Birth-week!

Happy Snow Day!!

They closed the courthouse, which almost never happens, so I got to sleep in and now I get to hang out with the puppies in my PJs all day!!  Epic.  Like another little birthday gift from God. lol

Today ends my birthday week, but it doesn't end the string of parties quite yet. (This year has become a 10-part Birthday Extravaganza, celebrating separately with each of the friend groups that are special to me... I highly recommend it! lol)  I never like being the only one at the party who knows everyone there, so I decided not to try to combine friend groups this year, and it's working out well.

We did a "family birthdays lunch" at Olive Garden after church last Sunday, with Mom and Dad, the Parrish fam, JoBug and Emily, Babah and Grandad.  Me, Rach, Blake, and Emily all have February/March birthdays, so we try to get together and celebrate them all at once. :)  It was fun, and I got to hold a tiny little presh-face Missy K, so that was Part One. 

Part Two was my actual birthday. I went to Lifegroup that night, where Kelly Marie got me these lovely flowers, a heartfelt card, and made my favorite chocolate with cookie butter cupcakes... fantastic!! 

It was a great lesson by Beth Moore, and group was at Alex's house and Lauralai came with me that night... a great birthday all around, riiiight up until the moment I threw up at the end of the night. :( A random short-lived stomach bug, and my first new thing at age 31, I guess... never been sick on my birthday before.

Part Three was the next day when Kristin Foster, one of my favorite people in the world, took me out for dinner at Teds! We had fun and had a great talk, as per usual, and we randomly ran into the DA from Creek County... so that was unexpected. lol

Part Four was Thursday night, when Susie Bower, aka "Suz B," invited me over for dinner with the Bower three (Laura, Brett, and Susie). We had Rib Crib chicken, baked potatoes, rolls, green beans, and fried okra -- second new thing I've embraced this year.  Then for dessert, we had BlueBell's Lemon Bliss Ice Cream -- refreshing and tasty (and a third new thing... I'm on fire!). It was fun and really nice to be there for a family dinner at home. We talked about things at the Creek Co. Courthouse, Brett's job, and the Thunder's new lineup, and Susie prayed that I'd have a great birthday week... mission accomplished!

Part Five was Cheesecake Factory with Tiffany and Laura on Friday night, where we split the fried mac n' cheese and Reese's Cheesecake!  That was followed by a movie with Tiffany which was so terrible that we walked out... Hollywood seems to be confusing crude shock value with real humor, and it's getting worse and worse...  sad to waste money, but nice to have principles and walk away from trash. All in all, a great Friday!

Part Six was an awesome Sam n' Ella's road trip with the Vegas crew, minus Kelly and plus Sarah Heiskell. lol  We met at Chet and Karli's then drove down to Talequah, hearing some hilarious stories from Chet and Sarah's delinquent past. ;)  Chet drove all the girls and Jeff and Kyle rode separately on the way there, then we had a girls car and a guys car (Sarah driving mine) on the way back... I heart road trips - always a great time when you're with the right people!  Dinner itself was also pretty fantastic.  I had the Chicken Florentine Pizza (#newthingnumber4) and JEM kindly picked up the tab for my dinner!  After dinner, we went back to Chet's for some awesome cookiecake ...and watching Chet almost burn Karli's finger off. ;)  I really do love this group -- life is always a blast with them!

JEM presenting the "hen house." lol First time we've been seated there!

JEM making me laugh! =)

The Wilsons + me, just like at Natalie and Blake's wedding! ;)

Our group in the chicken coop! :)

Me and my CFF ;) with the cookiecake she brought for me!

I also got the special smiley-faced star candle and 15 candles for 2015! :)

Part Seven will be with the Lindsay, Linda, Talhia, & Alyssa group tomorrow night.

Part Eight = JEM and Chet taking me to lunch sometime this week (weather permitting).

Part Nine = Dinner next time I'm in town with Kristin and Frankie.

Part Ten = I can't remember right now, but maybe something with Tara Lynn?

So there you have it - my ridiculously detailed birthday update so I won't forget it later.  This week has been special to me for all the above reasons and a few others (including the happy snow, of course)!  I'm thankful to have such a great group of people in my life right now and to feel genuinely loved and valued!! If the rest of the year turns out to be as great as this month, it will be an epic 2015 indeed!  =)