The best birthday a 30 year old could ask for...

Well, there, I said it. I am officially 30 as of yesterday...ugh...I just threw up in my mouth a little. I can't believe I'm 30!! As a wise, yet sarcastic gem just told me..."You're closer to 40 than 20". RIIIIGGGHHHT. Thanks for the reminder! At least I still giggle when I hear a toot or make faces at kids to make them laugh. I don't feel old- I've kind of been prepping this whole year for this birthday, as so I wouldn't have a mental breakdown and digress back into childhood and throw a temper tantrum "I don't want to be 30... I. (sniffle) DON'T. (sniffle) WANT. (sniffle) TO.(sniffle) BE. (sniffle) 30. (long sigh and another sniffle). You get the point.

However, this birthday I can honestly say has been my favorite birthday to date. This is why...

I came downstairs yesterday morning to find it all decorated and a note from Blake (and Jovie) to wish me a happy 30th birthday.

Then, some friends at work treated me to lunch at the Olive Garden. Soup. Salad. and Breadsticks- yum. Thanks Lisa Marie and Gwyn!

Next, my teammates from work brought cake and sang to me...that was yummy and embarrassing (I hate being put in the spotlight unless I'm doing it on my own terms)

When I got home from work we got ready to have our friends over to celebrate...

Catered bbq from Waldo's ...

Pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad just happens to be my favorite..

And hanging with my hardest peeps also rocks... The Dentons, Reeds, and Turleys...
Also, hanging with the Baldwins, Hajax and Jovie is great fun too...

Fatcat just kickin it Jovie style...

And I actually really enjoyed baking two cakes for the party... my all-time fave (homemade...yes from scratch, not a box) carrot cake...and coming in close second is a funfetti cake (boxed- of course!)... making a wish...

and being congratulated for making a wish and blowing out all the candles...

btw- Anybody know where the tradition of clapping comes from after blowing out all the candles? Weirdest thing, right?

My little family all happy to have made it through my big day.

Just a side note * Not to make all the ladies jealous- but I truly do have the sweetest, most thoughtful and resourceful husbands out there. This morning he had made reservations to have breakfast at one of my favorite places- T.C. Eggingtons! It was so delicious! I couldn't have asked for better Parlor Potatoes and English Toast with a French Flair (a fancy name for french toast).

After breakfast we went to our little buddy Owen's 3rd birthday party. He was so cute. He loved blowing out his 3 candles.

When we returned home this afternoon from a day of partying and spending a bit of birthday money at Old Navy on some post-Jovie clothes...I just didn't get it...I didn't remember leaving the house with it smelling like clorox...wait a sec. Blake said my other present was coming today- well he (secretly) hired a housekeeper to come over once a month until I finish school in April (and he had left a key under the mat for her to come over while we were out on the town!)

No words could describe how I felt coming home to an immaculately clean home...where dishes are all put away...junk is neatly stacked in little piles...the carpet is vacuumed...the toilets are sparkling...the bed is made...ohhhhh, and the WHITE laundry is folded?!?!? Oh shiz. That. IS. embarrassing. I hope you understand what I mean without having to spell it out. Oh, well. I guess that is what she meant when she said she "does it all".

***Note to self. Put all the laundry away before said housekeeper comes over- so as to avoid any future awkwardness***

Thank you to EVERYBODY who made this birthday so special for me. No need to name names...you know who you are. Don't worry Blake, I don't expect you to outdo yourself on any of my other birthdays...you're exempt. I love you. THANK YOU SO MUCH!