My actual birthday was low key until the evening, which was a good thing. I still tend to get tired since my surgery (we’re at the 4 week post op point now so it’s expected still) and I didn’t want to gogogo all day then be drained for Saturday. So CSP & I just kind of hung out at the house and played with the pugs. Then we hopped in the truck and headed out to his parents’ house. MIL & FIL had prepared a lovely dinner and a yummy cake. 
Jon kept asking me all day if I felt any older yet. So far, no. And I don’t think I look too old yet either. 
Now compare me now to my 20 yr old self and I might cry, but so far I’m still digging the whole getting older thing. Just means becoming more comfortable with who you are and setting things in motion that will affect you for the rest of your life. Like kids (adoption update coming soon) and stuff. But enough serious business. Let’s talk presents!
They gave me some scented tea lights, a cute napkin holder, a lovely tea pot from a company that has special meaning to my family (I collect tea pots), and this pair of Crocs. Not too sure about the Crocs yet. A bit on the busy side. But I’ll be sure to wear them when we visit the MIL & FIL. Oh, and almost forgot, they also gave me the cutest little bee pillow for Ling Ling’s room. Love it.
We ended up staying way late while they oohed and aahed over my new camera. We didn’t get to bed til after 1 am.
But that didn’t stop us from getting up relatively early on Saturday. After breakfast at home we went to the Dollar Store to get some party platters, bowls, and tortilla warmers. Then we did some partay grocery shopping at Bloom. We went home and I browned some ground beef then put it in a crock pot to keep warm. Then I made close to 50 Tex Mex Mini Chicken Cups. They are my favorite party food hands down. So easy to make. I’m so mad I didn’t get a picture of them at the party. But I’ll make them again and post the recipe. Mustachio & Candice both wanted the recipe so I have to type it out anyway. They look something like this. When I finished cooking I got all gorgeous while Jon packed up all our party fixins & games and we headed next door.
Maggie (almost 3) came running downstairs “Miss Shannon! Miss Shannon! We’re having a birthday party for you!”
I know Sweetie, thank you.
Your hair looks beautiful. And you like my dress? I’m a princess just like you today!
Now that’s the way to get the birthday girl in a fabulous party mode!
Jon and I set up the kitchen. We had a veggie tray, fruit tray, tortilla chips, a taco bar (that’s what the ground beef was for) and the chicken cups plus toppings and sodas all set up and ready to go. Candice had decorated her house so cute in a fiesta theme and had a big bucket of margaritas chillin. Papa & Gigi & Momo came bearing cream puffs and my big birthday cookie (I’m not a cake fan). Shannon & Mustachio came and all the girls swirled around squealing over her gorgeous 
engagement ring. Sara, Jake, & Joey rounded out the rest of our group.
We feasted on Mexican food 
then gathered in the family room to open presents. Shannon & Mustachio game me the most gorgeous set of dishes. Square sparkly plates with a lovely combo of sage green and chocolate. Plus matching tumblers. Can’t find the pics online so I’ll take some and post later.
Momo gave me a new game called Apples to Apples. Papa & Gigi gave me a stained glass screen bug lady bug. So cute! I’d never seen anything like that before. Again, I should have taken a pic of it before starting this post but I wasn’t thinking. I did find some similar screen bugs here. They also gave me this awesome metal wall decoration thing that will hang above our front door once we get the entry painted. Again I forgot to take a picture.
After presents it was time to play our first game of the evening: Scene It. We had a big time. There was much shouting and high fiving, but alas, my team lost. After the game the kids were put to bed, Sara & my nephews headed home and so did Mustachio and Shannon.
The remaining peeps: Papa, Gigi, Momo, CSP, Devin, Candice, and I gathered round the kitchen table and played Apples to Apples then Cranium. Cranium is my all time favorite game ever because you get to see your friends & family do all sorts of stuff like charades and draw and sculpt and hum. I can’t hum to save my life and there’s usually a need on the part of my family to try and remedy that, to no avail. We had so much fun playing and I laughed harder than I’d laughed in a really long time. By the time we cleaned up and said goodbyes it was after 1 am! Whew!
Photos are here.
Bless Your Heart 
