Mommy's Birthday! May 14th!

Happy Birthday to me! Here is part of my card from the kids:

Well, I my birthday was on May 14th. I actually had forgotten about it the couple of days up to it. We celebrated w/family over Mother's day weekend and when my birthday rolled around mid-week, well, I was just consumed with every day life and had forgotten until I got a voicemail from my Grandma Van the night before. What a lovely surprise. And I was like, "Oh, yea, it's my birthday tomorrow." Although I love my life and am so happy I have survived another year (haha!) birthdays are just not the same. I don't feel my age (you'll have to ask me if you don't already know!) and I think it sounds wierd actually, to say my new age. So, anywho, the highlight of my actual birthday was when I picked Natalie up from preschool and I looked thru her backpack and saw this:

She is writing so well now. Neat too, for her age, I think. Anyway, she said her teacher whispered in her ear "Your's in the best one!" So, I decided to surprise her and we went to McDonald's for ICE CREAM! We always go thru the drive thru unless we are having a special day where we go in to the McDonald's w/the Playland. But, we were just going to our local MD's so I parked, got all 3 kids out of the van, went in, got a high chair for Ry, discussed with the girls what they wanted (cone, sundae) and went to place our order and they said "The ice cream machine isn't working right now." I was like, you've gotta be kiddin' me! So we had cheeseburgers and chocolate cookies instead. It was a special day, not because of my birthday, but because of what Natalie is accomplishing in her little life and I love taking moments like this to celebrate the small stuff. Thanks Natalie, for making it so easy on Mommy and Daddy. You are so sweet, smart and sassy! We love you!

I didn't get a really good picture of Ry at McD's, so here he is enjoying his nutritious, delicious dinner and lookin' really cute while doing so: