"You say it's your birthday..."

Ok...just a couple of pictures..(Sorry Michele!)

Today is my 45th birthday! And, it is the 50th birthday of my husband's favorite (my favorite, too) cousin Jeff. So we spent the day up at Jeff's celebrating his birthday! It's very odd singing "Happy Birthday" to someone else on your birthday! Herman took me out for my favorite dinner last night: Shrimp cocktail, dozen steamers, Mahattan clam chowder and a 1 1/4 lb. broiled lobster..rice pudding for dessert! (All this for $29.99 at The Barge in Perth Amboy!!) Oh, they make the BEST Bloody Mary, too! Herman said that he is taking me away next weekend..we'll see. I hate leaving 3 teenagers home. We're thinking of going to Mohegan Sun Casino in Ct or doind a cheesy hotel up in the Poconos. (Think champagne glass and heart shaped tubs.) We may wind up in Atlantic City for all I know. We don't really gamble but the hotels are worth the sightseeing trip. I'll let you know where we wind up...after the fact. (Insert dirty little laugh here.)

On other fronts: Jackie had decided to move back home at the end of this month. I really wished that had waited a bit longer to return home, but oh well. She has to learn how to be clean wherever she goes.

Rachel is Boca Raton at the home of a childhood friend who moved there several years. She's having a great time and claims that we will all envy the tan she has accomplished. She'll miss Easter at home but she'll live. Her Easter basket will sit on the table til she gets home. (Tuesday at midnight.)

Anyway..I'm outta here for now..I'm really beat from the day.

Peace!

I got 'em good!

Well, last weekend (April 1st) I got my kids good...REAL good! I picked up my nephew that Saturday, under the pretense of picking up an old friend, "Dianne". I told him that my own children wouldn't accompany me to the airport and that he was a real sport for helping me out. I had a bouquet of flowers that I'd like him to hand to "Dianne" when she showed up. We waited for her down by the security area. When she didn't show up, we decide to move sown to the baggage area. I told him that we needed to keep an eye out for her. I told him that she kind of looked like Jackie, tall and blonde. Well, here comes Jackie down the ramp!! He looks at me and says, "Aunt Sharon! Your friend looks EXACTLY like Jackie!" Well, I cracked up as Jackie ran up to him and gave him a huge hug!! He pulled away from her , as to say "Why is this stranger who looks EXACTLY like my cousin hugging me?!" We both looked at him and said, " It IS Jackie!!" He nearly hit the floor!!! I gave her a long hug and we headed for home, where only Herman and I knew she was coming home for a visit.

I had left a note earlier in the morning (prior to my leaving for the airport) stating that each child (Rachel, Becky and John) had a chore to do and that they MUST all be home when I got back from "the store". (A little background: I told Rachel that she absolutely must be off from her job as we were having a huge family dinner.) I told them that I would have numerous packages that I owuld need help unloading. So, now here we are, heading towards the house. I called and told them that I had a bit of a surprise for them a rather large package that would require all 4 of us to get out of my truck and into the house. Becky pushed for more info, but I wasn't giving any. I told her that they ALL had to be outside or no deal. So when I pulled up to the house and only Becky and John were outside, I refused to let them approach the truck til Rachel was outside to help. When Rachel showed up, my nephew jumped out of the truck exclaining "April Fools, suckers!!"  Rachel said, " I can't believe you got me outta bed to unload groceries..bad joke." I told Rachel that I really DID have a surprise for them and that she should just open the back door. WELL!!!! The screaming and crying that ensued after that!! They were sooooo happy to see their sister after 7 long months!!!

Yeah...I got 'em good!

We had a great time: did dinner with my family, did dinner with Herman's family, did a lot of talking...oh we had such a great time! She looks GREAT!! (I will post pictures next post...whenever that may be!) She returned back to AZ that Wednesday...not willingly, but she did it. (Good girl, Jackie!!) Jackie will be moving back in late June...

Well...I've had a BUSY day...so I'm soooo outta here!

Peace!