{Tiny Wings}

I can say with all honesty that my 40th birthday was the best birthday EVER.  Hand’s down.  Actually, since I fully intend to  S T R E T C H  it out for a few more days, there may be more to add to this re-cap as the week progresses! 

On Sunday, we had my parents over for a yummy dinner prepared by my fabulous husband.  Followed by my absolute favorite cake ever.  Yummy.  My parents gave me some birthday $$ and signed me up for the beginner’s knitting class I’ve been wanting to take!!  (Making progress on my list already!)

On Monday, I left work an hour early and came home to balloons, banners and Mike and the kids shouting “Surprise” at me!  Meghan was so excited about my birthday that she make Mike take her to the store so she could buy decorations.  Isn’t that the sweetest?? I was truly surprised!!

I was also greeted by some unexpected birthday cards from our parish priest, a former neighbor, and one of my dearest childhood friends  (that turned 40 a few weeks ago, herself! )

I spent the rest of the evening hanging out with my family, playing the Wii.  Apart from Mike hurting his shoulder on the skii jump and me nearly throwing my back out from doing the hoola-hoop, we had a blast.  (That is a sign of our advancing age, is it not??)

Yesterday, on my REAL birthday, Meghan made sure that she got up early so she could give me her present.  A few weeks ago, I picked up her favorite Ugly Doll (and mine, too) — Chuckanucka — and asked her if she was going to buy me the 2′ tall Chuck doll that I have wanted forever.  Yesterday morning, she handed me two presents:  a long tube and a lumpy package.  I opened the contents of the tube first, and found a larger-than-life drawing of Chuckanucka. Her Chuck doll was wrapped in the other package!  She was so proud of her inventiveness!!  I was, too!  I cannot wait to hang up my poster where it will surely make me smile every time I see it!

After Mike and I dropped the kids off at school, we headed up to Milwaukee to spend the day together in the Historic Third Ward.  It’s something we’ve been wanting to do for ages, and it was so much fun!

We started the morning off at a cute coffee shop with a mocha and some biscotti.

Then, we spend a few hours wandering around to all of the cool stores in the area.  I was pretty much in heaven . . . it was all of the things I love in 4 square blocks!! My favorite shop was my friend Tracie’s awesome store:  Broadway Paper.   I picked up a copy of She, which I’ve wanted for ages . . . and a sweet little book for Mike to remind him of our day together.  Mike loved the store, too.  He picked out the funniest cards for his parent for Mother & Father’s Day. I also enjoyed the great card selection and thought this card was pretty accurate and very “me”:

After we shopped, we ate lunch at a great place called the Water Buffalo.  And then we came home just in time for the kids to arrive home from school.  They let Mommy and Daddy nap on the couch briefly before we headed out to dinner at Noodles & Company (their fave!)

And when we returned, we fired up the Wii one more time!  And when I got on, it wished me a Happy Birthday!  LOL.  I felt so special!!

I feel so blessed that my family paid me so much attention on my birthday!!  I truly felt like a princess as they spoiled me this year.  They’re the best!!!!