Quarter of a Century!!!

Guess who turned 25??? Happy Birthday to me :-)

One of the best birthday's yet and definitely better than last year (very uncomfortable, huge and pregnant, solely focused on getting baby here).

One of my best friends (Necia Gooch) gave me these beautiful purple tulips about a week before my bday because she was going to be out of town for my actual birthday. They lasted right until I got these...These were from my other dear friend and Visiting Teaching companion, Celina Charles. She is one of my dearest friends and I will forever treasure the friendship that has developed over the past 2 years. A lot has happened in each of our lives and we have been so grateful to have each other as constant support. We went out to lunch for my birthday and she brought me these gorgeous flowers. Also, thank you everyone for the cards and bday wishes all day long!

I woke up to a beautiful breakfast on the table! With scrambled eggs and the whole bit!! I assume Hailey made those, but I'll give John the benefit of the doubt!! John remember my favorite sugar cereal is Cinnamon Toast Crunch so there was a HUGE box of it waiting for me to eat endless bowls all birthday long :-) And as always, "The Red Letter Plate".

Family tradition:
"When someone in your family deserves a big hooray, just put this on the table for their big red letter day!"... hence the Red Place Setting for my bday because afterall, its my special day!!

The morning was spent with my adorable kids, then I met Hailey, Celina Charles, and Becky Adams at one of my favorite places here in Durham... Fosters. It's a FABULOUS sandwich, soup, bakery place that I just can't get enough of.

Later that afternoon I got to play Star Wars with my favorite kids!! (Every Monday I watch Lily for a few hours)

We hurried home to celebrate with the Hailey and John before mommy and Daddy's hot "gate" as Jack calls it. When I walked in the entire house has balloons all over the place, it was spotless clean (not at all how I left it) and presents on the table. They are too good to me!
My sweet sister, AmyLyn always does something super thoughtful for my birthday. One year she sent me flowers, last year she ordered 2 dozen chocolate covered strawberries from edible arrangements, and THIS year she found a gourmet cookie shop (conveniently on Duke campus) and John brought them home to me. They were SOOO yummy. Thanks Aim.

Apparently Jonah had one focus... MUST. EAT. CAKE!

John gave me this beautiful pearl necklace and earrings!!

And then he told me they were REAL... then I felt so fancy! I've always wanted a strand of real pearls.

We ended the night by eating dinner at the Melting Pot (Thanks Hailey for the gift card!!) Then we went and saw "Alice in Wonderland". We were the ONLY ones in the entire theater. It was very romantic :-)

My 25th birthday will be a hard one to beat! It was such a great birthday and it's not over yet. The next day... pedicures with Hailey.