Turning 40

I had every intention of ignoring it. Several girlfriends asked to spearhead a birthday dinner and I politely refused. When they insisted, I told them my next available evening was in January. Looking back on my 30's, I feel so very, very tired. I've had a baby on my hip for the majority of that time. Long periods of separation from Brent have taken their toll. For the most part, I'm happy with where I am in life. I'd love a bigger budget to fix up the house, and I'd love to own some decent furniture, but more than anything I just want to sleep. I was in no way planning to celebrate my 40th birthday. 

Brent texted me to let me know he would be running late and inwardly I was irritated. He knew it was the witching hour, and even though I wasn't asking for a huge celebration, couldn't he book it home? I was aching for some relief from the demands of mommy-hood and just wanted to hole up for the night. Then Ireland told me I needed to come to the door. More inward irritation. Couldn't everyone just leave me alone?

Bursting through our front door poured my SNCP girlfriends. Wave after wave of shock hit me as I mentally registered their excited, happy faces. Ever since we bought this house, I've wanted them to visit so I could host them, show it off to them, share it with them. Here they were... out of the blue, with Brent bringing up the rear and giving me a knowing grin.

They say hindsight is 20/20 but that's not the case here. It's all still a blur. I remember tiaras coming out of nowhere for us all to don (including the little girls). I remember the beautiful cake and the singing. I remember my voice pitching higher and higher as I kept saying, "WHAT?!?!?!?" I remember showing them around the house and I remember them ushering Brent and I out the door for a date. Since our anniversary earlier this month looked like this:

 we never did properly celebrate 10 years of marriage. Brent and I had been wanting to try a burger place called Tracks we've heard a lot about and with four babysitters, we had no excuses.

It was delicious- especially the homemade potato chips. As we talked, Brent pulled another trick out of his hat. It's a tradition in my family to tell the birthday person one thing they like about him/her and if possible an I remember when... story. Brent had contacted as many people from my life as he possible could and collected those thoughts for me. It was 20 pages, front and back, of well wishes from friends and family. Although most of my actual birthday is a blur, I definitely remember not being able to sleep as thoughts flew through my head and I tried to wrap my brain around the fact that 4 of my dearest girlfriends were sleeping under the same roof. For me. For my birthday. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I do not deserve the amazing friends I have.

Brent took care of the girls so I could not only show off our house, but our city of Chicago. Janeal desperately wanted to visit the Home Alone house which is conveniently located near the city.

Her enthusiasm makes me laugh. She was sooo excited!

It's a beautiful house and I have to say I'm really glad we stopped by. It's not something I would have thought to do on my own, but the Home Alone house is situated in a really pretty neighborhood, so it was a fun drive on a pretty fall day. Lots and lots of thought-provoking conversation in the car.

LOL! She was really excited!

We had lunch at Ditka's so these ladies could experience the phenomenal pot roast nachos. I love the warm, moist towels they give out so you can clean your hands before diving in to dinner.

Our waiter was curiously hot-- meaning we all found him attractive. Usually people have their own taste but this guy was pretty fine in everyone's eyes. The text messages and pictures to the husbands, who were watching all the kids while we dined, was pretty hilarious.

We had the same cell phone case. What are the chances?

I guess it stands to reason if you hang out at Ditka's long enough, Mike Ditka himself will eventually manifest. We were waiting for our valet when he hopped out of his car. These women were in line in front of us and he kindly snapped a picture with them before rushing inside the restaurant. He insisted he was actually Dick Butkus, but a face this famous isn't confused easily in a city like Chicago.

We stopped by the American Girl store and took in all that girly wonderfulness. Well, most of us... Janeal hopped over to the Lego store. Sara spied this fedora and became Michael Jackson inspired.

Before heading south on Michigan Ave, we stopped by the Fourth Presbyterian Church and looked around. The stone and woodwork is beautiful and the climbing ivy makes it so tranquil a place- no small miracle given it's situated right on the Mag Mile. Turns out scenes from My Best Friend's Wedding was filmed here.

I had to take these ladies to the Bean for some photo ops.

No matter how many times I go, I can't get enough of the energy around this sculpture.

That energy was particularly palpable with the Cubs in the playoffs. It was fun to see the Art Institute Lions with their baseball hats:

and buildings lit up like this:

It was so unexpected, and such a whirlwind, it honestly feels like the whole thing was a dream. I was so busy soaking up time with my girlfriends, I barely noticed the dreaded entry into a whole new decade.

Maybe 40 won't be so bad.