Some of my best friends growing up were born around the same time as me. Matthew on the 17….Kristin on the 18. I was the oldest, older than Matthew by two days and Kristin by a year and three days. It was always good to have our birthday’s together, why? I don’t know. It was just comforting. I’m lucky to still be in contact with these two, but not the way we were growing up. Funny how life has a way of bringing people in and out of your life. Kristin is in pursuit of her doctorate at University of Michigan, another science person….I honestly don’t know how so many people I was close to in high school turned into such science geeks. I can’t relate to them in anyway when it comes to science. Matthew and his wife just welcomed their first baby into the world at the end of October. Congrats on baby Noah! I could get side-tracked at this point and go on to talk about Emily, who shared my birthday all through middle and high school, but that is a long story of a enemy-friendship circle. 🙂
All this to say, I’m learning as I get older to celebrate me and my birthday and it’s okay. And it’s always a good excuse to have people over and have some fun. 🙂 And that’s just what we did last night. I fixed appetizers, which can be found on the Recipe Page. I forgot the salt in the Checca, but didn’t realize that until today. Zach said it tasted good and I don’t eat the stuff so I hope it was still good. The sausage balls were a hit like always, but my personal favorites are the Bacon and Swiss Mini-Muffins, although I think this batch was a little more oniony than I prefer.
As most of the guest are in my cast of characters, I won’t re-tell you about them, but there are a few “newbies.”
Jonathan and Cari:

Jonathan is an old friend of mine from Faith Ministries, the first church I ever really went to. I believe we were 14 when we met and although we fell out of contact for several years, the marvolous invention of the internet has brought us back together. Cari is his wife. They have a little boy, Judah, but left him at home for the evening.
Tasha and Billy:

Tasha, Billy and I played in orchestra together in high school. I can’t say we were close in high school, but we were friends. Tasha and Billy dated though high school and got married, I believe, a year after we graduated. Again, the Internet has brought us back together and we are wondering why we weren’t closer growing up. I guess God brings people into your lives at certain times for a purpose and we just don’t know what the reasoning is.
After the initial talk and eat, we play Keri’s game, “Celebrities.” It was fun and we all were involved. Then Tasha and Billy left because they are moving and were just beat. We had some cheesecake and Zach brought Roxy down to play for a moment.
My cheesy smile:

Travis (Hanna’s boyfriend) and Hanna:

Russ and Roxy:

Keri:

And then we had nine….one too many for PIT, but Jonathan said he would sit out. I decided it was okay as long as he took the photos…..well, then his wife, Cari wanted to sit out and play with my camera. I think she had fun and I got great game shots. 🙂
This one just cracks me up….look at my face.

A hand:

Stacy playing PIT:

Me playing PIT:

Zach playing PIT:

Hanna playing PIT:

My favorite shot of the game:

Game shot:

A few of the main person-behind-the-camera of the night, Cari:


Later, somehow….Stacy and Zach got into a discussion about how many baby carrots Stacy could fit into her mouth at one time, kinda like cubby bunny, but with carrots. Well, Stacy claimed 30, so she had to follow through. 🙂 It was probably the funniest thing that happened all night. I couldn’t stand it and had to go to the bathroom, so Russ had to step in taking photos for me.
Stacy and the carrots:


And the last one….makes 11! More than I thought, but not 30. 🙂

Oh, and for my birthday, Stacy painting this great painting of Lexi and Guinness. I’m going to put it above the fish tank, which means they look at the front door. Hehe. 🙂 Mom and Dad had it framed. It’s great!
