Facebook Birthday

It was my birthday yesterday. The time when I would painstakingly plan a party, whittle my guest list down to the allowed number by my parents and worry oh so much over what I wore to said party is over. Dare I say it? I think I'm middle-aged.
I'm definitely not a twenty-something. I'm a good chunk from over-the-hill. But still, it kinda feels middle-y.

Instead of a party, I hope for extra naps, a good book (check!), eating without monitoring someone else's pie-hole, and maybe if I'm super lucky money to spend on ME (check and check). It was a nice birthday. I got what I wanted pretty much.

I got the requisite phone calls and emails from family. Dad will visit; spent time with Mom (she paid my house cleaners! woot!); brother and SIL called and we caroused; Aunt B called; Aunt A emailed - they're sick but we're doing dinner in a few days; got a card and promised gift from my Grandma; a card and VERY nice gift from my Grandpa; gift and card from my MIL, who's visiting; a great book from my other super SIL; gift on it's way from Hubby. I am very blessed.

But this year was a bit different. I joined Facebook a few months back. And I've accumulated a couple hundred 'friends'. I enjoy seeing what other people are doing now that I haven't seen or heard from in years. But it is a bit odd to receive such heartfelt birthday wishes from them when some of us haven't spoken, even on FB, in years. Don't get me wrong, I don't want them to take their wishes back. I love that they made those wishes. It just feels a bit weird.

It's kind of like your twelve year old self wishing your forty year old self Happy Birthday. Think about it. Do those two people have anything in common? I'm not sure my two selves will. Similar yes, but oh so different. I'm thinking at forty, I still won't be having a planned party. I'm sure I'll be razzed about going over-the-hill, and there will be lots of death decorations. But the twelve year old in me still wants the laser tag party. Maybe next year.

Christmas 2008 Travels, the continuation

--continued from this post--
We had to use those chains until we hit about Woodburn, or Gervais; I can't quite remember where. It was quite a ways from Portland. The worst part was getting out of the housing development and then just having to go so slow. We decided to drive for another hour at the actual speed limit after we took the chains off and then stop for the night. 45 minutes at 60 mph we also decided to stop at a Target in Keizer and get a cheap pack-n-play for Oliver to sleep in.

We ended up stopping an hour or so south of Salem and boy were we glad there was NO SNOW THERE. Oliver actually kept to his normal bedtime during this and had been asleep for about 3
hours when we stopped. We pulled the pack-n-play out of the car first and set it up in the bathroom and whisked him into it. I tucked him in and we never heard a peep from him all night.

We let Oliver wake us up (he normally wakes at 7 am) and after breakfast at the hotel we were off. It was a pleasant (if longer with more stops for Oliver) trip and we arrived in one piece just in time to put Oliver in bed in yet another pack-n-play at Grandma's house.

Whew.

Once there we had a wonderful time. Ethan decided not to stay an extra day so he drove back the following Sunday and I flew back (yes by myself with Oliver, quite a handful) on Tuesday
the 30th. Thankfully we found an affordable airfare straight into WW so we didn't have another hour in the car after three airports and two planes.

Oliver has the wrapping paper thing down solid now. We start a corner and he just keeps tearing. I'm not sure he understands when presents are for him or that the point is what's inside
but he has a ball.

And how were your holidays?