Happy Birthday to ME

Today is my birthday. I hit the big 5-0 Yep. I can't believe it. It hit me really hard when I turned 40, but this isn't quite so bad. Now I just laugh. It's just a number. I feel a lot better than when I was in my 20's and 30's. I wish that I knew as much then as I do now. I wish that I had as much confidence. And that I didn't worry as much about what people thought. I I have grown so much over the years. I didn't know that growning older was going to be such a blessing. On Saturday, we celebrated my birthday with my family. Here I am with 50 balloons. I'm surprised that I am not being lifted off the ground. lol. Here are some of the special people in my life who were there to celebrate with me.

Left to right are: My sister-in-law Diane, Jennifer's Mother-in-law Tammy, Me, My sisters Chris and Lynnette.
My son Ryan and his adorable girlfriend, Katie.My daughter, Jennifer. Jennifer's daughter and my grand-daughter, Lexi. Lexi and her Dad, Ryan
Lynnette's husband Filemon with my husband, Bill

Brother-in-law, Chet and Diane.Chris' husband John with son Brian and daughter Riley.Christina and Brian with daughter, TaylorTaylor and Lexi Chris' son ChristopherChristopher's wife Aggie and daughter ArianaChristopher and Aggie's daughter JocelynLynnette with husband Filemon and daughter Miranda

Miranda's son AidenFilemone and Lynnette's twin boys Milesand DiegoChris' daughter Yvette

Yvette's husband Edgar Yvette and Edgar's son Chase Yvette's daughter Nikki
Lexi and Taylor

Miranda and Jennifer

Jennifer and me

Thank goodness they didn't put 50 candles on the cake!!! It was a Champagne cake with Chocolate Fudge filling. Yum

At the end of the party, the children set the balloons free.

Off they go and another year gone by

Easter Cupcakes

Lexi and I had a fun morning. When she got up we made these adorable Easter Cupcakes. They were very easy to make. I started with a store bought white cake mix and butter cream frosting. I made the cupcakes following the package directions. When they were cool, I mixed green food coloring into the frosting and spread it on one of the cupcakes. Then I placed a Peep in the middle and candy eggs around the sides. While the frosting was still wet, I sprinkled on green flaked coconut that I had made by stiring in green food coloring. I continued this process with each of the cupcakes. Lexi loved making these, and she can't wait to share them with her cousins tomorrow.

Yosemite

Sorry I haven't posted anything all weekend. Bill and I went to Yosemite. We drove up early Friday morning and came home Saturday night. We had the best time. The weather was a little cool and drizzly, but with the right clothes it was just perfect. On Saturday we hiked to Yosemite Falls. There is an upper and a lower fall. The word that I used to describe them was Majestic". The falls were so lound that your couldn't hear anything else around. On Saturday morning, I got up very early and went on a two mile hike to Mirror Lake. There was nobody around. Just me and the sweet sounds of the birds singing. It was so peaceful. When I got there, I sat on a rock and enjoyed the beauty around me. I was able to call Bill on his cell phone and he came to meet me. We and saw a young buck and he was not afraid of us.Afterwards we walked along the raging creek and it started to rain. So we headed back to our Cottage at the Ahwanee Hotel. Once, in our room, it felt so good to dry off in front of the fire that we got going in our fireplace.

We later visited Bridal Veil Falls and then headed home.

Favorite Animals Circle Journal

I belong to a Circle Journal Group at work. If you don't know what that is, I will tell you. In this group, each member has her own scrapbook and decides on a theme for it. This one is of your favorite animals. Each book gets passed around to all 12 members of the group. At the end of the year you get your book back and get to look at the pages that each person has created. I can't wait to see mine. My theme is called "Lazy Days of Summer". I have to remember which ones that I have left to do. Here is the list: Ten Favorite Things(done), Flowers of the Heart, My Favorite Things(done), Art,Where do you find it in your life?, Babies, Travel, Pets/Animals(done), How do you spend your free time?(done), Favorite Recipies(done), Faith (done)

My Boom-di-ada Worshop

Today was my Boom-Di-Ada Workshop. Fran and Jackie came over. I don't know what happened to Nikki and Yvette. Tomorrow I have Amy and her mother coming over. It worked out to have a small group, because Fran had to bring two year old Melanie. And, you know toddlers, they can only last so long. I did half of Fran's layouts and she did the other half. She was very greatful. Jackie brought the pictures from her daughter's Senior Ball and put them into her layouts. I wish that I had taken pictures, because they turned out so beautiful. Here is a picture of Fran and Jackie in my "scrap room" AKA "Dining Room". And, then a picture of me and Jackie (my BFF) :)