My "29th" Birthday...for the 13th time :)

Okay, so I changed my mind...one last post before Christmas!  As of December 12th, 2014, I'm 42.  You really didn't think I was 29, did you?  I made it to 42.  I don't feel 42.  I feel like if I keep typing "42" it will sound less "old."  So, here I sit.  At age 42, getting ready to share pictures of me, at, well, 42.  :)

I had one of my most favorite birthday "weeks" ever.  It was a week of indulgence with family, the best of friends, lots and lots of laughter, wine (duh) and way too much food.  From The Terrace Cafe, to Taco Mac, to Flemings, to Liberty, to Blackfinn, and even to Moosehead, it was a week I will always remember.  (Sidenote, is it a sign that most of my birthday gifts came in the form of wine bottles?  Haha....thank you, everyone, for re-stocking my wine supply!)

At Flemings Steakhouse, at the Epicentre...yes, we were "those" people who brought little kids into a really nice restaurant.  The manager came up to our table a couple times just to tell us how impressed he was with our "chill" kids.  Proud mommy moment right here!  They did awesome, and we were there well after their bedtimes.

Brian and I went to a "casino" night Christmas party, given by one of the engineering firms, who does work with him at UNCC. "Optima."  I learned that I suck at Craps (and still don't understand how the hell to bet!) but that I'm decent at Blackjack, especially when I'm playing with fake money :)  You get a little more aggressive when it doesn't really count.  One of these days I'll be sure to lose lots of money in Vegas, and get that trip checked off my bucket list!  Anyway, while we were there, we made friends with some really fun couples, and I may even have someone new to run with.  I even met one of my mom's friends from church. Yay!

I know.  The tongue.  I think it's become an unfortunate reaction to cameras.

After losing all of "our" money, we headed to The Liberty to grab a bite to eat and see my old friend, Leisure McCorkle play.  It's not officially the holiday season until I get to see Lee play! (And a HUGE thanks to our friends, JC and Ashley for babysitting the little munchkins so we could go out!)

Once we got home, the birthday celebration started...or continued.  I'm not sure.  Anyway, it was too much fun with JC and Ashley.

I'll never tell about what's going on here...

Friday, December 12th (my actual 42nd birthday).  OMG, I'm 42!  Anyway, that day, before we headed out, we took a few pictures...

Gorgeous roses from Brian

This is her "serious" look

These two bring me so much joy!

Like Mother, Like Son...that tongue!

And here's what a 42 year old looks like.  Yep, I turned 42 on this day. (I'm not sure if the repetition of "42" is quite helping yet!)

That evening we got on the light rail with the kids and headed to the Epicentre for dinner.  It was an absolutely gorgeous night.  Perfect for walking around uptown and seeing Christmas lights.

They love taking the "train"

We went to Blackfinn.  On a Friday.  Holiday Season.  At dinnertime.  A little bit of a wait was an understatement...so once again, we were "those" people with babies at a bar.  Brian and I met some really cool men who gave up their bar stools for us, gave the kids some warm pretzels, and even offered to buy us drinks.  Thank you perfectly random strangers :)  We were finally seated around 7:30pm.  Kids, once again, did awesome.  I even got a surprise visit from my friend, Missy Davis Miller, who lives in Wilmington.  She and Terry were in town for his office Christmas party.  I've known Missy since we were in 1st grade!  Love that girl!  Anyway, post dinner (again, after bedtimes) we walked to the ice skating rink.  Please keep in mind that Brian has a walking boot on his foot from the Turkey Day injury.  That leaves a ratio of one parent to two small kids, on ice.  Well, small in that they are young.  DEFINITELY NOT small as in lightweight.  Holy cow.  Anyway, the three of us learned how to walk on the soft surface, Griffin and I attempted (yes, attempted) to actually ice skate.  Let's just say it was entertaining for everyone around.  I haven't been on ice skates since I was a kid.  He thought it was hilarious to throw his weight backwards and his feet forwards.  I basically ended up carrying him, trying not to kill us both.  Here we are.  All smiles.  One was real.  One was forced.  My.Back.Hurt!  And my forearms.  But, it was TOTALLY worth it.  HE LOVED IT.

We saw this car (and Santa) driving down I77 when we were on our way to the light rail.  We found its destination :)

Griffin's skates were a toddler size 9, which was the smallest they go (also his size)...they were the CUTEST things.  Ever!

So far, so good!  "This is easy, mom!"

Ready for the ice!  At least one of us is...

This stuff is slippery!  Yep, I told you so.

It took me a good quarter lap to actually let go of the side rail.  I did NOT want to get hurt before my upcoming snowboard trips!

Little man down!

okay, please let me just get back to brian for the trade-off in one piece...

We made it!!  YAY!

Made it, a little easier, around with Payton

I told her to sit with her daddy while I gave Griffin a turn.  She decided she wanted to stay out on the ice, by herself, and try.  Within 2 minutes she had made friends with 3 older girls.  Thankfully, they thought she was cute and they were MORE than willing to continue "babysitting" her the rest of the evening.  So Griffin and I were able to stay out together while Payton and her friends, cleared holes in the crowd (from falling!)

Yet somehow still all smiles...

All said and done, ice skating was fun.  I was worn out.  My forearms had no feeling in them, and my feet hurt (ice skates are no joke!)  We turned in our skates, walked to the train station, and got the kids in bed by 11pm.  We were in bed right after...WHAT.A.BIRTHDAY!  Oh, in case you forgot, it was my 42nd birthday ;)

Well, you didn't think I could let a birthday go by without a party with my friends, did you?  I planned a friend's "December birthday" combo celebration.  We had a blast.  Truly, truly I couldn't ask for a better group of friends.  Everyone had a great time, and the cake was definitely the highlight!  Katie and I went to get makeovers at MAC (in between doing a million other last minute preparations, pick ups, drop offs, hair curling...you get the picture).  It was so much fun relaxing and being pampered...we definitely felt like celebrities, if only for an hour!

Evan (holding "his" Soulcraft wakesurf board), Matt "driving," and Katie and me double surfing :)  Such a cool cake!  My cake lady rocks!

This makes me laugh...

We got it done...yay!  Now off to the party!

Evan, Sydney, and Chris

Monika, Me, Natasha

Andy and Me with "G-Man," who prepared our awesome meal!

Brittany!

Brittany, Me, Andy, and Chris

Dr. Rob and Megan

I had the wakesurf board designed to be exactly like Evan's!

Happy December birthdays to us!!  Evan, Katie, Me, and Matt

Aaaaand, here comes the photobomber!

I'm glad these faces didn't stick!

Bree, Me, Kim, Brent, Ash, and Blake

Thank you to all of you who came out (including all those who aren't pictured!) who made it a very special #29thbirthdayforthe13thtime  Much love to you all!

I love these beautiful ladies!  This is what 43, 42, and 39 looks like.  Pretty hot, if I do say so myself!

And just like that...birthday week ends, and the 12 days of Christmas begin.  I hope each and every one of you has a very Merry Christmas, and a very safe, and fun New Year's.  I'll be getting my 42 year old "ride" on!  I hope Mother Nature cooperates and sends massive amounts of snow up to the mountains :) xo