this is me...33...

...years ago.

i have to say...i still look the same!

and secretly i think Charlie looks like me!  i knew it all along!  we definitely have the same eyes!

i was thinking last night...{after a chat with my parents, who must call us on our birthday eve to tell us it is our last day to be "said age", which i love!!}...that birthday's are a celebration of life.  that means so much more to me now than ever before.  maybe because i am a mother now and can see it all through different eyes.  maybe it is because i am so much wiser now...

...in that vein, i would like to thank my mother and father for my life.  after having my babies...i can now see what a huge life changing experience it is...and why they love us all so much.  thank you mom and dad.  mom...for carrying me, and having morning sickness, and going 3 weeks overdue, and not giving up on labor,  and showing me the lights of the Christmas tree a few days after my birth.  dad...for knowing that i was "lovely" from the moment i was here, and for naming me beautifully that people always comment about it, and for being a wonderful playmate and standard for all to be measured.  and both of you...for the past 33 years of loving me, teaching me, and showing me the world and the precious truth of why i'm here, where i'm going, and where i came from.  i think that is the best gift i've ever received!  and i have great parents who have given me ears to listen and eyes to see it!  thank you mom and dad!!  i love you!  happy birthday!

and a few more fun gifts that came my way this year...

...from one darling sister...a package that came smelling of coconut and chocolate...seriously...i was drooling!  what a fun gift of pampering...and my skin is feeling so smooth and delicious!

...from a sweet sister... some lovely earrings that i have been longing for...

...packaged in this totally cute tin from holland...i am such a eurofile!  and an itunes giftcard to go with...

...my newest companion...the ipod touch {next best thing to the iphone...which may never happen...urgh!!!    verizon!!!}.   i have been gushing over this since forever...given to me by my sweet husband...with love and glee {you should have seen his smile!}  well done dear!  i love it!

...a surprisingly fun discovery that i traveled home from church with this week.  i went to clean out my bag and a very sweet friend had slipped a fun present in without me knowing!  i love my new gloves and it puts a smile on my face to pull them out on during my preschool runs and mommy duties around the town...thanks cutie!

my sweet grandma sent me a lovely card and some money that i will definitely be using to tame my crazy mane...i love her hand writing!

and a lovely card from my girl...who is in love with birthdays and the magical time that they are in her 3 year old world...i love that she thought of me!

i also got to have lunch with a friend, a date with my sweet husband, and a little lunch to look forward to tomorrow....i am one lucky girl...with happiness gleaming in her eyes!  i am so excited for a new year full of possibilities, joy, fun, and adventure awaiting...hooray for 33!