Happy Birthday to me!

This year my birthday fell on a Monday.  Glen had the weekend before off so we headed south to have a little cake with my family.  (Isn't he the best?)  Eloise has been touch and go in the car lately.  We made sure her favorite toy (the i Pad) was fully charged for the trip down. 

 

She did really well.  That wasn't the only thing to keep her entertained.   We played peek-a-boo, read books and sang songs.  We had gold fish and apple juice.  She also had her first cheeseburger!

She looks so big with that burger in her hand.  I couldn't stop laughing.  She didn't eat it all.  She got a few good bites in but it turned out all she wanted was the cheese.

Eloise loves to run around outside.  With 3 connecting yards she has plenty of space to do just that and did she ever! 

 The Padgett's have all the toys in their yard so we were trying to make our way there.  Eloise decided to take off in the other direction!

 Alli said she'd get Eloise.  She was so funny.  She ran behind Eloise saying "Wrong way sister."  "Wrong way cousin."  Oh I love that girl!

 It just wouldn't be a trip to Mema's without being attacked by Krash.  Eloise does love him.

Just not when he licks her in the face.

Alli was going fishing in Uncle Bobby's boat.

Carson was super sweet and played a little ball with the girls.

Alli made her way into the fort.

 

Eloise wanted to go up too.  When I helped her up she freaked out and wouldn't let me put her down.  She's not as brave as she thinks she is.

That night Glen and I went to dinner and a movie alone for the first time since Eloise was born.  It was so nice.  Staci sent me pictures to show me she was fine without us. 

When it's your birthday in our family you get to pick the meal.  I chose chicken casserole and potato salad.  I know they don't sound like they go together all that well.  It had been so long since I'd had either.  I was fully taking advantage of my birthday meal!  I wanted this delicious strawberry jello salad my Granny makes as my cake.  My Granny would let me!  She said it's a salad not a cake.  She did make it, but it was served with the meal.  I settled for chocolate cake instead.  Everything was so good!

 Eloise helped (along with Bryn and Alli) put the candles on the cake.

 Far too many candles, but very pretty!

 For some reason Eloise kept throwing her arms up in every picture.  You see how red my face is?  I was laughing so hard.

 My oldest friend Erin came to the party.  It's crazy to think we've been friends for 28 years!  Too bad Eloise looks drunk in this picture.

 You gotta love Alli.  She says and does the funniest things!  I love that she loves me so much.  She comes over as early as she can and leaves only when it's time for her to go to bed.  She also pops into as many pictures as she can.

 Alli and my boys - Hudson and Chapman.

 My sister Lucretia.  Oh I miss the nights where we'd watch movies, talk and laugh till it hurt. 

Eloise tried to steal some of Addi's cake.  Addi wasn't very happy about it!

My beautiful nieces Bryn and Lailan.   

 There's Alli again!  With Chapman, Carson and Keaton.  They're getting so big!

Taylor and William.  Taylor just wanted to take the pictures not be in them, but I made her anyway.

 My sister Staci!

 Yes, I love my Aunt Pat.  Can you tell?

 My sweet Granny.  She said she's going to live to be 100.  That's only 5 more years! (I hope she lives long past 100!)

 Here I am with my amazing parents.

It's always a good visit when we go to Macclenny.  I'm so glad we live close enough to visit so often.  Just being there with them was all the present I needed.  Thanks Glen for making it happen!