I just ate a big plate of chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream and homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Happy birthday to me.
Happy birthday to me.
Happy birthday to me.
Today I turned 43.

The end.

Family

My Mom is in surgery right now. Thank you for all of your continued prayers.

PS - Happy birthday to my wonderful husband! Love you, honey!

A Little Late

Happy 1st birthday to my sweet nephew

Thomas the Tank Engine,

who turned ONE on December 18th!!

Now you're a BIG BOY! Auntie Val loves you!!

I Need Help Blowing Out My Candles

I can't believe it's been nearly a week since I last posted. I'm sorry for my absence. I don't feel good at all about leaving you hanging like that. Really, I intended to post for a few days now. Honest. But it seems like I could never get around to it. Maybe it's because there never seems to be enough hours in the day to check off everything on my to-do list. Maybe it's the holidays and all of it's madness. Maybe it's because sometimes I can't think of anything interesting to write about. Or maybe it's because I'm old. Yep, I think that's the one. My birthday was this past Friday......

42.

Holy candles Batman!

Here are some pictures for your viewing enjoyment. I spent the day with my Mom and Dad and Ray and the kids. Every year on my birthday, I take my parents out to lunch at Famous Dave's. I take them out because I feel like I owe them for all that they have sacrificed for me over the years and for being the best parents that God could have ever given me. And what better way to show my gratitude than with BBQ ribs.

Did you read the last post on my blog? If not, go here. Go on. I'll wait. I'm not going anywhere.

Aawww!! Wasn't that sweet? I was so surprised that Ray thought to publicly wish me a happy birthday. Especially since he didn't even know what a blog was before I created Pajama Mama. Still though....love him! (Honey, if you are reading this, I am really touched by your birthday shout-out but next time I wouldn't care if you didn't mention my age......just sayin')

Thanks, also, to my bloggy friends for your birthday wishes. You all made me feel the love! :)

And now......

A little poem about getting old:

It was my birthday, this much is true

I went to sleep 41 and woke up 42.

The years pass quickly it's hard to believe

Pictures in my mind, memories to retrieve.

Enjoying life in the middle age range

Not a line on my face I would choose to change.

For with age come wisdom, this I now see

I pray I'll feel the same when I turn 43!

It's like I'm a famous poet. It would have been good to mention a famous poet at this moment but I don't know any. Plus, I'm 42 which is half of 84 and my memory is not what it used to be. So, even if I knew of any famous poets, I probably couldn't remember their names.

I wanted to post the two following pictures because I think they are so sweet. Ben gave me me a necklace with a little treasure chest locket on it, which he bought earlier that day at school at their Secret Snowman Shop. He was SO excited to give it to me. All evening, he couldn't wait for me to open his present. However, after I opened it, Ali quickly blurted out how the the treasure chest actually opens up. Well, Ben wanted to be the one to tell me that. Needless to say, he wasn't very happy with Ali for ruining his surprise.

Sad because Ali "ruined" his surprise.

Whispering sweet nothings to my sweet boy, telling him how much I love his gift!

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating a birthday this month! Even if you are younger than me, I won't hold it against you. :)

PS - I am now officially back to being 1 year, 11 months and 23 days older than my sister.

40 Is The New 30

Today is my sister Jennifer's birthday. She is 1 year, 11 months and 23 days younger than me.

"But wouldn't it just be easier to say that your sister is 2 years younger than you?" you might ask.

No. No it wouldn't.

Why? Because she's ONLY 1 year, 11 months and 23 days younger than me. That's why. But really, it's not like I'm keeping track or anything.

You see, in high school and as young adults, everyone always thought Jennifer was older than me. I HATED THAT. Because everyone knows that when you're 17, you desperately want to look older - NOT YOUNGER!

Why was my 17 year old self so dumb?? What I wouldn't give now for people to think I'm younger than my (ahem) current 40 something age. Seventeen year old Val, what was your deal?!

Anyway, over the years, I have come to realize what my younger self could not. Looking younger than your age: GOOD. Looking older than your age: BAD. And now that my "little" sister and I are back in the same decade again, I have decided that I am not two years older than her. Because in my mind, we are basically the same age. Forty, forty-one, forty-two, etc......it's all the same. Right?

Wrong.

My sister has a different story to tell. And that is, that no matter how old she is - she is always YOUNGER than me.

Touche, lil sis, touche.

Well, at least for the next 8 days, I can say that I am only one year younger than her (today she turns 40 and I'm still ONLY 41.)

But next Friday, I'll be back to being 1 year, 11 months and 23 days older than her.

Mother's Day - 2009

Jennifer's baby shower at my house - November, 2008

Jennifer gave me a plaque last year after her baby shower

with this poem on it:

My Sister, My Friend

My sister was a playmate

I knew was always near

My sister was a protector

From every hurt or fear

We share a bond of closeness

We know will never end

We're here for one another

My sister, my best friend

Take A Walk With Me Down Memory Lane

I am traveling down Memory Lane to April of 2008 for Ali's birthday. It was a Saturday and Ray had to work that day. So, I took the kids to the movies. If memory serves me (which many times it doesn't, even if it was only 18 months ago!) this was the first time I took both of the kids to the movies by myself. I think the movie was College Road Trip starring Raven Simone. It was the only movie playing that was mostly kid-friendly and it was a Disney movie, too.

Just a few weeks before, we lost our baby in the 11th week of my pregnancy. I was still grieving at the time and probably didn't feel much like doing birthday stuff but I needed to push forward for Ali's special day. Even in the midst of pain and loss, God reminds us that we can find joy and that there is always something to smile about.

Like my little girl's 4th birthday.

Waiting for the movie to begin. Ben looks less than thrilled that I brought my camera. Ali is holding her baby in one hand, while clutching her package of Starbursts with her other hand.

Ben can't wait for the movie to begin before diving into his popcorn, while Ali at least tries to keep up her smile all the while continuing to clutch her beloved package of Starbursts

(oh and her baby, too!)

Ben has apparently had enough of the whole picture taking thing
but Ali has never met a camera that she didn't like.

Later that night at dinner, the waitress at the restaurant brought her a
chocolate birthday cake and everyone in the restaurant sang Happy Birthday to her.
Notice the green icing on her face!

Wearing her birthday hat from Toys R Us.


While I was making her cake, Ali received a call to wish her a happy birthday.

I let her lick the spoon, as evidenced by the cake batter around her mouth!

Well, I hope you enjoyed sharing my walk down memory lane, even if it was only back to last year! Thanks, Erica at Scottsville, for setting this up! This is a great idea and so much fun!