Ben is Now A Teenager

I can't believe that on Valentine's Day 2012 my baby became a teenager!!!  Ben's birthday celebration.....this year Ben wanted to invite several friends to have dinner for his birthday.  So, we let him invite five friends from school for dinner and cake at Cici's Pizza.  I think he had a great time!



Ben's BIG Birthday Month Gets Started!

Ben's big birthday is coming up on Valentine's Day....he turns 13!  This means that my baby will officially be a teenager.  We'll be celebrating with him that night but because of trips, schedules, and planning for Clay to be in town, we got together this past Friday with Glenn's dad, Belinda, his grandmother, Clay and his girlfriend, Chloe to celebrate.  Due to his grandmother and the fact that the food at Still Hopes rivals the best restaurants in Columbia we chose to do dinner there and then have cake (and cards/gifts) back at her apartment.

I'm an ARTIST!!!

One thing I love is getting together with girlfriends to celebrate birthdays. Victoria's is the first of the year and she set the bar HIGH for us. She chose to go to Tag It Art where the owner, Jackie, walked us through painting a picture...on a blank canvas. No fill in the lines on this! It was sooooo much fun and according to Glenn my painting was "really good...much better than expected". Happy birthday, Victoria....and thank you for such a fun evening.

with Paula, Victoria and Peggy
Victoria and her mom

this is what I started with

Birthday Girl!

I look like an artist!

at the end of step 1

Paula and Peg hard at work

my tree is drawn!

and....VOILA! My finished product!

me and my girls with our paintings!

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Matthews

On Friday night Mrs. Matthews and I had a "sleepover" in her hospital room. We ate a donut, watched CSI: Miami, talked and went to bed early, but it was a great to spend the time with her and I was able to be the first one to say "happy birthday".

Later in the day, Glenn and I went back to visit and took a birthday cake for her to celebrate!

Happy Birthday to "the Girls"

The last week of October an annual birthday celebration is held at Dianne's for Mary, Michela, Belinda and Mrs. Matthews birthdays. Unfortunately this year Mrs. Matthews was unable to attend since she is in the hospital, but the party went on and it was not the same without her there.

We did enjoy seeing everyone and a great meal. And, it was so sweet because Ross called Mrs. Matthews at the hospital and sang (with the entire restaraunt backing him up) "Happy Birthday" to her!

The October Birthday girls minus Mrs. Matthews

Charles surprised Mary with her caricature for the Dianne's wall

Happy Birthday, Glenn!

On August 17th, Glenn celebrated his 35th birthday! Friends and family joined us for dinner at MoMo's Bistro and the evening was topped by his favorite cake, Yaya's from Zoe's. I think it was a fun evening for him and he was surrounded by some of his very favorite people.

Glenn and his mom waiting on our table
Ben and "Ms." Peggy

balloons from Ruben...that is Justin Beiber

birthday cake

My Birthday

I have the best husband and friends in the world! For my birthday we chose to try a new restaurant, Mezza Lebanese Bistro, and unfortunately the food was not very good. But, they were all wonderful to celebrate with me anyway!

I was thrilled to have, in addition to Glenn, Belinda and his grandmother, some of our favorite people: Peggy, Paula, Ruben, Victoria and Cam, Ashley and Cory, Christina and Lachlan, and Hilda. We had a great time and I would thank to them all SOOOOO much for the good time and fabulous gifts!! :)

Victoria and Cam
with Christina and Lachlan

Mrs. Matthews and Ruben

with my favorite Paula

our table

Chicken Man painting from Peggy

sweet treat from the folks at Mezza

Happy Birthday, Paula (And Ben)

Last Thursday, 7/7 was my friend Paula's birthday. We have another mutual friend, Ben, who shares the same birthday and Ben has ANOTHER friend, Janet, that shares the date, too. So, they all three decided to have one giant birthday party at The Big Ugly, a cajun themed place in the Vista. (Fairly new to Columbia, I think. This was the first time we'd ever been there.)

We had a blast as many of our friends, especially some we haven't seen in a LONG time, were there. Including my sorority sister, Christina, her husband and their adorable 8 month old. I was thrilled to see her and catch up.

And, I think the birthday trio had a pretty good time!

More Ben's Birthday Pictures

Last week Mr. Rick gave Ben an album and CD of photos from his birthday dinner at Dianne's. He enjoyed looking back at the evening, but isn't at the age where he appreciates this type of gift just yet. Mom, on the other hand, loved it!

Happy Birthday, Ben....Again!

Unfortunately Mrs. Matthews fell on Tuesday night and broke her ankle. She was unable to go to Dianne's on Devine for the Ross Holmes' Valentine's Celebration and for Ben's birthday. After sitting with her for a few hours that afternoon she asked that we please keep her reservation and go. So, Mr. Rick. Lulu, Ben, Glenn and I headed there for dinner and celebrating. As always the food was great and we had a terrific time, although it just wasn't the same without her there.

Ben opening a "Great Grandson" card from Mrs. Matthews with his favorite gift inside!
Ross Holmes (and restaurant patrons) singing Happy Birthday to Ben!

blowing out the candle on his slice of Godiva cake

me and my Ben

birthday dance with Lulu!

Happy Birthday, Ben and Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is always so super special because it doubles as Ben's birthday. This year was a super busy day, too. The day started with a FABULOUS present....JaDaveon Clowney chose Carolina...whoo hooo!!

After school and faculty meeting I had to hurry home and get Ben to baseball practice. Before we left though he took a moment to open another present that arrived from the Wrights and it was something he wanted and he definitely needed before we left ---- a baseball bat bag. While he was at practice I got groceries and then Glenn took me out for dinner at surprisingly busy Casa Linda's. Since it was his b-day we let Ben get drive thru from his favorite....McDonald's. I had gotten my gift at the event on Friday and bought Glenn's gift (Lilly swimming trunks and matching shirt to take to Costa Rica) a few weeks ago. But, I got them each a card and can of Pringle's, their favorite treats and Glenn got me a card and box of candy.

Ben finished his day with his last present from us....a new bedtime of 10 p.m. That he was extremely excited about! Happy birthday, Ben! And, Happy Valentine's Day!!