Tuesday, September 02, 2008

And there was Much Rejoicing!!!

Well, I guess I've got to stop celebrating my 40th birthday at some point. I've celebrated for a full week now and it's been SO much fun. It's hard to stop all the partying (so I don't guess I will...not quite yet!)

This past weekend, we celebrated non-stop with all sorts of fun get-togethers and excursions. Why don't I let you experience all the fun with me?

On Saturday, we got together with my parents for our family get-together. (We always have a meal, and gifts, and the requested cake from the birthday boy or girl.) An added benefit to the celebration is that my friend, Cheryl, and her daughters came and celebrated with us (Cheryl and I have been friends since high school, were college roommates, bridesmaids in each others' weddings, etc.). It was great to see her, and our kids all hit it off! (that's mine, and hers, and my nephews)...

I got some GREAT gifts (candles, bubble bath, books, even birthday money), including some awesome Alabama stuff (my birthday always coincides with the football season kickoff, so I usually get some fun Alabama-themed gifts). I got earrings and a travel mug and a shirt and this cool jacket...

This picture cracked me up, because it looks like the kids are all very interested in this new set of washclothes I got. LOL...

The two Cheryls (tell me we don't look 40! We still think we're 20 on the inside!!)...

And then it was time for cake...

My request was Mom's homemade Italian Creme Cheese Cake. It was, as always, delicious...


We returned home in time to prepare for the Alabama vs. Clemson game, which was the primetime "big" game of the evening. I had a huge spread of food--buffalo wings, Mexican chicken, barbecue sandwiches, chips and dip, mississippi mud cake--although I have no pictures of them (just believe me, there was enough food for all of us and all of you!!). And then we got ready for The Game!!

We yelled and yelled, and jumped up and down, and high-fived, and yelled some more, and did cartwheels, and did "Roll Tides," and yelled some more (seriously, I had to record the game to watch again on Sunday afternoon, since I didn't hear one word that the commentators said the entire time!). And, yes, I even got an embarrassing picture of myself getting all excited after a great play (but, we're all friends here...so who am I to keep a silly picture like this all to myself?)


At halftime, Sydney invited everyone to the Football Tea Party in her room (she had talked about this tea party for WEEKS and the teenagers were all so sweet to come to the party, indulge her cuteness, and even drink from their cups with their pinkies held out properly).

Sometime during the second half, I asked the girls to act like the Clemson fans and players...who all looked incredibly dejected on the sidelines and in the stands. (Because...by the way, if I haven't mentioned it yet...Bama won 34-10 and looked dominating in every way!!!) This picture turned out to be my favorite!! LOL (I know, I know...I'm mean when it comes to my football!)

The partying continued on Sunday (my actual birthday, finally!!! LOL) with me getting my present from Gary and the girls. And, lookie at what I got!!! It is BEYOND cool!!


The Kindle is like an electronic book; you are automatically hooked up to Amazon and you can order books and they're directly downloaded to your Kindle. You turn pages, bookmark pages, etc.--it's just done electronically instead. It will never replace "real" books, but I can see how cool it would be to have on a trip (when you run out of books to read and need one) or when you're waiting at a doctor's office or whatever. The only downside I've discovered is that I can't take it into the bathtub with me!!

Along with the Kindle, the girls each bought me a "book" for it. Sydney got me The Host by Stephanie Meyer (which I started over the weekend and it is very good so far!); Delaney got me Janet Evanovich's new book; and McKenna got me The Book Thief, which looks very interesting.

The partying continued yesterday on Labor Day. We usually have a birthday tradition of going out bowling on my birthday, but we didn't do it for the first time in ages because my back has been killing me (is this what happens when I turn 40? My body starts falling apart!!!). So, we went to a movie and out to eat instead. And, yes, the entire wait staff had to sing Happy Birthday to me and bring me another goodie to eat (how much weight did I gain during this partying week? I don't want to know!). It was a sweet ending to a weekend full of birthday happiness!


I'm off to extend my celebrating just a little bit longer. I'm meeting a friend for lunch (she is a restaurant reviewer and we are trying out some Korean food) and then I'm going to go spend some of my birthday money at the scrapbook store. (Sydney and I are also shopping for cleats and shorts for her first softball practice...which I'm sure will be a whole entire blog post very soon! LOL)

I hope all of you had a wonderful, long weekend and that it was full of good things!

Talk to you all again real soon!

24 comments:

Jenster said...

Turning 40 should be a year-long celebration!!

hippo chick said...

You sure don't look 40! BTW, how does 40 look? What a fun weekend. I am so happy you shared this momentous occasion with all of us.

Happy Tuesday!!

~hippo hugs~
Pam

Monogram Queen said...

Sounds like a WONDERFUL time and I was dying during the Clemson game! My MIL was like "When did you turn into an Alabama fan?". hehehe....

camport said...

You really don't look 40! LOL over the teen tea party, too cute! And definately review the Kindle for us. My MIL has one and raves about it. Happy happy birthday!

:)

Kimberly said...

Happy birthday...how fun to celebrate for a week....I might have to do that for my birthday in a few weeks! Its funny how your body gets older with each birthday but your mind still thinks your eighteen! Have a super week!

Adrienne said...

Glad you had a good birthday!!!!!! We heard all the fun Saturday night! LOL

Anonymous said...

yeah...sydney is going to play softball!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

---will y'all be @ hoover central this weekend?

Auburn Kat said...

Happy Birthday (again)!!! It looks like you had a blast for your big day! I have to say that your family looks like they are a lot of fun!

BTW, I celebrated with cake on Sunday but I forgot to take pictures of it! It was delicious though!

~Telah said...

Boy, you really know how to celebrate!!

Cheryl said...

Oh girlfriend!! I missed your party! I have been on the lake since Friday and did not check my email so I totally missed it but I have loved the pictures you shared. We must have the same taste because I have a shirt just like you have, on the last picture!!hahaha Can you believe it?? I have shoes like your daughter (except for the color) and a shirt like yours. You and your friend definitely do NOT look 40. Where are your wrinkles?? I will be 50 on my next birthday and I have enough wrinkles for all of us!!haha Glad to hear you had a great week. Sounds like you had a happy birthday!!

Lain said...

These pics crack me up! Now, go check out my blog. Not only do I have a mini-album idea posted, there's also something else you will want to see. :)

Anonymous said...

OMG! Cheryl...just finally getting to catch up on your blog! Wow! That's right, you are an August birthday girl, too! My friends Crys and Moling just celebrated their birthdays, too. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!! So sorry I didn't get in here on time! HAPPY, HAPPY birthday to you! It must be awesome to turn 40 and look 20!

Nina Diane said...

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU Cheryl! Looks like the weekend (and the week) were lots of fun. And yeah, yeah, yeah to the upcoming football season!!!

Anonymous said...

You look great!! And it looks like such a fun birthday.

Linda said...

Hey girlie, so glad you have been having such a great time. Love all those pics, lots of fun. Hmmm, not sure about kids being that interested in washcloths, but then, you do never know.

I am diggin that Alabama Jacket... I may just have to become a fan.... Roll Tide!!!!!

Cheryl Wray said...

Jenster--I'm with you. Absolutely!!

Pam--You know, the older I get the more I realize that there's no way you "should" look at a certain age.

Patti--Woo Hoo!!! I am turning you into a Crimson Tide fan. I LOVE it!!!

Chrissy--I am really loving the Kindle so far.I'll have to give a real "review" of it later on.

Kimberly--I know, it's crazy! I still feel young on the inside (even though my body is, clearly, getting older. LOL)

Cheryl Wray said...

Adrienne--Ha ha!!! We probably DID get a little bit loud. :-) (It's hard to keep teenagers quiet!!)

Rhonda--Nope!! We'll be in Trussville NEXT weekend though.

Kat--I DO have a fun family, no doubt about it. And, mmmm, glad you enjoyd some cake this weekend.

Telah--Oh yeah! LOL

Cheryl Wray said...

Cheryl--LOL That is too funny--we both have good taste, huh? :-) I don't have wrinkles, but I have enough gray in my hair to make up for it.

Scraphappy--YAY! Going to check it out.

Maria--Hey girl!! I have missed seeing you online as often lately. Thanks for the sweet bday wishes!!!

Nina--Thanks!! Oh, yeah, loving football!!

Gin--WE had a blast!

Linda--Hey, come on and join the Bama bandwagon. :-)

Anonymous said...

shoot...i saw mustangs 97 on the list and thought that was y'all. Which team does D play for?

Dettao said...

Happy birthday! 40 was an awesome year for me and each one after (several more)has been even better. How old is Sydney? Our softball league didn't start until 7 here. I can hardly wait to hear how much she loves it. My Allison was all fired up after spending so many years watching her big sister play.

Grandma September said...

Happy birthday a couple of days late! My birthday is tomorrow! :)

And NO, you don't look 40. Sheesh! :)

Thanks for your comment on my blog. I think those papers are so yummy!

Love your kindle. Lucky you!

Edleen said...

you're looking really good for a 40yr old Cheryl! :)

wow...what a fun birthday week!!! you're truly Blessed :)

have more fun!

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

Happy birthday, you spring chicken!! lol I thought of you when I heard that Bama had won. GREAT victory. Very impressive. :)

Kari

Anonymous said...

OMG, I SO want some of that cake!!!