... How I Spent My Birthday

Thirty NINE... it's the last year before the BIG Four-OOOhh (no!) Crazy to think that I'll be that old already! Honestly, I don't feel my age... I feel younger (sometimes) yet older on certain days (ooh my acchy back). I share my birthday with my dad. Yes, 39 years ago - they had just arrived in the states (from the Philippines to Philadelphia, PA) and Dad was just starting his residency at Thomas Jefferson (as an Orthopaedic Surgeon)... as I'm told - they were in the states for 2 weeks and then I decided to arrive! Mom said she didn't want to even turn on the TV at the hospital because she was kinda nervous about how much everything would cost (being new to the states, etc)... turns out - I WAS BORN FREE! They didn't even charge my parents for my birth. Perhaps that's why I LOVE a good deal - still today! Well, this was the first time I actually had MY OWN birthday (for 12 hours) before my dad had to celebrate his due to the time zone.

Here I am clear across the other side of the world... yet, feeling so loved and blessed by many! Thanks to Facebook messages, e'mails, phone calls and my sweet family!

A BIG THANKS TO AMY for a fun and spontaneous "day before my birthday DAY"... coloring my hair and taking all those GRAYS right OUT! I guess I should be thanking little Ryland for accidently grabbing an extra box of L'Oreal at the Commissary! (hhmmm... accident? I think not!) Also for introducing me to your playgroup and treating me to lunch! You made me feel so special... I soo appreciate that! I appreciate our friendship and sad that I only have 9 more months with you here! Boo hoo!


My friend Amy and the SIGNS teacher (in green) Jenny leads the dancing & signing for the class!

Mia & her new best buddy - Ryland - just started a DISCOVERY SIGN class together... and it was so much fun to watch them learn new signs and sing new songs. Some of the new signs that Mia & I learned was: WAKE UP, MORNING, DAY, READY, JUMP, DUCK, BRUSH YOUR TEETH, COMB YOUR HAIR, CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES & WHERE?

There are 3 kids in the class... Dylan (2 yrs), Mia (18 mo) & Ryland (12 mo)


Later in the evening... we brought the kids down to the pool and joined the MEET THE NEIGHBORS Pool Party at LeoPalace Resort. A few of our neighbors organized a get together for the 1st Friday of every month. Food... Fun... Water... a great time for all!

The beautiful sunset & golf course view on our walk to the pool...


READY TO SWIM!

My sweet daughters were the most excited about the "39" cake! That morning, while I was dropping Dani & the boys off to school - she asked me if we were going to have cake tonight for my birthday... and I said, NO. And in her sweet voice... she said, "... but Mommy, it's your birthday - you have to cake!" My girls LOVE cake... and so how could I deny them! This cake was definitely for them!!!! Ahhh... the things we do for our kids!

YUM!