You say it's your birthday ...

Last Sunday, Rus and Anna Katherine hosted a shared birthday party for Ryan and me. Ryan turned 7 in early June and I'll be 40 on June 13th (about 30 minutes after this is posted!). You know I have no issues with my age; it's nothing but a number. I don't feel 40, I (like to think I) don't look 40, and I'm sure all of you will agree I certainly don't ACT 40. I'll never be one of those people who sits around counting years on the calendar, ticking off what should go wrong at a certain age. Hogwash. Balderdash. What a waste of time!

My friend Julie has a quote on her e-mail signature: "It's not the years in your life that matter, it's the life in your years." Bring on life, baby!

The party was held at a cool old barn near our house. This is Ryan waving bye-bye *after* the party. We have zero shots of him *during* the party because he never stood still!

Someone just told me I had to start acting my age. As IF. (Oh, by the way, the tiara I'm wearing is from Disney Princesses on Ice. And it flashes multicolored lights. That's what I'm talkin' about.)

AK and her good friend Mara. There's a 2-year age difference, but these wonderful girls have been friends for about 7 years. There's a Girl Scout saying that's perfect here: "Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."

Me and my Mommy. :) (Thanks, Olga, for taking this picture. I love it.)

I need to give a special shout-out to my friend Greer. She turned 10 the same day as our party, but she decided to join us in our celebration and postpone her big event. She and her sister are two of the kindest, most thoughtful little girls I've ever met, and I'm grateful to know them.

Happy Birthday to YOU, Sunshine!!!