Of the birthday girl.

I must admit I was pretty bummed Scott didn't plan anything for my birthday when I told him this last summer that I wanted something big. It was my 40th birthday after all but alas a week before I realized my choices were to either do it myself or be sad, disappointed, and hurt. So I planned a painting event knowing full well that most people were not going to be able to come since it was so last minute. We were able to use Groupon, Mom and Dad your gift card almost covered my whole portion- Thank you!!, so it was not too bad. I knew it would be a fun time no matter who was able to come. It was a very fun time. Right up my ally since I love painting. Stacy, Caleigh, Brenda, Dawn, Juanita, and Kalie were able to join.

After Stacy, Caleigh, Brenda, Dawn and I went to Acapulco for lunch.
Stacy and Caleigh were dropped off because they had been in Duluth skiing for New Years. They got a ride with Brenda home. Dawn and I went back to her place because she bought all the stuff to make me a mothers necklace including the stamp sets of the alphabet in multiple sized and tons of shapes in metal to put names and dates on. Like the ones I got for Mom and Lindy. Yes I said she bought it all. We worked on it for about two hours but still could not get it to look or work right. Something is wrong. We have to figure out if there is a specific hammer or something. Anyway, we tried. Then we went to the theater to go to a movie and can you believe that EVERY movie from 7:30-8:30 was sold out. So weird and frustrating. So I went home. Scott and I ended up going to a movie at our local theater which was empty. Go figure. I know that our theater is not redone and fancy with the lounging seats so that must be the difference.

Since we were kinda free without the kids for New Years Eve Scott was able to use his company rate to get us a whirlpool suite at a hotel in Brainerd MN. So I dropped the kids off in Hudson and we left Brooklyn Center around 4. I found a masquerade ball at a local bar on the lake up there for the New Years Eve festivities but when I walked in with my mask that Caleigh let me borrow I was one of two people that actually was wearing one. So I just took it off. We stayed for an appetizer and left at 11 since it ended up being more of a younger crowd looking to get drunk. I wanted to get out of there before they got on the road at midnight. Big bummer since I was excited about the great mask I had put together.

I was not interested in doing that much outdoors because it was around 20 degrees the whole time and I wanted to sleep. So on New Years day we did some returning. Which was great because I find it impossible to do that with the kids. I had things from the past 6 months that had to go back to Kohl's, JCPenny, Target, and Walmart. Scott does not return his own stuff and he doesn't try things on in the store if I'm not with him so that leaves me with quite the load. And it was fun to just tool around the small town. We had a nice breakfast at a local hole-in-the-wall and just took it easy with hot tubs thrown in before dinner.
Then for our last meal we went to a local steak house that was full loud people and teenage girls. They were all a hockey team from Buffalo MN. The moms were at one table the dads at another and all the girls taking selfies at another. Pretty funny. When we got back to the hotel we realized it too had been taken over by teenage girls from the same tournament. It just so happened that Grand Torino was on TV so we got to finish the night with a good movie. Not too shabby!
Over all it was a very nice time. It was especially nice that we didn't have to worry about the kids. Lindy kept us up to date with pictures each day and they seemed to be having a blast.

 

We are home together and it felt like we hadn't seen the kids in a week. It was nice to get them back. They were both sleeping within 5 min of being in the car. Thanks Mr. and Mrs. D!!!