Happy Birthday Mom!

     Chris always teases me that when my birthday comes around it is a week long event.  Since I was little my mom and dad (probably more mom, but we'll give them both credit :) have always made a big deal of my birthday.  For as long as I can remember birthday celebrations always felt big! We always celebrated together, in addition to having get-togethers or parties with both sides of the family and friends. My parents would go out of their way to make sure my special day went exactly the way I wanted it to go...I got to choose what we ate, had the exact kind of cake, from the specific place I requested and always had something fun to open.  Chris looks at birthdays as just another day, but I would be lying if I said that kind of birthday would be okay with me. :) (I know that makes me sound selfish, but it's ture. :)  As I have already started and have been planning Cammie's first birthday for a little while now, I am sure I will pass on my birthday frame of mind to her.  It is supposed to be a celebration...right???
     On my actual birthday (July 10th) I was very lucky to have the opportunity to spend it on the beach.  We had already spent one week at the beach with my parents and had met Chris' parents to spend a few days with them in Harbor Island.  Chris and his parents went to the grocery store that morning and knowing how disappointed I would be if I didn't have a cake, he made sure to pick one up. (I guess he does love me :)  Chris' parents had taken us out to a restaurant to celebrate the night before, so we had an easy dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.  I snuggled with Cammie and sat on the beach to read for most of the day...two of my favorite things to do! :)  Overall, it was a pretty calm and relaxing day, which I was thankful to have.
     As always, my mom and dad would not allow my birthday to pass without celebrating according to my terms. :) Since the Saturday we left them, they promised a trip to Rocky's to celebrate my birthday dinner when we returned.  Rocky's is and has been my favorite place to eat for quite some time!  I LOVE their salads...mostly the dressing, but I could honestly eat just that for lunch or dinner and be happy!  We all celebrated, in addition to Nick and Chrissie, my birthday again last night.  Chrissie even got another birthday cake, to make sure the day was complete.  I feel so blessed to be loved by so many who went out of their way to celebrate my speical day!  Thank you everyone!

Cammie "walking" at Rocky's while we wait :)

(Chris made me promise that last night was the last of my 2011 birthday celebration...he just doesn't get it! :)