Happy Birthday to Me!

So another birthday has come and gone...although I do still have three more celebrations scheduled this week...and what a wonderful day it was. My brother and sister-in-law came down to spend the day with me and take me to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants. If the truth be told, I haven't been there in one full year - on my birthday with them also one year ago! But, before our lunch, they had a surprise in store for me. We headed to Lowes where they told me they wanted me to pick out a new miter saw as a gift. To say that I was taken aback would be the understatement of the year. But after they promised it would be all of my gifts for the year as well as giving them the chance to borrow it if necessary, I found myself looking at the options. Some were too big...some were too small...but, this one was just right. Lol

I can't wait to try her out. Even though I have had a miter saw for years, it did not have the sliding blade option so there will be a bit of a learning curve for me but I can't wait to learn! The rest of my week is actually full with more celebrations with family who weren't free yesterday so I probably won't get to it until next week but that hasn't stopped me from checking out some new Easter ideas.

And, as we pulled back into my circular drive coming home, I also saw three full Publix bags and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The flowers were from daughter #2 and her family...aren't they beautiful?

And the Publix bags were full of every favorite food I think I have but seldom buy for myself from daughter #1 and her family.

P.S. So that is where I had to leave my post the other day to get ready for my friend's arrival. We spent the day together and she took me out to lunch again at my favorite restaurant. Believe me, by then I was feeling pretty spoiled...but the surprises kept coming!

On Friday, daughter #3 and I headed back downtown to another of my favorite places and we had a lovely, long lunch and met many friends along the way. At 2 p,m,, we picked up my grandson and he wanted to head back downtown for an after school treat. We ended up at a new place I have never been that is right up my alley. We found a lovely couch set-up and made ourselves comfortable. My oldest grandson joined us, the boys ordered a delicious meal and Jen and I shared a bottle of wine. As the afternoon wore on, there was live music and I was in heaven. The weather was gorgeous, we kept meeting people we knew and it was just a wonderful, laid back kind of day!

But wait, there's more! On Saturday, daughter #2 and her family came down and soon were joined by daughter #3 and her family and we had a good, old fashioned fun family day! Lots of catching up, eating and game playing. It was such a thrill to be able to be a bit closer together and sure reminded us all of how much we miss our times together!

Then, on Sunday, I was off to my grandson's "fashion show". This is a yearly affair put on by the Anchor club at his school. It is a charitable auction where the Anchor members donate prom dresses and model them and they are escorted by various school athletes. All of the money is donated to a charity of their choice and the dresses are usually donated back to a "boutique" where girls who can't afford dresses can shop at very reduced prices. It is such a fun afternoon and not only are the dresses beautiful but, the boys' tuxes are the height of fashion as well. Lol 

The pictures are horrible but it's all we have until the professionals post theirs.

And so now I am officially a year older...and it is time to get back to "real" life. Our weather is absolutely gorgeous so I am looking forward to getting out into the yard. And, I have my first project in mind for the new saw...except, I must admit that after reading the manual, I am a bit intimated...not to mention that I'm not sure I can figure the angles out without some help. I'm going to bring it in and sit down with it and see what I can do. If I can, you'll be the first to know. Stay safe and stay tuned.

And, I just realized that I never posted my grandson's 16th birthday celebration. Since I do this blog as a "sort of" family history for me, I want to get the pictures posted. We had a change of restaurant and added a few other family members than first thought. We ended up at "Ipanema Brazilian Steakhouse". I had never been there before but had heard lots of good things about it! Since I don't eat meat, I wasn't sure a steakhouse was the best place for me but I didn't need to worry. Their food was plentiful and delicious! Harrison had dessert there and then home for gifts and another dessert-he IS a growing boy after all. Lol