Saturday, October 03, 2009

My 30th Birthday!

October 2, 2009:

We like to celebrate birthdays around here, for about a week! I love it! Last Saturday, we were in Brundidge. Mr. Harry and Mrs. Becky took us out to eat and gave me some gifts (a necklace and earring set that are so pretty and generous gift cards to Red Lobster and Wal-Mart.) Tuesday,we all went with dad to teach his Faulkner class and ate at Mellow Mushroom and played trivia. It wasn't for my birthday but it felt like it because we were all together. On Thursday, I came home from school and found a new pair of shoes on my dresser! Thanks Jared! I also received a card from my grandma in the mail! That night Jared took me out to eat at Chili's and bought me two shirts and a pair of pants. I love my hubby!
Friday morning I woke up like normal and got ready for work. I received two birthday texts, one from Pam and one from Rachel! I left for work. I pulled out of my driveway, drove around to the front of the house and saw this...





My friends and sister flamingoed (or pingoed, as Hannah called it) my yard the night before!
I pulled over, got out of the car to take pictures and I started laughing and crying at the same time! I felt so loved and lucky to have such good friends!

When I got to work, I got a phone call for Joseph! He sang happy birthday to me, but changed the words around to something like this:
"Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
My sister who inspired me to be a teacher,
And I love her so much!"
So I got teary eyed again!
So far being 30 was making me emotional!

Next, all my students came in and began handing me cards and gifts! One had her grandmother bake me a cake and my room mom brought us all cupcakes and even lit a candle for me to blow out! They were so excited! One of my favorites was a card made by a student. It was very pretty and well thought out. The front had she and I, colored brown. The inside another portrait of she and I colored white. Very funny! That afternoon she made me another card that was all stapled up on both sides. When I finally pried it open, out popped a mangled, but still covered in its original paper, bar of hotel soap!
I also received birthday texts from Kim and Paul!
My coworkers were going to cook me taco soup, but our principal decided to cook all of the teachers soup, ruining their surprise! It was nice of them to think of me! They also gave me a nice card with a gift card to Target inside!
That evening, we met several friends and family members at Cracker Barrel.
Today I had plans to go shopping with Katie and Hannah while Jared helped his brother and Jenny move to a new apartment. Jennifer came too and Pam was to meet us there at Target. We got to Target and received a call from Pam telling us she was hungry (she had run a 5k that morning) so we were gonna meet somewhere to eat. We left Target with me naming all the area restaurants. I thought it was strange neither Katie nor Jennifer would confirm a place to eat. Katie said she wanted to ride to downtown Trussville to see what was that way. As we drove, I named more restaurants that were down that way and even naming a place I had always wanted to try, The Chocolate Bisquit Tea Room. No one said anything and so we kept driving. Katie turned into The Chocolate Bisquit. I thought to myself, oh, their gonna eat here since I always say we should come here, probably because it was my birthday yesterday, but I never said anything or suspected anything either, for that matter! I called Pam and said we are eatting at The Chocolate Bisquit. I heard a lot of noise in the background and asked her where was she. She told me she was at Arby's and she would leave there and meet us at the tea room. We walked in and I fell in love, looking at the quaint restaurant, noting that Katie gave the hostess a look and said we are going to the back as the hostess just nodded, but I thought to myself, I missed her saying table for 4 because I was admiring the place! Anyhow, we walked to the back and there sat Pam (how did she get here so fast?) and...Kim..."Hey what is going on???" They said "Happy Birthday!" They wanted to make my 30th special! How sweet! Then my mama showed up! I thought she was at the camp yard sale!!!! Kim handed me a card from her and Rachel (Rachel had to work). It was my only 30th birthday card that actually said 30 on it AND it contained a promise of lunch and Painted By U with Kim and Rachel! Yay! Another place I've always wanted to go!!! I am the luckiest girl in the WORLD!!! After lunch it was back to shopping where mama got me a dress and gave me some money from she and dad! They had given me one present earlier this summer, some croc sandals, that I have been wearing all summer.
So, I've concluded that if being 30 means a fantastic, loving husband, a caring christian family, special sisters and friends in Christ, and great coworkers to interact with, then I'm gonna love it!
So, it's official, I'm thirty, flirty (well maybe not this one:) )and FABULOUS!

Here we go again!

Ok, so I left off with my cousins, Derek and Devin. We took them to the airport and missed them as soon as we dropped them off!



Part of the time the boys were in town, my parents were out of town. They went to the beach with David, Susan, and Mary Courington. Aren't they cute????









Never before seen and captured on camera... Marty wears a pair of shorts!






After Jared and I dropped the boys off at the airport, we came home, packed, and left for Brundidge. We spent the night with the in-laws and then drove to Panama City, FL, the next morning for two of Jared's cousins weddings. Friday evening A LOT of the Sanders had dinner together at The Back Porch. Later that evening we went over to drop off some things for Samantha's wedding. Saturday morning Jared, Andy, and I walked around Pier Park. Next we headed over to (I forget the name of the public beach) at the Jettie's. Samantha and Richard were married in the pavillion there on the beach. Lots of fun happenings there!








After their wedding, we went to the reception at the clubhouse. Then, it was off to the Paradis Palms for Katie and Stewart's wedding. It was right on the beach of the hotel where all of us Sanders were staying, at sunset. It was beautiful! The reception was on the deck of the Paradise Palms. We had a wonderful time with everyone!


Cade May


Jared and Tony







Sunday we went to church and then came home in time for church that evening.

Friday, July 31, was my mama's birthday! I went to JCA summer camp to visit and came home with Chandler and Marley for the weekend! We stopped by Sam's to pick mama out some treats for her birthday. Marley picked out 4 molten cakes, chocolate and cinnamon. Chandler picked out M&M sandwich cookies with cream in the middle. Then we surprised her at work! That evening was the last youth devotional for the summer at the church building. Xander had been leading songs like a big boy all summer at the devotionals. I always had trouble singing with him because I was too busy choking back tears of pride. Well, I told Chandler he could lead a song if he wanted to. I told him he had to wait until the song was finished. When the song finished, Chandler piped, "I wanna lead one!" Too late because someone else had already started one. David heard him so when that song was over David told the crowd that Chandler wantged to lead a song. He asked Chandler what did he want to lead, but Chandler froze, so someone else led one. Chandler told David he wanted to led Jesus Loves Me! Then he walked up in front of everyone and started the song! I found myself once again choking back tears of pride! This was Chandler's first time and he did such a good job! He goes to a VERY big church so opportunities are not the same for him when it comes to leading singing and such like we have at Sylvan Springs. I am so PROUD of that kid!
I sent this picture to his dad!


The next morning we set off to get mama a birthday gift. Marley and I picked out the gift while Jared took Chandler into a guy store, where he would do less damage (if you know Chan then you know what I mean!)
Jared took this picture of Chan at Hibbetts.

At Big Lots, Chandler picked mama out some stamps which he just so happened to get to play with at church the next morning! Then we headed over to Macaroni Grill to meet mama, daddy, and Pam for lunch.






August 8: I went to Ladies Day at Ashville Road with Katie and Rachel. Then shopping with Katie!

August 12: First day of school! Ugh!

August 14: We all took Jared Xander back to school shopping and he was spoiled rotten! We had dinner with David and Susan at Dale's. Susan asked Xander what he had learned his first week of school and he replied, "I learned to go to time-out!" That boy!

August 16: I went to Katie's baby shower at Kim's. That night after church we had an "sending off to college for Alex.

August 17: Joseph started his first day of education classes. He is getting another degree, fine arts in education. I am so proud of him! He is loving his classes!

August 21: Daddy's surgery! Ugh! It didn't turn out the way we had hoped, but there is still hope! We will know more in January! PLEASE keep praying for him and thanks for all of the prayers on his behalf thus far!

August 23: The little ball of energy, aka, Hannah, had her third birthday party and it was such fun!

September 6: Joseph came home. We went to eat Chinese for lunch for dad's birthday. I regrettably took no pictures of dad, but got several of little man outside the restaurant!






September 7: Labor Day! All the Glenn's came to our house along with my neighbor, Mrs. Chandler, for lunch. I love being around them! Oh! Pam brought Chad to meet the family (and two of his friends). Sadly, Uncle David was the one who wanted him to come, but he ended up spending a few days in the hospital instead!

September 8: Daddy's birthday! Mama, Jared, and I rode with him to teach his Faulkner class and then had dinner at the Mellow Mushroom and played the trivia game they have every Tuesday night!

September 13: We celebrated Keri's birthday after church that night. That afternoon we went to Target to get her gift. Xander picked her out several interesting things for her, my favorite was the Barbie socks (she's 12!) She rocked them on Monday at school! Hehehe! Xander was so proud!
I took this picture of him outside of Target!


September 19: Ladies Day at Sylvan Springs with Cherry Chesser! It was fabulous!

September 26: Jared and I went to Brundidge for his cousin, Adam's, wedding.

That about catches us up!
My birthday post to follow!