Whirlwind Catching Up to Do

The weekend Mana arrived we headed up to Ellijay...the birthday started when we returned...

First, brave Kyla walking the metal grid steps up Amicalola Falls. She did the first 175 steps and we decided it was too hard on the girl so Kate and Mana took turns with her so each of us could go up the additional 425 steps to the top. Yes, I carried Tink to the top and back down again. I know, I'm pathetic.

After we returned from Amicalola Mana started my birthday off 11 days before with a dinner out at a terrific Thai place. All the kids were there but Paul as it was a weeknight. Jen and Nick and Teresa were very brave trying new things.

Jen made my cake! Since Nick had vacation the kids decided to do my actual celebration on the Sunday before, and did they ever treat me. A feast of crabcakes, homemade pasta, delicious marinated portabellos, grilled chicken, spinach stuffed mushrooms, and homemade chocolate cake! And roses! And a new faucet! And all kinds of other goodies (See Tink in her Flyers collar from my sister, Krisie, on the right)! My kids outdid themselves! And then the shoes and flowers arrived...and lots of cards - my Goddaughter Beth sent her card to work! What a great surprise, Bethie!

Thank you all so much for the best birthday ever...my kids then took me out on my birthday eve (sushi and hibachi with Kate, Nick, and Teresa) and then a great surprise by Jenny on my birthday - a trip to Houston's and my friend, Patty, was there to surprise me. Nick had to work so that was Jen and Paul, Kate, Patty, and I. Sorry so wordy here but then I got phone calls...from friends and family and singing with the piano from the Fitz's and singing with lots of cha cha chas from Zach and David.

I am a blessed daughter, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, friend, niece, Goddaughter, and Godmother.

As to the training - it is going fantastic. I have my two new sets of Brooks sneakers - one set is a Christmas gift from my kids. The pair I trained with up to now was a gift from Gene. We had terrific rain this week so I missed out on one planned walk, but the dogs and I did 4.5 tonight. Work is closing early tomorrow so Ky, Tink and I are going to climb Kennesaw twice for 6 miles. On Saturday Karyn and I will do 15, and probably at least another 7 on Monday.

I have another $325 I am mailing off to the 3Day tomorrow. If you haven't made the decision to walk with me yet through your donation, well, now is the time!