1.10.2010

Thankful Birthday

It's been a while dear 88 miles per hour. So we're heading back to November. Time for updates!

For my birthday I enjoyed the simple pleasures. My bday always falls around Thanksgiving and this time around I have to say I was/am genuinely thankful for.....decent cookie sheets (or technically, Jelly Roll pans).
For our Thanksgiving get-together, I was responsible for the rolls. Pressure? People love their rolls. I knew that to make it happen I needed more baking sheets. I used to have 3 of these pans but then I left two behind at our Willard cabin vacation 2 years ago. Ever since then, I've been getting by with just one pan. Duh? Buy another? Well I thought that was easy. Every time I was at Target (and remembered that I needed to a pan) I checked the baking section and all they had were non-stick pans. Same with Walmart. Same with Bed, Bath, and Beyond. In my book, non-stick pans do not cook the same and kind of drive me crazy. Things burn easily. So, I finally found a restaurant supply store (another duh) and ahhhh!!! I walked in and there were my pans, just waiting to be gobbled up. I picked up 5 of them and so...
the pans, along with these cute measuring cups below, were my birthday present. Perfect and actually pretty fun.
That color?! I just want to make excuses to bake, so I can see the 1/2 cup full of fluffy white flour. Thanks Casey for the baking birthday gifts!
To carry on with the food theme, we spent my bday afternoon eating at, yep, Chipotle! The kids love to climb on these bar stools when we're all done eating and watch the busy traffic drive by. (yea, Lucy's wearing her Princess in Black dress in public. Faux pas. I'm sorry):
How I love these little guys:
Across from Chipotle is one of our favorite parks. It's hard to capture all of it in one photo because it's HUGE.
It's all dark brown wood with tons of little cubby holes, hiding places, stairs, ramps, and slides. In the middle is where we adults like to hang and try to watch the kids.
I usually have Lucy wear red so I can spot her easily. Today we had to watch extra closely. It's such a fun place. The kids love to run and jump, act like pirates, and play music:
Me and Lucy on my 33rd year.
Next to the park are fields of grass and baseball parks. Perfect for gathering leaves:
and decorating park benches:
ta-da!
Every year I'm so thankful for a wonderful husband and best friend, and two sweet kids who bring such great energy to our lives. I love you guys! Thanks for a great Birthday!

18 comments:

Unknown said...

We have about three of the exact same playgrounds in the Nashville area. They must be by the same company? They are soooooo much fun!

Kristi Drennan said...

That park is to die for. For reals. It's an isolated person's DREAM! Hee hee! Happy be-lated birthday. I have similar measuring cups...in pink. Loves.

V and Co. said...

oh i love the pans and those measuring cups are toooooooo cute!
congrats to a super great birthday and super awesome family! ;) -V

Sara said...

I've been wondering when you would return to this blog! Happy late birthday. Great gifts, I always want stuff for the kitchen! And that park looks awesome, I wish we had one like that close by! And the leaves on the bench? so cute.

Shelley said...

I love the measuring cups. A restaurant supply store. Really? Man, I need to check one out. I need more jelly roll pans too-- I got 3 when I got married and 2 of them just don't look the same as they used to! Happy Birthday a bit late.

Nicole said...

Sounds like a great birthday. That park does look awesome! I love the leaves decorating the bench & that Lucy wore her Princess dress out, so girly & fun!

Forever You said...

WOW DANA! What a great play yard ! My daughter would go bananas there! We also have little play yard by my house and she loves it ! Love that you have lovely birthday ! Happy birthday to you again and I am very happy that you a re back to this blog!

Forever You said...

Oh and Yah! I love those branches, what a cute idea to decorate them like that and I am 33 too! (Jesus age )

dietcokegrrl said...

YAY for an update!! LOVE that park--awesome!! And I love the leaves on the bench, so pretty!

Happy Birthday (again)!!

Lexie & Sharrid said...

So glad you are back on this blog, wondered where you were. I LOVE the decorated bench, it will brighten someone's day passing by...and that park looks awesome, I'm jealous. Ever since you moved down to Texas and blogged all the cool stuff/outdoors...I've been jealous, everything is so awesome...but I don't want to move to Texas, so I'm happy for you.

Becky said...

Whoa, that playground is something else. There is one similar to it in Santa Barbara near us. It always makes me a little nervous not being able to see where the kiddos are in it. Love how they decorated the park bench -- very sweet.

lyndsey said...

happy belated birthday! yay, i have missed the 88mph blog. nothing better than pretty kitchen tools...and chipotle of course :)

Anonymous said...

happy birthday sweet friend! and you have to tell me what restaurant supply you went to. i've been meaning to raid one for some time now.

Jean said...

Yay for a great birthday!! Baking themed presents are the best. And wow - that park is amazing. It's HUGE!!! That's a nice amenity for ya!!

Karis said...

Cute Dana! I am glad you had a fun bday! I love the park bench idea. Really cute!

Rose said...

where is that fabulous park located?

sachia said...

I was wondering where you were.Oh wow, hard to grasp how big everything is in Texas. That park is crazy cool, thanks for sharing and Lucy looks beautiful in the last picture on your post. Happy Birthday you cute thing.

Saunja said...

That park looks awesome! It is so, so Texas. We had a park similar. Fun. Love the leaves on the bench, too.

And I was just as excited when I bought myself some more large cookie sheets/jelly roll pans. Haha.