Birthdays to remember

When I look back at memorable birthdays, its hard to single out one extra special one because my family always made every birthday a fun and extraordinary day.  As kids my Mom made amazing cakes for us in the form of Big Bird, a space shuttle landing scene, or other decorative miracle. We had big parties with friends that my Dad made sure had fun activities, and we always finished the day feeling like a queen, or king,  if you happened to be my brother.  As we grew older, the special birthdays continued with dinners out, festive birthday singing,  and the quintessential Dairy Queen cake.

This year, my birthday was really something.  My family, of course, was ever amazing, with fun calls from my brother and sister in law and a sweet little message from my neice in Switzerland, wishes from Chile from my sister and brother in law,  and a yummy dinner with my parents and son (Ivor had to work) at a great restaurant in Chagrin Falls.  My friends and co workers not to be outdone brought me a birthday lunch from scrumptious Lemon Falls, gave me lots of wonderful things (massages, DD gift cards and more)  and got me a cake decorated with CLOVERS~and yes they even sang me happy birthday.   The most incredible part though, was welcoming our new competition horse to the farm from Ireland. 

 Mandy, Jami, Myra, Ted and Sara welcomed him in style with a suprise champagne toast and cute signs the night he arrived.  Its hard to believe that he has already been here a week now, and you would never know that he is only 5!  Let me tell you, Courtney can really pick one!  He is brave, calm, sweet, and loves to work!  As soon as this guy is tacked up, you better be ready to walk to the ring or wherever because he is ready to GO! He hacks out great...actually he would tell you he prefers to be outside, and I did a jump school on him Friday and he is really going to be so wonderful.  After a fun barn name naming contest, we decided on calling him Captain, and keeping Clover Joe as his show name. 

I cannot thank ALL THE PEOPLE and there are MANY who have helped to make this all happen, and I still feel like its not real...I have had people give me tack, saddle pads, halters,  a stall at the farm (THATS A BIG One), the HORSE (thats a REALLY BIG ONE), sponsors for farrier work, horse trailers, and so much more.  A hundred thank yous are not nearly enough, as all the wonderful gifts I have been given are more than any one person could ever hope for.  

Its been an unbelievable birthday, and so many people helped to make it more special than I could have ever imagined.  That, itself is a truly exceptional gift.