JUST GIVE ME ENOUGH ROPE

My Balloon Said "Happy Cake Day!" Because I don't get to eat it very often.

May 17th is my birthday.  This year it fell on a Thursday so I kept the kids home from school and we vegged out.  My actual birth date was a nice relaxing day and not overly exciting...which is just the way I like it.  I was, however, looking forward to the arrival of my parents who came up on Friday to celebrate my birthday weekend.

Mom and dad like to make odds and ends to sell at craft markets.  My dad is pretty handy with wood products and my mom is a whiz at making Americana Decor and what-not.  They decided to bring up some stuff to sell at our local Flea Market just to have something to do on Saturday, and to test out the market.

Brise, Becca, Me, Kole, Kazz, Daxx, Vinze, Jaibrian and Brian

Saturday night my family gathered around our family dining table so I could have my turn as the Birthday Girl.  Brian went WAY out of his way to find a Gluten Free Bakery to buy my cake.  It was yummy!  Chocolate / Chocolate Cake with 5 red roses and 1 yellow rose.  He ordered it that way specifically to signify our 5 sons and 1 daughter.

My hubby thinks of things like that.  He's kind of the best husband on the earth, but I don't advertise that too often, 'cause he's mine and I want to keep it that way.  He also does laundry, buys me flowers during my period sometimes, just to brighten my day and mops the kitchen floor when the urge strikes him.  Yep, he's a keeper. I kind of love him a lot

Me posing by my Butcher Block Table

But I digress...

Tonight I got to celebrate my birthday with ALL of our children and my mother and father.  I had asked for a few things over the past months but wasn't sure if people were paying attention.  I'm a Pinterest addict, so you can just imagine the things that must have been on my long list of wants.

Mom, Dad and Me

Guess what I got!!

Kazz and Becca got me an Electric Sander from Sears so I can sand my rusty, metal table outside for a project I've been chomping at the bit to do.  (Becca, my precious, loving, beautiful daughter in law is a good listener)

Brian bought me the thick rope and thick, solid wood that will become the old fashioned tree swing that I've been wanting for our front yard.

Dad and Me by the Butcher Block

I specifically asked for one sturdy enough to hold me. (and any random drunk adult who may pass by our home, in the middle of the night, and decide to go for a swing.)  He totally fulfilled my request.

As he walked through Home Depot buying the stuff to make my swing, he kept saying to himself, 'don't buy an axe, don't buy an axe...or tarp.'  In his mind, the purchase looked suspicious enough to warrant a full out FBI detail to make sure he wasn't wrapping a body for a dump! ROFL

My mom bought me the fancy, schmancy aroma therapy stick thingy's that I love so much.  You know those sticks in the aroma bottle that you turn over now and then to make the room smell nice?  That's the stuff.

Me posing, yet again, by the table my dad made

My dad? Well, he pulled a fast one on me.  He has been working on this Butcher Block Carving Table for a month or so.  It's made from 140 year old Barn Beams.  Can you imagine the time and effort it took to sand that stuff down?
 
He even used the actual wooden rods from the barn to hold this table together. He took the time to glue the wood and make the entire thing from those Barn Beams.  It's beautiful, it's super heavy....and it's mine!  I couldn't stop looking at it...and moving it around in the kitchen....and taking pictures by it....and kissing my dad.

I don't have to tell you the treasure I have sitting in my kitchen right now.  This is a family heirloom that will be loved and cherished by our family for many years.

The thought, time and effort put into each and every gift lifted my spirits this weekend.  I have been reminded, once again, how very blessed I am to be surrounded by precious, giving people who I get to call family.  Not everyone is this lucky and I want it to be known that I absolutely know how fortunate I am.  I love my family so very much.  Thank you, guys!