Happy Birthday to me...and boys visit

"Today you are you.  That is truer than true!  There is no one alive who is you-er than you." -Dr. Seuss

Happy Birthday to me.  Since I am the one in our family that posts, and takes photos,  it is up to me to document my birthday.  Today I celebrate 62 years on this earth.  My, how fast time has gone, and it seems to go faster every day!  Just yesterday... I was a mere child...

This hairstyle is very popular right now.  On boys, as well as girls.

Warren did a great job decorating, and making me feel special.   

See how he did the balloons...6 on the left, and 2 on the right = 62.  I did not get this...he had to explain this to me.  Duh!

 I did not think he was going to get or make a cake for me, because we still had quite a bit of cake leftover from his retirement party.  I was very surprised when he presented me with this gorgeous cake...and it was delicious too!

Do I look older?  Compared to the first picture...Yes!  Definitely.  Do I feel older?  Yes.

Older than what?  Dirt?  Hmmm.

 It wasn't too hard to blow out two candles.   

 My favorite gifts of all!

My water class at the racquet club surprised me as well.  I encourage my participants to wear holiday headbands, or hats whenever there is a holiday.  I wear one too.  Consequently they have quite a selection of headbands to commemorate all the holidays.  They decided to wear them to surprise me.  When I walked out to the pool, everyone had a headband, or hat on...it was great.  It made me cry.  I have the best water class!

Last weekend all my boys were here for Warren's retirement party.  The pictures are self explanatory...pretty much.

Mark, Zach

Luke

Ian, and Zach

Mark, Warren

Typical 

Not typical...They were threatened ...

Playing a game of hide-n-go-seek

Tiegann (Zach's littlest)

More of the game...

Luke helps Tiegann count...she was pretty good at counting.  

Safe 

Luke and Me

That's all folks.  Good times...Good times.  

Lavender...sweet lavender

"Feel your emotions,

 Live true to your passions,

 Keep still your mind." -Geoffrey M.

I love the smell of lavender.  That is why I planted it years ago...but it did not do much until this year.  It is huge, has tons of lavender sprigs, bees, and butterflies.  

I wanted to make me some lavender bundles, so I braved the bees, and went to cut some.  I was very nervous that I might get stung, but thankfully, I did not.  I am very happy with my harvest!

As always, Maggie is right in the middle of any activity I am doing.  She was very interested in the butterflies, and had her eye on one particular one...

Just as I snapped a picture of the butterfly...she sprang to capture it... I barely caught her in the photograph, but I did.   She is at the left side of at the photo, mouth wide open.  You cannot see it, but in her paws is the poor little butterfly, which she promptly ate.  

Beware the hunter...she always gets her creature...

Warren sings "You Ain't nothing but a hound dog"

Here's the video of Warren's performance at his retirement party.  This might be a whole new career for him.  As you will be able to tell, it was impromptu, so he misses some of the words, but his dancing makes up for that part.  Recorded by Stephanie DeFranco...

Warren's SURPRISE retirement party...

"Sometimes it's the same moments that take your breath away that breathe purpose, and love back into your life." -Steve Maraboli

Warren has the best patients.  The truth of that became more evident when one of his families (the McNallys) that he has taken care of for years, wanted to throw him a surprise retirement party.

the invitation

It took great scheming to figure out how to pull it off.   Ian set the trap by telling Warren he thought we should have a surprise birthday party for me.  He said he had contacted his 3 brothers, who said they thought it was a good idea, and they would come.  Warren thought all along, it was a party for me, when it was his party.  Best of all...it worked.  He did not have a clue.

Amy did an amazing job with everything...she ordered the above sign,  decorated her house with signs, and balloons, had a food buffet: enchiladas, rice, guacamole, chips, and a southwest salad. To make it even more fun, she hired a band!!!!  She knows how to throw a party.

The band played oldies, but goodies...

I made the cake.  I knew I needed to make this cake a few days before he actually retired, since I could not make it while he was home.  I baked, and decorated it in stages, cleaning up my mess, and trying to air the smell of cake out of the house before Warren got home from work.  I had to hide it in the freezer, and hope he would not find it.  He was oblivious to it all...and I was very glad the cake turned out so cute.

I got the idea from Pinterest

Cookies were ordered from Mama Tuckers.  

Idea from Pinterest

There was a good crowd of fellow doctors, friends, office staff, and family.

Luke and famous painter and friend, Kim Wiggins

Dr. Wenner, and Warren

There was dancing...

Warren dances with his granddaughter...Adi

Adi, and me

Warren, and his other granddaughter dancing...

Cards, and presents...

Amy...the hostess, and Warren

and just plain fun...

See what shows up on your camera when you leave it lying around...

The band made Warren sing "You Ain't Nothing but a Hound Dog", by Elvis Presley...
Warren sang, and shimmied like Elvis himself...

The family had a great time... and I got a photo...

And I had a great time too...

This man is the best...Doctor, husband, and father.  I am glad he is mine! I am blessed!

Many thanks to the McNally family for putting on such a fun, and amazing party for my husband.  You guys are the best.  We love you.