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Friday, December 11, 2015

My 40th Birthday

My 40th birthday was on Sunday, December 6, and Shawn had a surprise party for me at the Stoll's Amish Restaurant up on Highway 41 on Saturday evening.  I knew he was scheming something back before Thanksgiving when he mentioned that on Saturday afternoon after the Rockport parade, mom and Gavin were coming back with us to spend the night.  While it's nothing new for them to spend the night, I'm usually the one planning it and not Shawn, so I knew something was going.  While I was extremely curious what he was up too, I never snooped, and really didn't ask any questions until that afternoon.  I had lots of suspicions, but not many of them played out how I thought they would.  HAHA!

He mentioned earlier that afternoon that we would probably leave for dinner around 6:15 p.m.  Sure Shawn, nice odd time for us to leave, but I never said anything.  The only question I did ask that day was where we were going for dinner so I would know what to be hungry for.

Shawn drove us to dinner that night and when we walked into the restaurant, the lady asked how many, and I said 4.  Little did I know that Shawn was behind me hand-motioning to the hostess that I was the birthday girl and to seat us in the back.  Obviously the girl (who we later found out was new and it was her first day) didn't read Shawn's signals because she immediately said "oh are you here for the birthday party?"  I thought oh no and just kind of said "uh" and turned to look at Shawn and he has this look of deflation come over him.  I wish I could of taken a video of his sunken face.  He didn't say anything and a manager came out (that he talked to the day before) and Shawn introduced himself as Shawn Glenn with a party of 4.  That guy was obviously clueless too and didn't pick up on what Shawn was saying.  I guess Shawn finally gave up and said yes we are with the party and they led us in the back.  

I noticed my friend Angie first, followed by lots and lots of "Surprise's!" and "Happy Birthday's!".  I looked around the room and was completely surprised and shocked by all of the family and friends that joined me in celebrating my big day!


Of course there was Shawn, mom, and Gavin, and then Shawn's parents - Eric and Susie,  Steve and Christa and her parents - Mike and Betty, Paula and Wes Huwe, The Lantrip's - Brent, Kristi and Kiley, The Bryant's - Greg, my sweet Mandy, Miles and Mitchell, my friend Misty and her mom Hazel, Angie, Mischelle Pinnell, David and Lisa Heard, and then Bro. and Sis. Heard, and then my friend Heather and Zoe showed up a little late.

We had lots of yummy food and people were getting dessert from the buffet.  I wondered why Shawn didn't get a cake, and I was headed up to get my dessert at the buffet when I noticed a stack of dessert plates in front of Shawn.  I asked what those were for and almost immediately, the waitress and some other employees came walking back with the cake and lit candles singing Happy Birthday to me!



I got lots of great presents!  Heather took some pictures of me opening presents, but I've determined that she never needs to sit that close while taking pictures of me ever again!  Here are two that I approved...LOL!!  I got gift cards to Hobby Lobby, Starbucks, Bonefish Grille, Subway, and Jalisco, cash, a pair of cute earrings, a wiener dog magnet, a wiener dog scarf, homemade cookies, some peppermint candy, an ornament, a cute picture frame set, 2 smashed pennies from Disney World, and some fun gloves.  



I tried to get pictures with everyone that came, but Paula left before I got started taking them (and now that I labeled them all, I noticed that Michelle Pinnell escaped before a picture too.)


Wes Huwe and a photobomber


Shawn's parents - Eric and Susie


My best friend Misty and her mom Hazel


My momma and Gavin


David and Lisa Heard


My friend Heather


Stevie and Christa


Brother and Sister Heard


Brent, Kristi and Kiley Lantrip


Heather and my littlest BFF Zoe


My Sweet Mandy and her family - Greg, Miles and Mitchell


Mitchell and me


My friend Angie and me

A few other pictures from my birthday celebrations over the weekend.  Saturday when we picked up Beth and Gavin for the parade, Gavin gave me this card that he made (with the help of his mom).  He said "be careful with the card, it might catch fire".  I asked why and he said "cause of all the candles on the cake!"  #hesaturdbutt



Sunday I got a hilarious card and a Panera Bread gift card from some friends at church.

And then Sunday evening after we dropped Gavin off, we got back in the car and I saw this envelope in my dash.  He must of stuck it there when I was getting Gavin out of the car.  It was a birthday card from Shawn with a gift certificate for a mani and pedi.  I can't wait to use that!  


For dinner Sunday night, we went to Angelo's for their yummy breadsticks and deep dish pizzas.  

And the birthday surprises kept coming even on Monday.  Shawn wanted to have lunch with me on Monday and when he showed up, he had these flowers and a balloon with him!  He's such a sneak!


However I think the main reason he showed up for lunch, was to witness this!  The girls at work got me!  There was also brownies and cookies, washi tape and a camera charm, and a McDonald's mocha frappe, along with lots of birthday wishes from my co-workers!



In addition to all of this, I received so, so many birthday wishes on FB, texts, and phone calls!  I had a super fantastic birthday and it was so much more than I expected.  I am blessed beyond measure with great family and friends.  

Here's to being 40 and fabulous!  Hee!!


Boonville Christmas Parade 2015

I'm so blessed that the town of Boonville hosts a parade for my birthday!  HAHA!

Another perfect day for another parade.  Is this December weather really happening?  We rode on the WOW! float again this year in the parade.  One of these years, I'm going to actually watch the parade and not be in it.  It's a really long parade and those kids on the street get ALOT of candy! HAHA!














Thanks to a photog friend for capturing this picture of us in the parade!


I copied the following from my Facebook page where I had posted it on Monday:

The craziest thing, and a HUGE blessing, happened to us yesterday while at the Boonville parade. My car was parked about two and a half blocks away from the HS, and just off one of the main roads that runs through Boonville, from where we were in the parade line up. After we parked, I had the liftgate open to the back and was getting all of our parade gear out of the back, and then shut the liftgate, locked the car, and we walked to our float. After the parade was over, about 2 hours after we got there, we were headed back to the car and I noticed the liftgate was wide open. I instantly started getting stomach cramps and was afraid of what could of been. In the back, I had my camera bag with over $1,000 camera and lens in it, Gavin's bag with his Kindle in it, my purse with lots of cash and my debit cards and all ID's, Shawn's wallet was in the glove box. Thankfully the good Lord was protecting my car and our belongings, cause EVERYTHING was still in there! I've never been so happy in all my life! I know that I shut the liftgate, cause my car wouldn't beep if I locked it with the gate still open, and I'm so anal about hearing that beep multiple times when I lock it. Somewhere between the keys handoff between Shawn and I while on the float, I'm assuming the liftgate button got pushed, but I surely wouldn't think it would work from two and a half blocks away. I'll definitely be more careful with those keys that's for sure! Thank you Jesus!!

Rockport Christmas Parade 2015

Good times with family and friends at the annual Rockport Christmas Parade!  A celebration to begin the birthday festivities!  Beautiful sunny and blue skies, warm weather, and lots of candy!