Forties Festivities

The first week of forty has been filled with family, friends, and celebration.

 I went to wine with two girlfriends.  The shop closed too early so we went next door and sat on the patio talking about all our parenting imperfections.  I feel blessed to know these women, to bare our souls and to laugh at ourselves and with each other when it's necessary.  There are no airs, only love.  Sushi, pho, and Eureka burgers also happened this week. It's a beautiful problem to know this kind of love, let me tell you!

My war room is growing.  I just love everything about it!

 Talented friends created beautiful gifts.

 My brothers showed up to the Golden Days Parade festivities.  That's all I really wanted--all of us in the same space doing something we had enjoyed as kids.  It was very nostalgic.

We celebrated Uncle Frank's birthday on the patio.

These girls are a hoot!

Sitting on our corner.

 We ate at an oldie but goodie.  I had been craving Mexican food for awhile.  My nina Karvel made the best lemon pound cake and a chocolate cake that were delicious.  It was a little rushed as I like to get the kids in bed at their bed times during the week, but I appreciated all of my family who showed up.

 A gift that I had permission not to share. . .

 Mimosas with my mom friends.

Mass was celebrated by the priest who married us.  I adore Fr. Peter Dennis.  It felt like a huge blessing to have him be the celebrant at mass the morning of my special day.

And Ernie, made this birthday pretty spectacular.  I had forty gifts to unwrap.  He overdid it.  The gifts were so thoughtful and meaningful and comprised of the things I love.  That morning he got up early with me to see what we could accomplish running wise in forty minutes.  We ran five in a little over forty and it felt good!

I always tease I have a birthday month, but the reality is. . .I squeezed all my fun into a week this year.  It was loud, and wild by my standards and filled with the people I care about most.  Forty is off to a fantastic start.  I think I'm going to like it here.  Yes, yes. . . I think I"m gonna like it here! (Sung in my loudest Annie voice)