MY birthday

6:30am or so:  woke up to be treated to breakfast in bed - with a side of balloons, flowers, cards and gifts. 

9:00am:  i take little sister to her basketball game, daddy takes big sister to her cheer game.  after the game, little sister gets her team/coaches/parents to sing "happy birthday" to me.  (i'm just a tad embarrassed, especially at the part where you say my name, everyone got quiet and one little girl bravely said "melanie's mooommm").  little sister has her cheer game at 10:30am, so we hang out at the school where her first game was waiting...

11:25am:  little sister and i return home, and to my surprise - daddy has arranged for a babysitter so that he and i can go out to lunch.  (thanks, aunt sharman!)

12 noon:  daddy and i start to enjoy our adults-only lunch

12:45pm:  daddy takes me shopping for a new rug for the dining room (something i have been wanting but not prioritizing).  we also pick up 2 christmas trees on clearance for 90% off (paid about $15 total)!

2:00pm: as we pull back into the driveway at home, daddy confesses he has one more surprise for me.  his parents are coming into town tonight to take us to dinner and then go to the girls' basketball game.  very cool!! 

4:00pm:  after getting the girls gussied up for their cheer game, we head out to an early dinner.

5:30pm: arrive at the texas legends game

6:40pm: the girls take center court and do their 3-minute cheer and dance.  they take their seats and we are seated separately, and we all watch the first half of the game.

8:30pm:  after halftime, we head home.  the girls are tired, and so am i.  what a full day!

9:15pm:  we celebrate with cake and candles at our house.

10:30pm:  we finally get ready for bed.  it really was a great day, full of unexpected surprises.  everyone's well wishes, cards, and phone calls meant a lot.  maybe getting older isn't so bad after all. ;-)