Another year older

You can't get away from them.  Birthdays...or the dear friends that want to celebrate them with you!  I really wanted to skip this one.  I don't know why.  It just seemed old.  And that's it.  Not exciting, not significant, just old.  I wasn't planning on hiding in my closet all day.  Or heading to the McDonald's drive-thru and ordering one of everything off the menu!  I just wanted it to peacefully pass as I went about my regularly scheduled stuff.  Drive carpool, make lunches, pick up the house, pack for my upcoming trip, make dinner...o.k...you got me!  I wouldn't dream of making dinner on my birthday!  Thanks to my cute family and great friends, I didn't have to make dinner.  I didn't have to skip it.  I had a fun day filled with happy celebrations.

self portrait...at 30-something..see, I can't even type the number

my party in the car waiting in the school pick-up line

my sidekick helping me polish off that chocolate cake

That chocolate cake made my day.  Along with the lunch with friends, the flowers, the gifts, the Mexican dinner with my family, the handmade card from my kiddies, and the sight of my suitcase packed with cruise clothes headed to Tampa tomorrow!  I couldn't skip my birthday, but I am skipping town and leaving 30-something behind!  I am going to be 25 all weekend long.  Make that 16.  I have a few friends boarding this ship with me that will make it possible.  We learned to drive together.  Skipped English class together.  Went to prom together.  Sat at IHOP at midnight eating pancakes and talking together!  I can't wait to spend this cruise with them and I can't wait to be 16 again!!