birthday girl

Nothing beats the feeling of knowing you're loved!
That is exactly what I felt on my birthday, Dec 11th.
My husband spoiled me and my best friend spoiled me alongside some other amazing friends.

It was such a fun day and my heart was truly touched. It was a day to remember!!

Landon took the day off work and let me do whatever the heck I wanted!!  

First, I went and got an hour long full body massage.  That in and of itself would have been plenty.  It was incredible.  Amazing.  A little slice of heaven on earth.  Every person has got to have one of those in their lifetime.  I've been fortunate to have many and it is something that always leaves me wanting it again and again.  It's so relaxing and incredibly rejuvenating.  Our bodies were made to have that kind of therapy, and often!!!

So after that I was oiled up and floating in the clouds.  Cassie had lined up a fun lunch with some of our awesome friends, where she surprised me with a basket full of delicious cookies and a gift card for the movies.  She was so sweet to go to so much work and make me feel loved.
It was fun to have my other friends there that I cherish so much.  Lunch was delicious and perfectly spent with most of my favorite friends!

Next I ran to the salon for more pampering.  I cut about 4 inches of hair, a few bangs, and went dark all over with a few highlights.  Another thing all women deserve...some maintenance to make them feel beautiful.  I am super low maintenance when it comes to my hair, and sometimes to a fault.  I desperately needed a change and it felt good.

see the highlights?

Then of course, the incredible Cassie and Kyle watched our kids so Landon and I could have a dinner date.  We went to my favorite restaurant, Baxters.  I LOVE their cheesy potato soup, soft melt in your mouth rolls, and cedar plank salmon.  I get the same thing every time :)

Anyways, I felt completely spoiled by my husband and Cassie.  It was such a fun and incredible 35th birthday.  I have amazing friends and the best family ever!  I feel so blessed to get another year to add to my life!!

Then that weekend I wanted to spend a little more time with my friends and have a night out with them.  I invited some peeps over and we had dinner and dessert, a fun favorite things gift exchange, and then I supplied everyone with stuff to make burlap wreaths.  It was a super fun night!!  The wreaths turned out adorable.

I loved all the texts, emails and facebook messages I got wishing me a happy birthday!  Birthdays just plain rock.  Like I said, it feels good to FEEL THE LOVE!
I have some adorable clothes from my sisters and mom too that they had all bought me during our girls trip a few months earlier :)  Fun memories splurging on each other.

So...until the next one, I'd say this was pretty near perfect.  THIRTY FIVE ROCKS!

Thanksgiving

Holidays without family suck.

I'm not trying to be "woe is me" but reality is Holiday's are for family and fun and celebration so it's hard not to share that with the ones you love.

However, we DO have our little fam of five and are so blessed, so we made sure we still celebrated big and showed our gratitude for our blessings this Thanksgiving.

We took a little trip to, where else other than the fabulous Branson Missouri we love.  We went for 3 days and had non stop fun.

Apparently everyone else in Branson had the same idea as us too.

Cracker Barrel was BUSY BUSY BUSY for Thanksgiving lunch.  We endured the hour wait rockin on the chairs outside and browsing their cute store.

It was definitely worth the wait cuz the meal was DELICIOUS!  Better than I could have made after slaving all day producing mounds of clean up and stress.  I'm making this tradition.

It was fabulous!

Then we enjoyed all other sorts of entertainment...

DIXIE STAMPEDE (incredible dinner and Christmas show)

THE LANDING (shopping, Santa)

INDOORWATER PARK AT THE HOTEL

OUTDOOR HOT TUB UNDER THE STARS

LATE NIGHT MOVIES

YUMMY RESTAURANTS  (Famous Daves, Orange Leaf)

SEEING SANTA (train ride)

FREE FRO YO FROM A FAMOUS "OSMOND" BROTHER

(I recognized Jimmy and said hello and told him we know his nephew so he bought our yogurts!)

Such a fun fun fun little get away.  Memories created that bond our little family forever.

We are so blessed to have each other and live such a comfortable life.  It's something I reflect on daily, and I am so humbled and thankful for the abundance of blessings in my life!

I laughed SO hard and SO loud when I realized the show Kambrie gave, ending our night!!  

I got a close up shot that was the best, but a little inappropriate to post.

Oh how I love that girl!!