Birthday Countdown: Day Eight

Bob and Larry from "Veggie Tales."

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Birthday Countdown: Day Seven

Arthur from the Marc Brown "Arthur" books and tv show.

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Birthday Countdown: Day Six

Olivia from the OLIVIA books and tv show.

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Birthday Countdown: Day Five

Clifford from CLIFFORD, THE BIG RED DOG.

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Birthday Blues

May is a busier time of year for me than the holidays!

So many important birthdays to recognize!!!
The birthday extravaganza kicks off with my dear friend Brandon's birthday on April 30.

Then...

Laura (friend and godmother to Noodlebug)--May 10
Vieve (college buddy)--May 12
Noodlebug--May 18
Andre' (friend and co-worker)--May 18
Brian (brother-in-law)--May 19
Mick (close friend/male bridesmaid)--May 23
ME--May 25
Kim (blogger and triathlete)--May 28

And that doesn't even include the May birthdays that AREN'T at the top of the list.  Plus, there is Mother's Day and end-of-year teacher gifts to do.

Two of those friends are having milestone birthdays this year that MUST be celebrated and recognized in a big way.

By the time my own birthday rolls around, I am exhausted. 

I have no excitement around my own birthday anymore.  The continuing burden of financial worry crushes any enthusiasm plus there is the fact that another year of (potential) fertility has come and gone. 

I kind of just want to skip the whole thing this year. I can't muster any enthusiasm for it.  Right now, I'm just focused on the production of Noodlebug's birthday party on May 12.  Hope I can pull it off!!!

Birthday Countdown: Day Four

The Lorax from Dr. Seuss' THE LORAX.

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Birthday Countdown: Day Three

Harold from HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON.

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Birthday Countdown: Day Two

Brother Bear from the BERENSTAIN BEARS.

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Ten Days of Laura

My good friend Laura (godmother to my child) is celebrating a milestone birthday this year.  She has been through a lot over the past two years and it was very important to me that her birthday be extra special this year.

I saw this wonderful idea on Oh Happy Day and thought I would try to do my own version.

Since Laura's birthday is May 10, I gathered together ten of her close friends and family and had them each sponsor one day.  They could do something big like a gift certificate or something small like offering to take her out for a cupcake on the afternoon of their day. 

I snuck into Laura's apartment this past weekend and set up the surprise wall:

She loves leopard print so I used that as a background along with bright pink letters and numbers.  She gets to begin opening envelopes today. (one per day)  There will be a special surprise from her sweetheart on the day of her birthday.

I wasn't there to see her reaction when she came home to find the surprise wall but her sweetie captured it for me:

She opened her first envelope this morning and texted me right away.

I hope she enjoys every minute of it!!!

Birthday Countdown: Day One

Here is the first page of Noodlebug's Birthday Countdown Coloring Book.  Each page is in a plastic sleeve and we'll be taking out one page per day until his birthday to color.

All drawings are hand-drawn by me. No tracing. I looked at various images for inspiration and then modified as needed.  Most of them come from our favorite children's books.

The first page is from MOUSE PAINT by Ellen Stoll Walsh.  Noodlebug particularly loves the red mouse so I'm guessing this one will be colored red.

See other pages from the Birthday Countdown Coloring Book by clicking on the "Birthday Countdown" label.