her gifts. 

She is IN LOVE with Kindle.

And when you're blessed to have the RaRa we do, Sissy isn't the only one gettin' the goods. 

I even got a "happy" myself.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, RARA. YOU'RE THE B-E-S-T! (Although I still should be kicking your butt). We love our Cam Newton jerseys! WDE!

Mmmmm... Liger's

Thankfully the opportunity presented itself for a few snapshots:

All good things must come to an end, though, so we said our good-byes to Uncle Keith, Martha and the girls, Mimi and Granddaddy and headed home for one last item on the agenda:  Gathering around the TV in Reid's room to watch Bethany's birth video (it's G rated, Granddaddy recorded standing by my head). :) That video is priceless to me. Absolutely priceless. It's so hard to believe that was 15 years ago. It's so hard to believe those baby cheeks I was kissing in the video are the same sweet cheeks I kiss today. We laughed. Oh did we laugh. I was HUGE. And young. And clueless. Bethany was beautiful. And perfect. And she kept letting us know how cute she thought she was. I believe in this picture she was saying something like, "Oh my gosh look how cute I was."

It was the perfect end to a perfect day. 

THE PERMIT TEST (insert dramatic sound effect here that I cannot figure out how to phonetically type): 

In Wetumpka there is one person who administers tests at the Public Safety office. One. She takes only so many per day. It's on a first-come first-serve basis. If you're there in time, you take the test. If you have too many people ahead of you, you miss the boat. We were advised to be there around 30 minutes early, and boy am I glad we took that advice. 

Anxiously waiting. Can you tell that's a nervous smile? And I'm surprised I could even take the picture I was so nervous for her. My poor mother. That's all I have to say. 

Take a number and be seated. Who says 13 is an unlucky number? We don't believe in superstition. Besides, Bethany recalled to mind that 13 is Taylor Swift's LUCKY number. Guess it's Umby's too.

Trying to pass the time:

Country Girl was able to snap this one of B taking the test. I couldn't watch.

SHE PASSED! SHE PASSED! SHE PASSED!

Not that I doubted for one second that she would pass but that was pure excitement!

Time for her to take the keys. Enter my nervous smile:

I asked the officer as she was printing Bethany's temporary permit, "Um, ok, so she's just ready to get behind the wheel? Just like that?"

"Yes, ma'am. If YOU'RE ready, she's ready."

I have to say it's been challenging giving up that control. It's a strange feeling putting everyone's lives in the vehicle in the hands of your own child. But she's surprised me at how well of a driver she is, especially parking. The girl can park. Experience is all she needs. And she's getting plenty of it.

Every one of her birthdays has been special, but this one has been extra special. She's my heart that girl!

THANKSGIVING:

What am I thankful for???

A dear sister who knows when a mama needs a break and offers for the boys to come to her house for a night. That's what. 

Kidding. Sorta. Not really. I'm thankful for so much more, I truly am, I was just really thankful for that fact that day. :) 

The day before Thanksgiving Martha and I met at Chik-Fil-A in Prattville so I could do the hand-off. We ate lunch and let the kids play - the same idea just about everyone else in that area had that day. It was packed. We enjoyed some girl talk amongst the craziness that is kids in a jam packed fast-food joint then it was time for them to head back to Selma. As we got ready to leave Claire said, "AA, are we taking ALL the boys? Like all three of them?" To which I replied, "Yes, honey. Yes you are. ALL of them." :) I loaded them in RaRa's car and sang Zippity Doo Dah all the way home. Or maybe it was Prince since Rachel let me copy her Best of Prince CD. 

Again, kidding. Sorta. Not really.

I missed them but it was good for the hubs and I to have a night to ourselves. We didn't do anything but cook dinner here, watch Y & R, and enjoy a quiet house. Meems and Granddaddy were also thoughtful enough to keep the boys for us Saturday night as well. I'm so thankful for my family. We actually did go out to dinner that night, but Chris dubbed me "Granny." After one adult beverage and dinner, I was DONE. It was after 9:00. As in p.m. As in we may even catch the 10:00 news. AND THAT IS SO LATE. 

Pathetic but true.

Thanksgiving morning we were up as early as if the kids were here, probably because they weren't. We missed our little fellas. We got ready and headed to Selma to pick up the boys. After that it was on to Chris' parents house to spend Thanksgiving with them. His brother Donnie and Rae were there with Grey. His brother, Kevin, was also there with his three, Anna Louise, Sophie and Jackson. We don't get together nearly enough. It was lovely. The food was wonderful, and Grandmama Norton doesn't let me lift a finger while I'm there. Even lovelier! 

We picked up Sweet B on our way back home and that completed my Thanksgiving.

So blessed. So much to be thankful for. And still so stuffed from all the food I've eaten over the past week I feel like I need a colonic. If I were into that sort of thing. 

But I'm not. Eww. Happy Monday!