Err...Surprise?

So I said goodbye to 33 last Friday.  I know it would be too much to say that I feel a little bit like Jesus did during his thirty-third year. Yet, I do feel that I was finally able to begin letting go of the old me (full of hurt and disappointment) and, with faith, resurrect the new me that clings to hope and love.   

Before we get into the birthday recap, we've got some catching up to do.  JOHN THOMAS IS OFFICIALLY POTTY TRAINED!  He loves wearing his new superhero undies and he is doing such a great job, which has proven to be a gift to us all!

The annual Bradley houseboat blowout was just a couple weeks ago.  I think it was just supposed to be my parents and the the Bradley's, but I invited us along and I have discovered that it is getting increasingly hard to say no to my very cute lil boy.  As usual, we all had a blast!  Thanks Nana Gay and Tony!

We also had to help my dad celebrate birthday number 64!  We spent the day helping my parents move into their new house in Kodak and then they treated us to dinner!  There are so many things I love about my dad; his humor, his work ethic, his hugs. But one thing I am noticing more and more is that no matter how old I get, what mistakes I've made, he still looks at me with pride in his eyes and love in his heart.  His love is a difference-maker.  Thanks dad, happy birthday, and I love you!

 Dad's birthday wish was that we come help haul off decades worth of accumulated furniture.  Jeff and I loaded a trailer and truck to the gills and have spent hours trying to unload, throw away and donate all of it.  One strained back and lots of ibuprofen later, it is done.

The best boyfriend of the year award has to go to Jeff!  He was scheduled to work, but decided to play hooky and throw me a surprise birthday party.  I have proven to be incredibly hard to surprise, so he ended up having to spill the beans early just to get me to play along.  I love that my birthday fell on a Friday, so I got to extend the celebration all weekend :).

 Thursday night, we headed out with Tia and Wes to hear a band.  Maybe I'm going to be more bold in my 34th year because I danced, I sang, and the whole joint serenaded me with a happy birthday song.  Thanks friends for helping me ring in the big 3-0 for the fourth time!

 All day long on Friday, I felt special.  Jeff did all the entertaining, my besties came up with their kiddos to play, my parents made it to the party and fun was had by all!  I think I set a personal record for birthday cards, texts and phone calls received from friends and family too!   Thanks everyone for making me feel so loved. You all are the true gift to me on my birthday and always. Speaking of gifts, I hit the jackpot!  Jewelry, clothes, money...  Best. Birthday. Ever.

There are lots of famous people who have the same birthday as me, namely Sandra Bullock (notice the resemblance?) and Mick Jagger (yes, I had moves like Jagger on Thursday night).  But I love that I share my birthday with sweet Charlotte more than all the rest!  She is probably going to make that list of celebrity birthdays one day as a famous singer or actress!  Happy birthday Charlotte, we love you!

 Cutest pic of the day!  These three kiddos have no choice but to love each other, just like their momma's do!

 Here is the recap of the candle blowout.  Big inhale...

and exhale!  

If you ever get a card from John Thomas, know that he picks them out himself and he is selective.  Jeff said that John Thomas had tossed nearly ten cards on the floor as rejects before he found the perfect card for his mommy.  He was so eager to see me open it.  Such a precious little boy, he makes my heart melt!

Pure joy

This is how I will remember my summer: Full of fun, new love, time with my sweet boy, skiing, beautiful sunsets, and new memories.  It's as if the I have turned the first few pages in the next chapter of my life and the story is so good, I can't put the book down.

Life's a Beach

You know how they say, "time flies when you're having fun"?  This summer has been living proof of that!  I cannot believe that a month from today I will be back in my classroom!

Besides going to the beach, which I will recap in a sec, we have gotten to celebrate a birthday, a holiday, and a wedding in the last three weeks!  I'm gonna pretend that we earned our vacation :).  Congratulations Rachel and Justin Link!  Jeff and I had a blast helping you celebrate your beautiful day as you start the most amazing adventure of your life!

John Thomas' dear buddy, Dare (on the right) turned the big three just a few weeks ago.  We helped extend his celebration with a Mexican feast, sparklers and fireworks!  The Smith boys and the Smith household are always a blast (so to speak)!  

 Brody and Dare are all boy and John Thomas LOVES spending time with them!

Thanks Smith family for always being the bomb (hahaha, I'm cracking myself up)! And happy birthday Dare!  We love you!

 We've been looking forward to Edisto for months!  This picture above says it all...we LOVED it!  The weather and the company were hard to beat!

I am thankful that Jeff, Wes and Tia were able to join John Thomas and I this year for our family vacation.  You should have seen all the pictures leading up to this one.  We were all hungry and John Thomas kept trying to sneak off in the sea grass to go to the bathroom.  Nonetheless, John Thomas loved hanging with the boys, digging holes, crab hunting, and goof-balling around.

I'm pretty sure he had his first crush on Mrs. Tia!  Affection well placed, because they were both so sweet with him.  Thanks guys for sharing the week with us!

And these two boys couldn't have had more fun!

 Find crabs, name them (Penny), and let them go...  Repeat.

Here is Jeff playing like a kid.  His back may or may not have been hurting on the way home :).

Check out these thumbs up!  Like I said, his back may or may not have been hurting on the way home.

 In an effort to spare you all bathing suit pics, I have craftily chosen pics where I am conspicuously covered.  You're welcome :).

 We spent several hours every day at the pool and at the beach.  I love how John Thomas brings out the kid in all of us!  We ate great food, laughed a lot, rested, played cards, and most importantly had the best time just being together!

In all of it's splendor, the beach always makes me feel small.  I love this.  God created a majestic playground for all of us to enjoy and all we have to remember to do is look up and say "thank you" and "I love you too."