So, come with me... on another journey if you'd like. Everyone likes a party right?! Well, here's a few years full of parties to enjoy...
Here it is, the start of my favorite holiday!
Happy 1st Birthday self! I know that's me... but isn't she "cute as a button"?! (notice the background scrapbook paper?) And I love that pink frilly dress.
Here we are, at my 3rd birthday party. I loved Sesame Street (notice the Sesame Street party hats and playhouse in the back left corner? Oh yeah.) That little blue/tan table we're gathered around still resides in my parent's basement.
(Mom and Dad- please take note I'd like to inherit that...)We licked up my favorite ice cream that day, mint chocolate chip. yummy.
Now, I'm not 100% sure on this, but I'm pretty sure this is my 4th birthday. And I'm still lovin' the birthday crowns. (check out below... my 23rd birthday)
And of course, now we visit the ever favorite Chuck E Cheese. Oh man, I loved that place! (and their pizza!) And then it's back to the house for one of my favorite gifts ever... the Jeep. So many memories were made cruisin' around in that 4 wheeled little beauty. (not only did I enjoy seeing my handwriting and scrap booking styles change, but it's fun to see the style of the house decorations change. Gotta love the 80's.)
My 6th Birthday- the year for Little Mermaid. (I was obsessed. and I did a pretty good Ariel if I do say so myself.) There's me with yet another birthday crown, and my sweet dog Dandy. I miss you Dandy. A lot of birthdays involved swimming, because unlike Ariel I wanted to be part of the water world. I'm on the left, you wont miss me... my swim suit is the one screaming at you in green.
We fast forward to my 8th Birthday and Beauty and the Beast. I really loved those princesses. This was the birthday of the bike. Isn't that one of the birthdays every kid dreams of? Or at least one of the presents... seeing it with a big ole' ribbon coming out from it's secret hiding place. Or, walking down the stairs and seeing Santa left one for you under your tree. Well if it's not part of every kids dreams then I'm not sure what would be... I loved that bike! And there's also one example of the amazing cakes my momma always made, she's so talented. My family always made birthdays so special.
Sadly, I think this is the last of the princess parties. This year I turned 9 and dressed like Snow White for the day and all my friends came as dwarfs. I think I remember going on a scavenger hunt this year, but I'm not sure. I know we swam, that's a given. And of course we ate another deliciously cute cake mom made.
Happy 9th birthday- yay! This is the year we went to the circus. Have I ever mentioned how much I love the circus? Well, I do- I love it lots and lots. We started the party at my older sister's dorm room with a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake. I'm pretty sure this is the year I was given my treasured Samantha. (All American Girl Doll) She was my baby.' I would sit and brush her hair, make sure she was dressed in just the right outfit... I cherished her. Then, at the circus I got to choose a friend to go down and be in a little parade in the spotlight. I remember being so nervous to choose a friend because there were 2 with me, so I'd automatically leave one out. To tell you the truth, I don't remember who I chose now... but, it was fun and the 3 of us girls and my family had a blast!
For my 10th birthday I was given a new bedroom set! I remember being so excited. And it was a big year because it was my first double digit year- my parents made that really special. That bedroom set had a good life. It was awesome too, it was a bunk bed but the bottom was a futon... so it was like I had my own couch to hang out on in my room. And a dresser and a desk to match too. I loved it! The dresser and desk both moved in with Jeff and I until we moved across the country... we sold them on good ole' Craigslist. The bed was passed on to a family- I remember the little girl was about the same age I was when I first got it. I hope she loved it as much as I did!
My 11th birthday was a flower theme. Every girl was given a name tag with the name of a flower on it and some small silk flowers inside. We had to call each other by our new flower names. Each time we said their real name, we had to take one of our little silk flowers out of our name tag and give it to the other girl. I don't think I was very good at that game. My mom always went all out... as you can tell by now I'm sure. That's a cake I'm sniffin... yes, a real cake with a garden of silks on top. As each girl left they were given a bag with a jar of candy, some flower stickers, a flower pen in a mini pot and another pot that we decorated. It's funny how much I still remember those gift bags... mom, do you still have that pot?
(and yeah, I know you're jealous of my bags... you should be.)
Here we are for my 12th birthday party! Let's go bowling!
And yes, that is a cake my mother made. A bowling pin- she's crazy and so creative... I love it!
(Mom, I probably didn't appreciate all of this as much as I should have during the moment and I'm sorry for that. Looking back on all of it now and knowing the work you must've gone through- wow. Thank you! And thanks to you too daddy for providing the mula!)
(can you find me? I'm the one in the orange with a silly white thing on the top of my head.... what is that?)
I'm not so sure about the next few years... 13, 14, 15. I know I had a swim party one year- but it wasn't at our house, it was up the street at the Rasmussen's. We didn't have our pool built yet. And I know there was a surprise party in the mix somewhere. (maybe that was part of the swim thing... I don't know.) But, I do know I loved them. and I'm grateful for my family for always making me feel so special.
(oh yum, i love ice cream cake!! Yeah, and I know those braces are super cool.... uh, right.)
My sweet 16! That was fun. I loved all of those balloons and the banner... and there was candy all over the floor. The "kid's play" mix with tootsie rolls, I LOVE that mix- I don't really know why I like it so much but I do, I do. We also had a sleepover this night and did a midnight frosty run to Wendy's. I'm not sure how I remember that- but then I can't really recall my 13th, 14th and 15th birthdays... but maybe it's because food's involved, who knows.
My 17th, 18th and 19th sort of fall into that category with the 13th, 14th and 15th. I remember one of those birthdays (maybe my 18th?) I was living in Florida and my family sent me a birthday in a box. It was awesome, I loved it! I opened up the box and a balloon almost punched me in the face! The box was full of party hats and noise makers, candy and confetti... and presents too. That was a lot of fun. I remember feeling like it was going to be such a different birthday not being "home"- this was my first away from home... and it was great thanks to a birthday in a box and the Packer people.
I was turnin' 20! This year Jeffy celebrated with us. Bryan (jeff's brother) was there too. We swam- see, I told ya I liked to swim on my birthdays. And we had a barbecue with the family. Mom made a delicious brownie/cheesecake... oh man, my mouth waters just thinking about it. Wish I could eat that tomorrow!
The big ole' 21 came with a surprise trip to Disney World- the happiest place on earth! And a giant card made by my sweet class I loved so much (yes, I'm wearing a birthday crown and sitting at a mini table...and yeah, I know I look like a goof). And a delicious (and I mean really delicious) chocolate cake made by Chef Rand.
Jeffy surprised me with a trip to the beautiful Savannah Georgia for my 22nd. The picture on the left is technically on my birthday because it was so late, or so early- however you wanna look at it. We had a yummy snack of Teddy Grahams and milk- oh we love that. And the next morning we were off! If you haven't been to Savannah, I highly recommend it. It is filled with shopping and photos waiting to be taken... and candy stores, you know how I loved that!
and now... my 23rd. It was the day I was a pampered princess. A massage, a manicure and a trip to one of my favorite restaurants. It was wonderful! And- once again, I'm proudly sportin' the birthday crown. (this is one of my favorites though, handmade by the one and only Jeff) We also got to spend time with the Packer family eating yummy food and homemade ice cream. Look how much those kids have grown!
and soon there will be another year of pictures to post... but until then, I need to get some rest. That was a lot of fun, but so many parties has me plum tuckered out...
what's your favorite way to spend your birthday?
i just finished this book. the first i've read by markus zusak, but i am now interested in reading another. i've heard this is one of his serious ones and that his others are funny. and yes, this was a serious book. it took me a minute to get it... but then it grabbed me. 
i have also recently read "A Thousand Splendid Suns". Once again, a book that tugs on my emotions. I haven't ever given much thought to the life lived in Afghanistan, and after this book i feel a compassion towards the women there i didn't know i had. constantly living a life in fear and uncertainty leaves much to be desired, a life i can not imagine.
