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!!

Another Friday @ the Owensboro Riverfront

I took a half day vacation on Friday and hung out again at the Owensboro riverfront.  Twice that day actually.

I left work at noon and drove to Rockport to pick up my sister and Gavin.  We had been having exceptionally great weather this week so I thought it would be fun to go to Smothers Park, or as Gavin, well and us, calls it, the park under the blue bridge.  

We started off the afternoon with lunch at Angelo's in Rockport.  Yummy Stromboli's, mini sausage pizza, and their deliciously, yummy bread sticks with cheese and marinara sauce.  And of course Big Red fountain drinks!  And every time I'm there, I have to take a picture of the bread sticks, post it on Facebook, and just wait for all the comments from haters!  LOL!!

Next stop, the park off the blue bridge.  When I had the idea of playing there, I had planned on Gavin playing on the playground part, but he informed me that he was taking his goggles.  I guess he associated the park with the splash park!  LOL!!  Fine with me bubby!  Remember how I said we had been having great weather, well while it was still great, it was a tad bit warmer than it had been.  And that sun was hot!  LOL!  I wish I would of packed my swimsuit cause we would of headed to the pool instead.  It sure was warm outside!  Me and Tootie didn't stand a chance out there.  LOL!!  Gavin played in the water for a little bit, and then played on the playground for a few minutes and then we headed towards home!

I hadn't planned on us spending alot of time at the park anyways cause Gavin had VBS that night and I had plans with Shawn, the Robinson's, and the Lantrip's to go back to Owensboro for dinner and to go to the Friday After 5 event.  On the way back to take Beth and Gavin home, I remembered a friend from high school was having a yard sale, so we ran by her house to say hi.  I ended up buying 3 Vera Bradley purses, 2 Vera Bradley billfold's, another purse, and a 31 water bottle coozie that I'm going to use for one of my camera lenses.  It was like the yard sale motherload for me!  HAHA!

After I dropped Beth and Gavin off, I headed to the Robinson's, we picked up Zoe from her friend's house, and then we were on our way to Owensboro.  We met the Lantrip's at a pizza place down on the Owensboro riverfront called Fetta Specialty Pizza.  The Lantrip's got us a table out on the patio.  While it was still sunny and warm, we had a great time out there.  Our waitress and the staff were exceptionally friendly and kept checking on us.  We always had full drink glasses and never had to wait on a refill.  They even brought out a couple shade umbrellas and put them near some of the outside tables to block the sun. 

While I was extremely still full and hot from lunch and the sun, I didn't eat much, but what I did was pretty good.  I ordered a garden salad and a slice of white bean and sausage pizza.  I only ate a few bites of the salad and a bite or two of the pizza.  I tried a bite of Kristi's mashed potato pizza...nah.  And then a bite of Shawn's pulled pork pizza...it was OK.  I definitely want to go back and try it again when I'm hungry.  LOL!!  

After dinner, we walked down to the Friday After 5 event area.  A group called After Midnight was playing 70's big hair band music on the main stage.  Of course the usual Friday entertainment was there too!  LOL! 

 

 I was super bummed that they didn't have the photo booth down there last night!  I wanted all of us to get in the booth for a crazy picture!!  Me, Heather, Kristi and the girls did manage to get in a photo frame picture, but it wasn't the same :(

A few more pictures from the evening. I so want to rent a boat and spend an evening on the river during the Friday After 5 event!

After the event, we all parted ways.  And the Robinson-mobile headed to Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt for a sweet treat before heading home!  Dairy Queen would of been better, but Shawn had to have his way ;)  HAHA!!