This is when we were singing our birthday song to Adam, notice how Bella got into it (she and Whitney are wearing heinous dance costumes from my childhood) and is point for the "to you, to you, to you" part of the song.
"Happy, happy birthday
may all dreams your come true.
Happy, happy birthday
to you, to you, to you, ole!"
may all dreams your come true.
Happy, happy birthday
to you, to you, to you, ole!"
Adam's favorite dessert is pecan pie so that's what we made for him. Randy actually made it (since he was available during the day) and it turned out really well. Notice the very cute pie plate Michelle gave me for Christmas.
We took two self-portraits at the end of the night, this was the first one. I think it's hilarious. I find that the mistakes and super close-ups that result when taking self-portraits are often my favorites.
We had a great night which involved some ab-workout type laughter. We played SCUM for a long time and I never made it out of the SCUM seat (last place position). I tried to ask for help and said to Adam, "I don't know why I can't move up in this game" to which he replied, "Because you're not a good SCUM player at all." Ouch, but true.
I finally opened my boat load of Operation Cheer good mail on Saturday, it felt like my birthday!
Liz sent me a nice note, some cards, 3 spools of darling ribbon and some Cadbury Eggs. Thanks Liz!!
Laurie M. sent me these cool envelopes and some very cool, oldish stamps. These are the kind that actually require licking and are valued at .32 cents each. Her note says "Someone with a postal scale can surely put these silly, old stamps to good use!" I can definitely do that!!
Amanda L. sent me this cute package decked out in ribbon and full of shamrock confetti (which managed to surprise me twice). She sent me a package of the self-adhesive ribbon she uses to stick on good mail envelopes (very cool), some .1 cent stamps, a Dove candy bar because it's good for the soul, and a $20 gift card to Target. This was all seriously thoughtful and very cheering. Thanks Amanda!!
Natasha sent me a nice note and a sheet of postage stamps. I'm noticing a bit of a postage-theme here and I must say I love it. Thanks Natasha!!
Lisa sent me this big box full of all things wonderful. She included presharpened pencils, peanut butter m&ms, Cadbury eggs and orange creme kisses (all candies I love), Purell hand sanitizer (which I also love), Mint Mojito gum (fabulous), a $20 gift card to Target because "Unemployment cannot stop us from our beloved store." She also included this wonderful photo card with a really nice note inside. Thanks Lisa!!
Kristi sent me a copy of one of her favorite Conference talks, along with two packages of my favorite candy bars and a really nice note. She decorated the envelope so cute and wrote on there that this is the 3rd time that envelope had gotten used (impressive). Thanks Kristi!!
I don't know who organized all of this outpouring of thoughtfulness, but I'm very grateful for it. I kept thinking about it all weekend and know that as I experience waves of job-loss panic and sadness I will remember this thoughtfulness and be buoyed up. I feel like I have my own personal cheerleaders all over the world and I just need to listen to them when moment like that hits. So thank you to all of you who comment and say such nice things and who send me words of encouragement and fun presents! It's humbling and boosting at the same time!!
**Do you sing a different version of the birthday song?
What's your favorite birthday dessert?
Are you good at SCUM?
Have you been buoyed up by blogging friends?**
What's your favorite birthday dessert?
Are you good at SCUM?
Have you been buoyed up by blogging friends?**
28 comments:
of course i should be first because i have been checking for this post all weekend.
not that i am complaining because look at me who has yet (but will) write about my birthday....
i have been so excited to read about your feelings of seeing all this goodness come your way.
i will not spill the beans of whose idea this was, but will say that it is a new blogging friend, for you which shows you how loved you are.
really jill to see all these goodies come in the mail to you with labels saying good mail from...
is all because of you. you have given all of us such immense joy of sending and receiving good mail for so long. i am just loving seeing it come back to you.
as Anne would say, "Karma"
and it is true what goes around comes around.
love the SP at the birthday Par-tey! you are right those are the best kind.
i hope your mailbox breaks with getting swamped with Operation cheer!
you are just great!!!
Wow...that is some serious good mail!! I love it and you deserve it! I am glad you had a fun game night...nights like that are the best!!
We sing "Happy Birthday, God Bless You, Happy Birthday to You" at the end.
My brother's birthday is next month - wish I could celebrate in person with him.
I've never heard of the SCUM game.
I think Pecan Pie is yuck but Randy's does look nice in Michelle's pie dish. I prefer lemon poundcake or chocolate doberge! No wasting calories on pecans for me.
How fun to see some of the Operation effects. You deserve every bit of it!
I've never heard that Birthday song version before, but it sounds fun! :)
I am so happy about the good cheer packages! Yeah! I hope it really makes a difference in your upcoming weeks! :)
My mom's family sings their own version of the birthday song. As you know, my favorite birthday dessert is homemade German chocolate cake, yum! (Good thing Marc is so adept at making it now.)
I LOVE the sp of you guys at Adam's party!
That is a lot of good mail goodness, none more deserving. I have been buoyed up by blogging friends many a time, and I'm glad they're coming to your aid now!
All I have to say is, it's a good thing us Akenheads weren't there for the SCUM portion of the evening or Adam wouldn't have enjoyed his status as King so much! Ha, it's our gift to him.
I love seeing Bella wear that fluro pink dance outfit! I totally remember you wearing that the first time. What memories.
Wow, you got no shortage of stamps happening around there... you are definitely loved!
I'm jealous of your regular game playing night.
I love scum, but like you spend the bulk of the time in the loser seat.
You would think after living in NOLA I would love Pecan pie, but quite frankly I cannot stand the stuff. I know.. I need to give it another try.
I agree with Kristi- I've always loved sending fun things in the mail, but never put a lot of time or energy into it. Since getting to know you I have a new found appreciation for taking the extra time to send things in the mail to friends and people that I have met in the blogging community.
I'm glad operation cheer had lifted your spirits.
wonderful wonderful mail. and so worthy. someone was very clever to think of operation cheer.
i have indeed been buoyed when most needed and i know the appreciation you feel
it is wonderful and lovely and so deserved...
-carlo
Dear me, the birthday song would've been brilliant as a video clip. You'll have to re-sing it on your own on video for us later in the week. *wink*
I think my husband would prefer pecan pie to cake too. But I think birthday cake should always, always be a Victoria sponge with lashings of icing and frou-frou-ness.
The self-portrait shot is hilarious and brilliant. I haven't got a CLUE what SCUM is. *blinks*
Good Mail is the best and should be prescribed to everyone who is down. I've made about 5 cards tonight to send out as Good Mail, and just making them was good therapy. Enjoy your bounty!!
I just had to pop back to ask - can you find Mint Royale's 'Singin' in the Rain' (Storm in a Double DD Cup Remix) on iTunes or similar?
I've been listening to it over and over and over this evening while I'm doing some DTP work. It suddenly made me think of you and Op.Cheer as I listened to the sampling of Gene Kelly! I hope you can listen to it, and it makes you smile! :-)
We sing the regular birthday song followed by a not so regular birthday song. That song is then followed by a dutch birthday song. It has to be one of my favorite parts of all birthdays.
I don't know how to play scum.
I love Twix candy bars.
I have no idea what SCUM game is? how can this be? Well you deserve every little bit of good mail that comes to you. I think that sp looks awesome and everyone so willing to fit in. That is extra special. My dad loves pecans...so I have always made him pecan pie for brithdays or any cake with nuts.
i'm with you on the "mistakes" that come from taking self portaits, they are often my favorite and they are also the reason we're usually cracking up in the next one!
oh, and one more thing...good job randy for making the pie! you must be married to an artist because my husband wouldn't even know where to find the cute pie plate! love it!
Hooray for operation cheer! I echo what Krist said...I was so excited all week thinking about you opening the package..it really works to bring goodness both ways!
Love the sp of the birthday..fantastic.
We don't sing anything odd..
I like regular old fashioned cake with frosting...but hubby loves pie for birthday too.
We used to play SCUM a lot with a big group of friends when we were first married..haven't played in years..don't think I'd even remember how but I remember it was F U N!!
I love all your good mail! So sweet, I love the blogging network and the feeling of having friends and cheerleaders all over the place. I love blogging! Apparently I love a lot tonight, ha.
Yum, Twix!
What a blessing your operaion cheer! I hope you are doing well and that things are looking on the ups. Your postive posts are very uplifting and it's very admirable to keep high spirits during this time Jill. God Bless :)
I had no idea about Operation Cheer, but I am so glad that you received so much goodness in the mail. Blogging has been good to you. I hope it did the trick, and that you can look back and know how many people love you and truly have your best interest at heart.
I was a little relieved to read that Kristi said it is a new blogging friend because I am sorry to say I didn't get the memo.
I'm happy that you feel buoyed and hope you are doing good.
The pie looks beautiful in your red dish!
Playing scum is fun, but I haven't figured out the king strategy yet.
Looks like operation cheer is working.
We love to play SCUM, and let me just say that I am sure that you can't be as bad at it as I am. My children AKA Teenagers get great pleasure out of being president and seeing me at the bottom as Scum.
I was so thrilled to see so many wonderful gifts sent to you. "Operation Cheer" , Love it!
We love playing scum!! I must say that I rock at it. I usualy kick Jason's butt and it drives him crazy. We are very competitive.
That is some awesome mail you got! Yea for you.
Pecan is Jason's absolute favorite thing in the world. Cute pictures!
Wow, that is so neat that you have such a wonderful family and such wonderful blogging friends! I would give anything to get one good mail package in a year! You are definitely an awesome person and deserve these goodies. Friends are awesome, aren't they?
By the way, I am Leslie. The one who emailed you about gymnastics and only comments occasionally. I am trying to get better because your blog is awesome and very inspiring. Thanks so much!
How sad to only have half the family there- I hope the sickness has left. We sing the classic birthday song.
That pie looks fantastic- Randy is awesome. For me it is German chocolate cake with homemade frosting or nothing.(well not really, I will eat any form of cake, but do have my preferences)
I have never played SCUM- will have to look that one up.
I had no idea about operation good cheer but it sounds like just the thing! I am constantly brought up by the blogging world :)
so fun that your family gets together for birthdays. those are good memories to have!
what in the world is SCUM?!
What a fun project this operation cheer has been. I wonder who started it? What a great idea. I'm glad you have been enjoying an overloaded mailbox, even if your mailman doesn't. Blogging friends are the best.
Our family sings happy birthday in every language we know. It's quite exasperating to tell the truth. My favorite birthday dessert is ice cream cake. And no I am not good at scum. I'm always scum.
Ok that was a fun night for sure. Love the sp of all of us. I hate feeling like I'm in the center. Yikes...better cropping maybe needed. I would love a copy of it though.
Love the operation cheer. You deserve it.
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