It's my Birthday and a BIG surprise

Today I woke up 51 years old. It's hard to believe because it just seems like yesterday I was driving back to Iowa from San Diego ready to make a new life with my new husband on my 30th birthday.

It was an awesome day! I wanted to sleep in but our friend Paul called at 7:00am because he wanted to be the first person to wish me a happy birthday. Then a half hour later, my Uncle Dic also called in a happy birthday. After that, I just decided to get up.

I opened my presents from my boys. They did good, they got me this:



with a new arm band and ear plugs. I'm stoked because it's 8Gigs and holds 2000 songs or 8 hours of video plus photos. Something my old, old nano did not do. My iPod is what makes my walking and workouts tolerable and I can't imagine not having one. It's funny, a few years ago I couldn't imagine why I would own one???

I spent a couple of hours getting everything I wanted downloaded to it and then I took off for Payless Shoe Store and an hour later I walked out with these - in black:



I'm going to wear them next month when we go to Iowa City to see Kathy Griffin.

After Payless, I hit Merle Hay Mall for Younker's annual Goodwill Sale. I had a few articles of clothing to turn in for 20% off coupons and what's special about this sale, it's the only time that you can use coupons for cosmetics and perfume. I was bummed the Clinque didn't have the blush I wanted, but I scored some things for Fred and Connor. One Nautica shirt for Fred, $54.00 regular, I paid $19.00 and a beautiful Lynn & Scott dress shirt that retailed for $65.00 for $20.00. Man, do I love to find bargains like that. I also found a really cute graphic tee for Connor that only cost me $8.99 down from $22.00.

I had to stop at Target also because my niece Chloe has a birthday coming up on October 5th and I wanted to get her gift purchased also. I found what I was looking for plus a bunch of cute little things in the dollar spot. I gotta stay away from there....LOL.

I headed up to Memory Bound in Ankeny after that to pick up a Bo Bunny Press My Word Baby chipboard album that I'm going to make for a co-worker who is expecting her first baby in December. I had all the time in the world, so I also looked around for awhile. Lots of cute new things, but I'm bound and determined to use what I have, so I only bought a few sheets of some new My Mind's Eye patterned paper. I actually got out of there for $22.00.

I headed home so I could be there when Connor got home from school and Fred was getting off early because our plans this evening were to meet my brother (who I share a birthday with, I'm 5 years, 3 minutes apart), my brother's friend, Craig and our friend Paul for dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant in Pleasant Hill called "El Azteca".

Here's where the surprise comes in. So were sitting there, just had our margarita's delivered and we just gave our orders when I look up and I see my dad and stepmom's best friends, Ron and Darlene. Once it registers that it's them, I'm thinking to myself "Cool, there's Ron and Darlene, I'm going to get a chance to chat with them" and then at the same time, my brother and I realize that our dad is standing right behind them! What a surprise!

For those of you who don't know or have forgotten, my dad lives in Las Vegas and we don't get to see him alot, although in the last year he's been back more than he ever has. Everyone said later that the look on my brother's and I's faces was priceless. It's rare that someone can surprise me because I really don't like them, but this time it was way cool! My dad is here until the 29th, so we have plenty of time to get together. We had a great time at dinner and now two margaritas and one shot of Tequila later, I'm feeling rather good and thought I would try my hand at drunk blogging...LOL!

I am SO glad I have tomorrow off.