Make-Up Tradtion a Must!

One of the best traditions a girl could ask for was started over 30 years ago when Grammy took her girls to the store for their own pick of make-up.  With a set budget, we would set off for the best deals, so excited that we got to pick our own stuff!
The tradition continues into the next generation.  My mom still takes her girls to Ulta, gives us a budget, and we scour the store for the best deals on our favorite brands.  Sometimes, we end up with one very expensive brush, and other times we splurge on different styles.  I am not one for much make-up, but this is one of my favorite traditions and I couldn't wait to start this with my own girls.  We now have a few more that join in, but it is always a fun hour at the make-up store!  We met up at Ulta, a budget was given, and the fun began.  Even Jade and Lilly wanted their own bags with lip gloss!  Girls just know what they need!

 

 

Shun-the-Sun Race

One of my "new" hobbies is jogging.  I'm not sure it is really jogging, maybe very fast walking and picking up my feet, but nonetheless, moving quicker than normal.  After working at this new hobby from the approach of "from couch to 5K", I was somehow convinced that I could actually run a 5K race.  Jacque and I entered the Shun-the-Sun Cancer Run.  Jacque entered the 1/2 Marathon and I entered my first official 5K.  It was scheduled for the afternoon, which was very, very warm.  We were given long-sleeve shirts to wear (shun the sun) and I was very nervous about the heat.  However, I had the best cheering squad a Grammy/Mom could ask for!

 

 

I will admit whole-heartedly that it was harder than I thought.  The heat, the shirt, the course...I don't know....but I really thought I was going to have a heart attack!  I had two goals:  One - don't stop!  Two - don't come in last!
ACCOMPLISHED!!

Jacque's race started first, and then my race began....

We waited a little while for Jacque to come in.  She did her best time ever for a 1/2 Marathon!

I cannot believe that this dream became a reality.  Who would have ever thought that AFTER I turned 50, I would start to do things like this??

50 - The Celebration Continues

After a wonderful day of ROAK's, Thursday, I went to my kindergarten class that I am doing some school service learning with.  I love these little kiddos and the teacher is amazing!  I got to the class and found this on the door:

That evening, the kids all got together and cooked an amazing meal for our family.  I have been blessed with 4 girls who CAN COOK.  Even Aaron gets in the kitchen and loves to taste and adjust the flavors.  It is one of my all time favorite memories and happy thought....... my kitchen full of family, laughing, tasting, running into each other, and finally - eating scrumptious food. 

Not one type of chicken - 3 different types to test and try - YUMMY!!

Jade loved helping Grammy open her presents!

Blurry - but the best feeling in the world!!

It was a wonderful evening, that I THOUGHT was the end of my birthday celebration - I was mistaken......

I had a Future Teacher Conference I was at on Friday, March 9th.  It was held at South Mountain Community College and was quite the experience.  Aly had called and wanted to go to the movies with me that evening.  HUH??
1 - It is a FRIDAY and Aly usually has plans that do NOT involve her mamma
2 - I was going to be tired from being at a conference for 7.5 hours

I tried to suggest watching a movie at the house, but then plans "changed" and she wanted to get pedicures together.  WEIRD.  Jacque was suppose to be on a date and since Savannah was out of town, Aaron was "doing laundry and sleeping over" for the evening.  It was going to be a quiet evening, one that I was looking forward to.  I picked Aly up at the house, which she was OUTSIDE waiting for me - I didn't pick up on ANYthing.  We went to get our toesies all nice and pretty and headed home.

Even now, as I type this blog post, I am overwhelmed with the love and friendship that was shown me this evening.

Yep - that expression is exactly how I looked and felt!!

My family had planned a surprise party that blew me away.  So many friends and family took time out of their busy, busy lives to celebrate this "milestone" in my life.  I cannot begin to express the embarrassment first, but appreciation to all who came, shared their love and feelings, wrote in a book of love, and enjoyed an evening with our family.  It was a wonderful evening - one that I will never forget.

How could the food be anything but perfect with this amazing person behind the grill??

My other sister - Cindy

My dad talking to Uncle Paul and Aunt Sue

My sis, LaNae and Clay

Three amazing siblings - Clay, Cassie, & Cami

Four of the most incredible women I know!

Jenn - Shannon - Jolene - Marian

Our "soon-to-be" neighbors - Sam and Randa

The best part of family - Kade, Roxanne, Dennis, & Mark

Two fabulous sister-in-laws, LaDawn & Yvette

I'm still trying to figure out when these two got SO beautiful!!

Lindy & Maili Harris

Faye and Cami

Aaron helping Dailynd with something

Sweet Shay & my beautiful daughter, Jacque

People, food, and fun

Another dear friend, Leann

This book is one of my new treasures.  I can't wait to finish all the pages! 

50

Birthday celebrations always include a fantastic dinner at Grammy and Grampy's home.  They out-did themselves and I enjoyed one of the most tastiest dinners of at least 1/2 century!  All the family (except Jacque because she had to work *sad face*) came to celebrate and everyone loved my "new glasses and very cute headband!"

I've been thinking about this "milestone" for quite awhile.  I wanted to do something memorable that would require that I didn't sit around and really contemplate that I am now a one-half century old.  So, awhile back (maybe a year of so), I found a blog about a young woman who celebrated her birthday with RAOK's - Random Acts of Kindness.  WA-LA....an idea was formed.  For my 50th birthday, I wanted to do 50 RAOK's on my 50th birthday.  About 3 months ago, I started to prepare for this day.  It has taken many hours and lots of planning. 

Since I have school - and it was the end of mid-terms on my birthday - we had to plan around school.  With the help of my amazing family and friends who wanted to be a part of such a crazy idea - we pulled this off.  We started at the beginning of March 7th (around midnight) and ended at 10:00 p.m.  We had so many spontaneous reactions, surprised looks and funny stories to tell. 
This is our amazing day......
Jacque had to work the night shift before my birthday.  We had planned to surprise the night and day shift nurses, the staff, and  patient care tech's with treats and water bottles.  They loved them!!

*Jacque's insert*: See that bucket right there?  Pret-tee big bucket eh?  Mom waddled out to the car loading it with hastiness because of its weight.
"phew that was heavy! Ok have a good night Jac!"
I drove into the parking lot and it dawned on me...The parking lot is at least 1/4 if not a 1/2 mile from my break room at work.  GREEEAAATT .  So I'm waddling awkwardly huffing, puffing, and turning pink from exertion, when someone says "Do you want help?"
FINALLY!
She slides her little hands over the blankets on top of the bucket (see below) and carries the feather-weight blankets for me.  What an angel.  I get into the break room, receiving stares all along the way, and slam the bucket onto the table.  *...chirp....chirp* "Umm...what is that?" "My MOM is turning 50 and wants you all to have some freakin water!" Lets just say I was not in the right state of mind to tell them about this wonderful service for a full four minutes.  After that, I told them what it was for, and my co workers were ranting and raving the rest of the shift!

After her shift, Jacque delivered hand-made quilts to "care-area 8" at Phoenix Children's Hospital.  These were made by Jacque and me and turned out so cute - mini little baby quilts!

Meanwhile..... we handed out a few of these in the morning.....and I headed to school with a few boxes of donuts.

I took 2 boxes to my Education classes and told the professors that these are just "random acts of kindness". 
One said:  "What is that....an organization or something?"
"Nope....just a random act of kindness"
The students thought that was so cool and couldn't believe someone would "just do that!".
Aly and I worked hard to stack the vending machines at CGCC.  It was very tricky considering that people were mingling around and we were trying to be anonymous!

During my break between class #2 and class/lab #3, I went to an elementary school where I am doing some service learning (or volunteer work) and delivered a few more boxes of donuts.  The staff was pleasantly surprised and the teachers loved their "extra" thank you.  It is so much fun to make someone's day better......it was going to be a great day!! I also took two packages to the post office to surprise our wonderful nephews serving the people of Florida and the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, Aly took donuts to the staff and class where she is doing her service learning.  The class was so appreciative and the teacher really didn't know what to do.  Spreading kindness was getting very contagious!

After school, we gathered all the rest of our RAOK's and picked up another helper.  Kade helped by paying parking meters at ASU right before a "nice police officer" was ready to give those unsuspecting students a tickets. When he called, Kade couldn't stop telling us how "cool" it was to be able to do those RAOK's for others.  He had reactions like "What are you doing?! ...No way man!  That's sick!" Or a girl who had to leave her class to refill the meter caught him and he told her she could go back inside.  "No way?  You are awesome!!" 
Or the cops...Kade said "Hey are you ticketing those cars?"
 "...yes...unless you're going to pay them."
 "I am!" 
*blank stares*
We delivered pizzas to the fire stations on Guadalupe with Jade and Aly.  The firemen were so nice and very appreciative.  They invited us to see the firetruck, gave Jade a hat, and let us ring the bell!!

Then we headed to PCH Urgent Care in Mesa and Cardon's Children Hospital for baskets of books, coloring supplies, puzzles, and markers.

For our final RAOK's we went to Barnes and Noble and stuffed some books with gift cards, went to a laundry mat and spread some kindness there, had some friends (the Harris's) stick notes of appreciation on the cars at the temple, and ended the evening with more cookie deliveries and a Book of Mormon to the missionaries.

We ended our RAOK's at 10:00 p.m.  There were many RAOK's that didn't get recorded in pictures.  Some of the other things we did were :
Donuts to the Temple workers (Grammy and Grampy helped)
Gift cards to Boy Scout Shop for families
Big tip at lunch time
ROAK at Sonic
Not only was this day fun, but some of the stories will be told for a long time.  In between classes and our evening RAOK's, I came home to a house full of gorgeous flowers (50 roses) and a super clean kitchen.  It was so beautiful!  I have Brad, Cindy, and Jacque to thank for such a beautiful surprise!!

I can't imagine a better way to spend such a milestone of a birthday.  I think I will start planning now for my 60th!