30 Days of Thanks Catch Up

30 Days of Thanks is really showing how poorly I've been at blogging lately.  I have four days of catch up!  Sorry!!

14th:  College Friends ~  Without a doubt my experience living with my roommates at Quinnipiac has changed my life.  I was blessed to have such wonderful ladies in my life.  Life has since gotten in the way of us all seeing each other very often but the memories we created together forever make me smile.  I fondly think back on the silly things we did and am so grateful to have those memories when things are chaotic in my life.  I know each one of those girls would drop what they were doing if I said I needed them and that is pretty awesome to know.  So ladies, Thank You for all the fun, laughter, love and shoulders to cry on!

Becky, Laura, Deb and I at the CF walk May 2011 

Sarah and I at her son Jack's 1st birthday party 

15th:  My parents ~ I am blessed to have parents in my life that have forever been role models to me.  I always say the best thing they ever did for me was to guide me by their great example in all aspects of life.  Their love for each other, their friends and their children have taught me about the great importances in life.  They are supportive of me and my family.  They love my children with their whole hearts and I am so very thankful they live just five minutes down the road.

I don't even know if my mom likes this picture
but I'm obsessed with how cute it is!
(they're waving to santa arriving last year from a helicopter)

Gracie and Granddad moments before the cops arrived because
Gracie called 911!

16th:  My In-Laws ~ Or as Braden and Gracie call them, "Grana and Poppy".  Never did I think when I got married that I would be so lucky to have a second set of parents that are so great.  They welcomed me into their lives (and home!) immediately and I have never had to question their love for me.  I'm lucky to have the kind of relationship with them where we talk on the phone, share all aspects of our lives and look forward to being together as much as possible.  I am so thankful for all of their love, support, guidance and fun that they bring to my life!

Christmas 2010 ~ how cute is everyone?

17th:  My Brother & Sister-in-Law ~ Michael and Crista are two amazing pieces to my life.  They have an amazing love for each other, their friends and their siblings.  I look forward to being with them, miss them when it's been awhile since I've seen them and am filled with happiness when I am with them. I am thankful they life close by and we can share the "little things" in life so easily.  The love and joy they provide in my children's lives is something I can barely put into words.  The way Braden's face lights up knowing that Uncle Michael and Aunt Crista are coming over is adorable.  I am so grateful for that simple gift of joy they have given him in his life.  It has been a amazing, over the last four months, to watch them grow into loving parents to their own daughter, Anna.  I only hope that I can provide the same amount of happiness and pleasure into her life as they have into my children's!

Gracie, Uncle Michael and Aunt Crista giggling!

Uncle Michael continuing the tradition my uncle
started with us - jumping off the top of the fridge!

Happy Birthday to....Me!

Thirty-One wonderful years ago (yesterday - I had too much fun celebrating that I didn't get a chance to post this!) my dear mother gave birth to the one and only...ME!

For 31 years I have enjoyed celebrating my birthday as big as can be!  I'm an attention lover - so this day is the best of the year for me.  It's all about me!  Ha - I think it's taken me 31 years to be able to say that out loud without feeling guilty :)  I mean, why not... I love this "holiday".  I love everyone calling and wishing me a happy day.  I love getting cards in the mail.  I love presents and flowers and all the special thoughts that people give me and, of course, I love the cake and ice cream that goes along with celebrating!  Ever since I was a little kid, I have always felt like the world has stopped and it's a day all about me (thanks mom and dad!).  I think every person should feel this way on their birthday.

Luckily for me my handsome hubby subscribes to the same birthday philosophy as my parents do and has treated me like a queen every birthday that we've spent together.  He has created amazing birthdays for me every year.  On my first birthday we were together he baked me a purple birthday cake and it has become tradition since.  His creations get better and better with each cake he's made.

Every year I am baked the most yummy and most purple 

birthday cake you can hope for.  Pete is quite the "cake boss" and has the ability to decorate a cake better than anyone I know.  On top of my annual cake that I have to look forward to, he always gets me amazing presents (which he wraps better than anyone I know.  He makes me dinner, cleans the kitchen and lets me do whatever I want.  He allows me to drag my holiday out across the week it falls.  I know what you are thinking - how did I get so lucky and where can you find someone like that - sorry ladies, he's mine!

This year my birthday week is filled with love from family and friends across my life.  I'm so lucky to have each and every one of you and am grateful for all the love and celebration you are providing for me this week!