Shopping Trip

In a previous post, "SURPRISE" Party, I blogged about my 50th birthday.  Two of my best friends, Sandy and Denise,  from school also turned 50 this year.  They actually turned 50 a month before I did.  We have been friends since 1st grade.  We went our separate ways after high school, married, had children, but we did actually worked at the same office together for several years.  Gina (which is my cousin) also worked with us at the same office so we all 4 worked together for 20+ years. Now Gina and Sandy still work at the same office but Denise works at a Bank and I work at an Engineering Office.

The 4 of us try and go out to dinner together at least once a month.  It does not always work out but we never go more than 2 months without seeing each other.  Denise and Sandy have grandchildren now.  So between our children (ages 18-30) and grandchildren (ages 1 month - 12 mths) there is always something to talk about. 

We decided we wanted to go shopping so I planned a shopping trip for the 4 of us.  We left on Friday afternoon about 1:00pm and drove to Birmingham, AL.  We stayed in the Hilton across from the Summit Mall.  We checked into our Hotel and then headed out to the Summit Mall.  We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and then on Saturday we went to the WaterMark Outlet Mall in Bessemer, AL.

We had a great time...we named ourselves.....Lavern, Shirley, Thelma and Louise.....

Our fearless driver.....Thelma.....we made u-turns, drove in circles - literally and saw our hotel but just could not get there!!!  But Thelma took care of us!!!!

Louise was trying to figure out what "Sally" was trying to tell her!!!!!

Louise and Shirley was glad we finally got to the hotel....fan and all!!!!

Lavern, Shirley, Louise and Thelma waiting to eat at The Cheesecake Factory.....mmmm Good!!!!


We Demolished this Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake!!!!



This was on Saturday morning on our way shopping......We went back to the Summit Mall and made our 3rd trip to Charming Charlies.  If you have never been to Charming Charlies I highly recommend a visit.  They have purses, accessories, clothes, shoes and it is all color coordinated.

After we finished at The Summit we headed out to Bessemer, AL to the WaterMark Outlet. 
They have a POLO outlet, Carter's and OshGosh Outlet.  This was what the trunk looked like after our day of shopping.  It was full but it did close.

On our way home we let the top down on the convertible.  It was fun but I was FREEZING!!!!!!

We arrived at my house about 6:30pm on Saturday night.  It was a fun trip with some life long friends. 

Being friends since 1st grade is a long time.  We talk all the time about how the 4 of us will end up in the same nursing home together one day.  (HA)  We make jokes about not being able to see or hear...I guess that is part of getting older but I can promise that none of us ACT or LOOK 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will be planning another outing soon.  I am blessed and thankful to have 3 great Christian friends that I have known since 1st grade and and cousin since birth.

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thes. 5:18)

Until next time....have a blessed day.

"SURPRISE' Party

I am going to try and do better about blogging.  When I started this blog I 'thought ' I had a lot to say but the thoughts sometimes just go away when I actually start to type. 

A couple of months ago I had a birthday.  It was the BIG '50'!!!!!  It bothers some people when they hit the  30th, 40th or 50th birthday.  None of those milestone birthdays has bothered me at all.  As I say 'IT IS JUST A NUMBER'!!!!  I don't feel 50....I probably look 50....I don't think I act 50 (well maybe sometimes).....I do go to bed by 9 or 9:30 if I can....

Of course you can always expect a 'A Surprise OVER THE HILL party for a 30th, 40th or 50th birthday.   Bill and I went out to eat on my actual birthday.  Both boys were at school.  But I have some wonderful friends, 3 in particular that I sorta did not think they would let this 50th birthday go by without a party.  The weekend after my birthday I was told that we (Bill, Trae, Tyler and myself) were going out to eat.  There is a new Japanese Restaurant in town so that is where I thought we were going.  Tyler was not home much that day as I was told he would be in Tupelo with some friends.  I text him after lunch and told him to meet me at a friends house as we were having a baby shower for his 4-H leader and they wanted some of the 4-H members there.  He text me back and said he could not come as he was still in Tupelo.  I believed him as he knows better than to lie to his momma!!!!! Trae even came home from MSU for the weekend.  I think he was told he better be home.

So about 5:30 one of my friends, Millie, called and wanted us to run by her house to pick up something for church for Sunday.  Bill had been told to have me at Millie's house by 6.  As you can guess we pulled in and the yard was full of vehicles.  I knew then where we were NOT going..... Japanese Restaurant!!!!  It was a surprise that so many people were there.  Millie, Mary Beth, Bronson, Gina and Sue had pulled off the 'SUPRISE 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY'!!!   But they were nice and it was NOT a OVER THE HILL PARTY!!!  AND I found out that Tyler was there all day, NOT in Tupelo, helping to get the party set up!!!!  Millie told him it was ok this one time to lie to his momma, she would understand!!!!




Waiting on my arrival.....

 




Yes there was 50 cupcakes and all were lit!!!!!

 

Bill and myself

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1John 3:18

It was a GREAT party!!!  Thanks to my GREAT friends and family.....I LOVE VERY MUCH!!!!!

Until next time....Have a Blessed Day!!

Summer Fun

This has been one HOT summer here in Mississippi and so glad we have a pool.  We built the pool in 1989 when Trae was 17 months old and normally in the summer time our pool water does not get very warm because we have a lot of shade around our house and the shade covers the pool.  The pool gets about 4 hours of sun a day.  The temperature of the water will run about 10 degrees cooler than other pools that gets a lot of sun.  This has always been just a little cool for me.  I usually freeze when I get in the pool.  BUT NOT THIS YEAR!!!!  Shade or no shade the water temperature in our pool has been just right!

We have so many fond and cherished memories when the boys were younger enjoying the pool.  Birthday parties, family gathering and holidays cookouts.  But as the boys have gotten older (Trae 22 and Tyler 18), they don't used the pool as much now as they use to.  They have their own agenda now...LOL.  

  

This is Trae......

This is Tyler.......

But some of our close friends from church have younger children and they have really been enjoying the pool........

Summer memories made with friends!!

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  1 John 4:7

 

Until next time...Have a Blessed Day!!!!