40 and 5 - Big Day

 FEB. 28 - Now that we have 3 kids who head off to school early, we always try to cram in presents, singing and special birthday breakfast before 7:30.  It's tricky but can be done.

Little Man could hardly contain himself about his special day.

 My Man gave me a really hard time about taking my early morning photo.  I guess he sees through my vanity.  So for his sake, here's the dreaded photo - ah natural.  (See Babe, maybe I'm not as self-conscious as it appears.)

 Josiah was shocked to get a tool workbench...something he never asked for and didn't know he was getting, but loved.

 Loved so much he couldn't keep his tongue in his mouth.

 In my opinion one big plus of the kids growing up is that I never have to assemble ANYTHING!  I know you can't see this photo well but here they are, eating their eggs and bacon and each putting together a different toy that Little Man just opened.

 And for my big 40th birthday, Ruth gave me these beautiful weeds flowers to display.

 Lydia joined in on the gift idea and picked these that needed to be displayed in a bowl due to their lack of stems.

 AB was embarrassed to hand me this chunk of change.  She said she was sorry that it was money and not a gift but it's hard to shop without mom when you attend school every day.  She had to give me coins because she only had 2 twenties.  I told her twenties would have been fine.  :)

Caleb was broke so he washed my car for me - I enjoyed that labor of love.

 I always enjoy sharing my birthday with my Little Man.  He loves his birthday so much.

He wanted canned chicken noodle soup (ick) and watermelon for lunch.  I had to bite the bullet and spend $8 on a piddly, tasteless watermelon in February.  He couldn't have been happier.

 For dinner, My Man took us out to eat at Chili's.  (Thanks so much, Babe.)  We came home totally stuffed so I passed on the Toffee Truffle Cake but the Fish Sticks had their fill.

Thanks so much to My Man for making my 40th special.  Thanks to my 4 high school friends who called or emailed me.  Thanks to my college roommate for celebrating with me.  Thanks to my TN best friend who moved to my hometown but still makes huge efforts to show me distance doesn't matter in our friendship.  And thanks to my family for my cards, calls and presents.  Thanks to Grandma for baking me a cake and another one for Little Man.  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family - by birth and by marriage.  I enter the "Middle Ages" with happiness and joy!