Birthday, Fireworks, Friends and Family

So it's official, I'm finally a "Thirty-something".  Now that the festivities are over, I can finally sit down and reflect on the busy and fun week we've had.  My "birthday week" began with a visit to Tennessee to see my best high school girlfriend, Cassie, who I've only seen like 2 times in the last 3 years and both of them were in the last 2 months...shame on me.  I didn't get a single picture of us together (again), but we did get a few of Weston on the Jet ski and swimming in the lake...he loved it!

After our over-nighter at the lake, we rushed back home to get ready for a little birthday cookout that was going to be the next afternoon at our house.  Rolland made a cake, I did some cleaning and then gave him a hair cut at like 11:00 at night (go me!).  Off to sleep for about a minute, up in the morning and to church...we volunteer with the children's ministry, so we didn't get home until almost 2:00...put Weston in the bed and I made a few salads while Rolland did a super-fast mow job on our yard (Weston didn't fall asleep until almost 4:00 because he was too excited hearing the mower outside)...then it was time for family and friends to arrive. 

I've realized that I love it when my home (however crazy the event may be) is full of family and friends...and sometimes even perfect strangers.  I think I get this hospitality thing from my mom.  We joke about "The Blair Hotel" (which is currently under renovation in the basement), but seriously - I love it when company can come and stay and visit and eat and sometimes do nothing but sit and relax and watch the kiddos play. 

Proof that I finally got to hang out with Jessica Fairchild

Oh, kiddo(s).  I say this to imply our kid and friends' kids, but to answer any looming questions out there...Yes I realize I am getting "older".  And Yes, we'd like to have more children - any time now would be fine (so STOP asking me and just start praying...you know who you are mothers and mothers-in-law). 

On my actual birthday Rolland and I decided to take in a Giants vs. Reds game in Cincinnati.  First our restaurant that we had picked out was "closed for dinner, but the bar was open at 6:00"...I'm thankful that I didn't have to be an E.coli victim or something.  So we went to Rock Bottom and got some random good food, then we walked to the game.  Somehow we were lucky enough to have a seat that was covered, so when it started raining we didn't get soaked.  When the Reds were up 7-1 in the 6th inning and they called a rain delay, we decided to head home only to find out that they called the game anyway and never finished it...glad we didn't wait around in the rain for that one. But overall it was a good time!

 We finally took Weston to see some fireworks this year...brave of us since they didn't start until about an hour and a half past his bedtime, but he had been talking about fireworks all week in school, so I think he was a little excited to see them.  We watched the fireworks show at Andover this year because there was such a high chance of rain on the 4th in Lexington and I was going to be on call.  We actually got to see a beautiful sunset which I loved!  We brought some ear muffs (the kind for shooting firearms) with us, but he didn't really like wearing them...when the show finally started, he just laid on my lap and watched the whole time...we put him in his PJs beforehand, so when he fell asleep in 5 minutes in the car on the drive home, we were golden.