Birthday celebrations

As I am trying to plan my 30th birthday bash I have found myself remembering all the 29 other celebrations that led me to this day. Can you remember some of your favorite parties or presents? I sure can!

I have pictures to know my parents went all out for my first birthday...100+ people to celebrate a one year old is quite a way to set the bar going forward. I know there was a fun party when we lived in Israel that I was dressed like a bride and got the whole Barbie wedding setup - complete with the plastic grass to set the chairs for Barbie and Ken's friends, little bouquets my grandmother made for the bridal party, and hearing I had an accident during the party in my costume and had to change before heading down for the pool party.

I remember my first birthday party right before my mom and David got married at White Rock Skating rink where I received not one but two baby lab puppies with giant bows scampering onto the rink - Pollyanna and Penelope - what a great present times two!

I know there was a spin art party, watermelon theme pool party in our Grand Prairie house backyard complete with a NKOTB cake, a makeover party which we jammed to the new hit cassette tape single "Whoomp! There it is!" and went to Ogle for makeovers, small slumber parties and trips to the cute little Duncanville tea room, concert at Six Flags to see Richard Marx (don't laugh-I asked for it!), 50's theme skating party at PCBC, my mom quizzing me on my present to get it - "a drug dealer, a doctor, and now you have this in common?" (a pager), getting back from our fabulous Washington, D.C. Choir tour and heading to Traildust for a big dinner and dancing night, family dinners on birthdays there wasn't a huge party, and then the ever memorable (depending on alcohol consumption maybe not so memorable) bar hopping nights, jetting off to spend 10 days in the south of France with my family wasn't too shabby either!

Looking at where I have been the last 3 years - France for 27, I was able to announce on my 28th birthday after passing the "safe to tell" time frame that I was pregnant, 29 was marked with being given anti-depressants and a grilled dinner at home with my little family, and now here comes 30.....

I love that it is a celebration with friends, family, kids, and good times for all. How funny to think going to a bar these days involves babysitters, looking up at 10ish exhausted, and ooooooover the bar scene....let's say a big HALLELUJAH! I am proud of growing up into this part of my life with what really matters and not the superficial, expensive bar tabs, stressing over finding the perfect dress, and hoping everyone who RSVP'd showed up.

Bring it 30. I've got big plans for you...let's see how this party holds up to the others....