happy birthday to me !

i really was a cute, plump baby!

came into this world weighing 8 lbs. 14 oz. on august 2, 1954.

*i am actually 3 mo. old in this pix.

for my third birthday, we flew to ohio. that was an interesting experience! some 53 years later, i still have very clear & vivid memories of life in portsmouth. i am sitting on my grandma nellie's lap, drinking who knows what. i actually look a little tipsy! ! my brother looks thrilled & my sister really can't believe it :)

since my birthday is in the summer & disneyland was practically in our backyard, we hit the magic kingdom pretty much every year on my birthday. i am five.

the next birthday that i have vivid memories of is my nineteenth. we went out to eat at a "dinner house" to celebrate my birthday. my dad ordered for me. i wasn't allowed to have potatoes, or rolls, no salad dressing or even croutons on my salad. at the end of dinner, the waiters & waitresses joined in song singing "happy birthday" and approached our table. yes! at last!!! i blew out the candle on the piece of chocolate cake intended for me, or so i thought, and the waitress handed the cake to my dad!!! sooooo...i went home & called my mother. she took me out for a hot fudge sundae. moms are good about coming to your rescue when you are feeling down!

i turned 25 when we were living in golden, colorado. the year was 1979. johnny was 18 months old.

here i am blowing out candles to mark my 32nd birthday as johnny looks on. johnny is now 32 himself.

another memorable birthday is when i turned 40. we were living in anchorage.

eleven years later, i was in murrieta, california on my birthday. stephanie was on her mission there & dad and i found ourselves in the same town!

fast forward to today! still celebrating birthdays with the man i love. dad took me to lunch & dinner today. not to mention the two dozen roses he surprised me with. what a nice guy! i'll be doing some heavy duty cycling tomorrow. it's been a really nice day. it was nice to talk to all of my children today. thank you for your love & kindness. you're the best!

xoxox

to me :)

*card courtesy of lu & b-rad.