My Fabulous 40th Birthday Ladies Only Dinner!

I am not the type of person that throws parties for myself. But, since turning 40 is a pretty big occasion, I decided to invite a bunch of my closest girlfriends to have dinner with me at the Melting Pot to celebrate the new decade I just entered.

I gussied myself all up and was ready to head out with the girls. With everything that went on with my grandma just days before, I definitely needed a fun night out with my friends...

My sweet friend Amy was my driver for the night and a few of our other friends too. We had six gals in the car. When we got on the expressway, we hit super bad traffic! Ack! This is the boat that was blocking the right lane that made us about 10 minutes the birthday dinner...

 But Amy had some super fun tunes on the radio and she got us there ASAP - rock star!

The girls gave me a sash and tiara. I was the birthday princess you know. Snort...

And I started posing with all the guests - like a good birthday princess should. LOL!

Me and Valerie...

Me and Amy...

Me and Beverly...

Me and Carole...

Me and Laura...

Me and my sister...

Me and Julie (friends since HS)...

Some of the gang...

Angela, me, Val and Amy...

Ansu, Miranda, me and Joanne...

Amy and Julie...

Kathy and Lisa...

Laughing at the hilarious card Val got me...

Now laughing at the hilarious card Angela got me...

My love martini - had two of those. :)

Beverly accidentally charred this poor mushroom - LOL...

After feasting on several courses of cheese, meat and veggies, it was time for chocolate, a special birthday treat and some singing to me...

It got kind of quiet after everyone sang to me, so I decided to say a little something. I just wanted all of these women to know how much they mean to me - my sister and the friends from my life before Briana (who stood by me during my infertility experience), my amazing China adoption friends and the new friends I made after Briana came into my life. These girls rode the highs and the lows with me during my 30's. They are all like family to me and I love each and every one of them. They all gave me such thoughtful and heartfelt gifts. I cannot believe how much love was showered on me that night. I honestly did not feel like I was deserving of all of it, but it was wonderful. Truly wonderful.

The China adoption crew got together quickly for one shot before we headed home...

It was an awesome night with all my amazing friends. I am one lucky 40 year old girl.