3 Decades and A Smile

I guess I should give myself a post of my own to pin point my celebration of existence for 30 years.

On April 4th, 1983 a little Greek baby girl named Cassandra Marie was born :)
(in case you were wondering...that's me)

On April 4th, 2013, now a wife and a mother, that respectively still young woman is now 30 years old.  I'm sure this makes my parents feel much older than I do (Sorry mom and dad!).  But yes, it's true.  I'm officially 30.

I never had any reserves about aging.  When I first met my husband, he had indirectly taught me how to look at things differently and more positively.  With his help, I've graciously accepted the simple truth that "it's-better-to-grow-older-than-to-die-younger" mindset.  Plus it's Only 30! 

Since we had discovered that we were expecting another baby on April 2, and we had plans to go out to dinner with family on April 6, or so I thought...Justin and I had talked about making an announcement to our close friends and family while we were out to eat.  Well unbeknownst  to me, the actual plan for Saturday April 6, was for me to go out to lunch with my girlfriends and come home to a Surprise Party with my close friends and family there waiting to celebrate with me!

After my girlfriends picked me up at home, we headed out to one of my favorite restaurants, Olive Garden, for lunch!  (No one knew the baby news yet)

Well...since it was my 30th birthday and I usually have at least a glass of wine when we get together and I only ordered water, I figured they would get suspicious.  Finally after everyone ordered and received their drinks, we did a group "Cheers!" to friendship and birthdays and in the midst of all that, I also blurted out "to New Additions!".  Everyone gasped in surprise and cheered as most of them got the insinuation right away.  :)

We headed back to my house (I drove since I have a vehicle that fits all 6 of us) and when I got to my road about 1/4 mile from my house, I saw a lot of people standing outside on the sidewalk on either side of the street.  I thought maybe someone was having a yard sale at first.  Then I saw people were holding signs!  Then I saw the signs all said something about me!!  It was the coolest thing ever to see a bunch of people I know and love holding up a sign that said something about me having a birthday or turning 30!

All of these pretty happy faces were lined up and down the street for me, along with many others!

A huge THANK YOU to my cousin-in-laws, Paige and Sasha, for doing all of these signs that I love so much!

 I was so excited seeing all of these signs as I passed that I probably honked the horn about 50 times within 100 yards!  I pulled in the driveway and just started hugging anyone I could grab! :)  My whole front lawn was filled with people I knew and loved!  It felt as wonderful and special as my wedding day; having so many people in one place because they love me.  Such a great feeling!  Thank You All!

 I walk into my house and it's filled with balloons with ribbon!  Everywhere!  I loved it!

I go into the dining room where I find a yummy looking cake!  (with purple trimmings of course)

Then I'm told there is one more surprise...

And my dad and step mom from New Jersey pop out of our basement door!  Hugs are flying again!

Crazy enough my daughter had slept through all of that commotion (and horn honking), so we woke her up from her nap and put her in her "announcement shirt" and let her walk around to get some reactions out of people.  :)

That day was so much fun, I didn't want it to end!  :)  It was a great way to bring in my 30's and I'm so blessed and lucky to have these people in my life!  A special big "thank you" to my hubby for planning all of this for me, even though we said we wouldn't do something big for my birthday because of funds, but he managed to find a way to make it happen for me anyway because he said I "deserved it".  Thank you, baby!

Love to you all!