25th day of birth

This was me a little over 25 years ago. WOW! 25 years! A quarter of a century. 

Yesterday was my birthday.

I love birthdays. I love holidays. I love anniversaries. I truly enjoy celebrating people. Even if it is not a HUGE blow out party I like doing something to make the other person feel special.

After working all day long, outside, my husband was still able to come home and celebrate me.

He bought me my first wife birthday card.

 And replaced my espresso maker. (My sister got me/us one for Christmas but in the move - - it died. )

 I made a wish while blowing out candles on a cookies and cream cupcake.

Martin enjoyed a strawberry cupcake (his favorite).

It was the simplest birthday I think I have ever had but I loved it.

Earlier in the day my friend took me out to this fun pizza buffet place. It had tons of different types of pizza (including buffalo wing and loaded baked potato!). She bought me a beautiful mug made in Italy and some delicious Italian biscuit/cookies.

I think that it is so important to celebrate each other. To rejoice with them. To tell them "hey! I am happy that you are in my life."  It does not have to cost a lot or even take a lot of time. It just needs to be sincere.



I tend to reflect a lot when my birthday is approaching. (Just like last year) I like to think about where I am at in life and where I thought I would be.
Sometimes I can get down on myself for not doing A,B, and C. Or for being a certain age and not accomplishing certain things that my peers are accomplishing. For not being who society THINKS I should be.
BUT....... when I think about where I am at... apart from other opinions, previous goals, or statistics I am so proud of my life.
I am happy where I am at. (: Yes, I will keep moving forward - learning and growing. But I refuse to allow anything to take what is mine - joy.

 So celebrate someone in your life and find the joy that is yours!

birthday wishes coming true and love. - Monica

♥ . ♥ . ♥

Our Trip to the Zoo for my 25th bday

My birthday is next week and so my wonderful husband planned a little trip for us.

He got a random middle of the week day off so we decided to do it early. (:

We started out the day with errands (we finally have a joint checking account!) and then getting the car cleaned. We took it to a car wash that drives your car for you! Lol. All the car washes I have been too, you drive the car through it. In this car wash you hook your car on something and put the car in neutral and go. he he.

He was soo amazed by it! (:

After that we were off to Birmingham! I had no idea what we were doing, Martin kept it a surprise the whole time! (:

When we arrived at the Birmingham Zoo I was extremely excited! I had never been to a zoo before!!! (:

There were soo many beautiful birds when we first walked in. Right inside the gate I saw HUGE parrots and even asked Martin "are those real birds?". His reply "Of course they are real, Monica. haha. We are at the zoo!"
I was like a giddy 6-year old! He He.

Peacocks were just walking around like no big deal.

One even extended all of its feathers out and walked around in circles! We asked why the peacocks did that and the worker told us they get all puffed up when they want to mate.
Hey.. peacock...sorry but he is taken. (;

The ducks and flamingos were so cute! I fed them too.

We saw pretty swans but they were so far away.

There were the cutest little owls too!!!

I have no idea what kind of bird that was.... but it got really close to us.
There were tons and tons of different birds all throughout the zoo!!! (:

I was a little nervous to go see the alligator but he was pretty much sleeping. Martin hollered at him to wake him up though! haha

Actually a lot of the animals were sleeping when we went. haha. I guess since it was like over 90 degrees they didn't want to move around much.

Isn't this guy so stinking adorable?! He was just kicking back the whole time!

 I totally wanted to jump in the water with these little sea lions!!! They didn't stay out of the water long (and I know why!) but oh they were so cute!

Martin's favorite part was the reptile section. He is not a fan of snakes AT ALL (its pretty much his biggest fear) but when they are behind glass he is okay.

this little guy looked just like a rock. it took us forever to find him. 

Martin was playing with this snake for a long time. It was the only snake in the exhibit that wasn't sleeping. He kept tapping on the glass, taking pictures of it, and having way to much fun. I commented on what he was doing and said "I thought you were so scared of snakes, it looks like you are having fun." Martin replied "well ya... there is glass between us and I know I will never see a snake like this again."
We look down at the description and it is a 'common kingsnake' native in Alabama! I started laughing so hard when Martin tells me that he sees these snakes at work all the time! He he. He continued to play with it to "get to know him better" since he will see them again. hehe.

After the reptiles creeped me out enough we headed to the Africa section of the zoo.

 This was on the way to the Africa section... its a mama and baby bird. (:

 The elephants were so incredibly huge!

An ostrich!

Right after I took this picture I was like "Oh it is so bright!" My husband says "Well... put your sunglasses on!" lol. Oh ya! Good idea! haha

Just me, hello kitty, and a giraffe (:

Those wild African cats just looked like house cats!!! But the description said they were incredibly brutal!

Okay.. I fell in love with this little guy! He is a red panda or something like that. He was so fast I could barely get a picture but he was too stinking cuddly!

And the lions were sleeping..... of course. hehe

That was the craziest looking boar! Martin kept making jokes that he would taste good as bacon. Eeww! lol

After Africa it was off to our last stop - the primates!

Okay this next guy is amazing! Martin says he looks like a little Don King! Lol. But I think he looks like a mini grandpa monkey to a land of fairies or something. If I could take home one pet it would be THIS monkey!

And he looked like right at me! Oh my cuteness I just think he is the funniest little guy in the world. he he.

The anteater was one of the silliest looking animals too!

The last thing we did before we left was take a train ride throughout the whole zoo. It was a lot of fun! (:

My husband planned such a wonderful birthday celebration for me. We were just amazed by all of God's creations. A few times Martin said "God made this! Like He thought about this animal and created all the details." I love my husband because as I was taking picture of all the cuteness of the animal, Martin was reading all the facts about it. hehe.

I am a firm believer in acting like a kid and staying youthful! I will be 25 in a few days and I can still have a complete blast at a zoo!!!! (:

Take a moment to marvel at God's creations and laugh like a kid!

young at heart and love. - Monica

♥ . ♥ . ♥