Happy Birthday to Me!

Not one to toot my own horn, but, it is my birthday today. Of course, I'm 29 (for the 4th year), thanks for asking. LOL!

The reason I'm even mentioning that it is my birthday is because I had to brag about the gift my husband got me. He's so funny, he HATES keeping things a secret! He doesn't do his birthday or Christmas shopping at the last minute, it's usually a few days to a week or more ahead of time. Then he wants you to open it RIGHT NOW! Well, I love the secret and surprise of it all. He begged all week to let me have my gift now, and I said no and teased him endlessly about it.

This morning he couldn't even wait for everyone to wake up. He doesn't wrap anything, the Walmart bag is enough for him. So, I get this bag with a little box and he says, I know I don't give you enough jewelry. (Truth be known, I really would rather not have jewelry, and the last piece he got me was my wedding ring 13 years ago. I just have other things I would rather have that are more useful. I mean, what does jewelry do? You wear it, that's it. Same with flowers. They are already dead, but they do look pretty for a little while. Still, I'd rather have a plant, so I can eventually kill the thing myself). So, I reach in the bag, pull out the box and get:

Very cool! An iPod Nano! It's 8GB, which will be enough room for my favorite music and a few pictures I may want to carry around, and podcasts, too. I'm working on downloading iTunes now for it.

I got a package from my aunt a few days ago, and I waited til this morning to open it, too. And I got this:

I love Paula Deen! So does my waistline. LOL! This is a weekly/monthly calendar, and has lots of recipies in it. She has also included a few important dates, like Elvis' birthday, her anniversary, etc. Thanks Aunt Jan!

I've also received assorted cards and money from family (Thanks Daddy and Pat, Aunt Sue, Aunt Judy). Tonight we will go to Jeff's parent's house for dinner. Linda always makes each of her kids whatever they want, and everyone has a favorite dessert. Mine is her Strawberry Cheesecake. I left dinner up to her, just as long as it includes her homemade wheat rolls. I'm not too picky.

The past few days have been pretty busy. Yesterday I worked at the school doing a bake sale for Ch'ree's class. We made $379, which will be used for field trip expenses later in the year. A great thing about having such a small school: Money made by the class will stay with the class. Since we only have one class per grade, about 15-20 students, most the same students are there year after year. Whatever doesn't get spent goes on to 4th grade, then 5th. Eventually, this is the money they will use for their Senior trip.

Bake sales are wonderful. The biggest seller is homemade burritos. The teachers and high schoolers all sneak down to the hall by the cafeteria where we are set up to buy burritos before the sale ever starts, because they sell out FAST. Some people bring store bought goods, like snack bags of chips and cookies, grab bags of candy, pickles. Coke Floats (or rootbeer, or Dr. Pepper) are a big seller, too. My contribution was 4 loaves of banana bread and 2 pans of brownies this time. We sold out of everything but a few apples. I would call the sale a success. This one was for 3rd grade. I'll have another in 3 weeks for Shelby's 5th grade, and somehow I signed up to plan one for Chance's preschool class, too.

Well, happy birthday to me. I'll be back tomorrow with a picture of the delicious cheesecake I'll be eating tonight!