Here it is...

I have had a wonderful birthday! My family and friends have been so sweet and thoughtful.

We had a fun day yesterday in Oak Brook. PF Changs made an excellent lunch and they had my ultimate favorite dessert of S'mores (mini dessert). My tastebuds danced for hours.

Okay, have you figured it out yet? What's the birthday suprise??????????

Well, it is true that two of our dream houses ARE for sale. We saw my favorite one a few weeks ago and I couldn't believe it really. It is in a newer subdivision not far from where we live. We ride bikes there and drive through there often. Anyway, I have always said that I would love to live in this particular house. I came home and looked online and while my judgment of the house was based on the outward appearance...the inward FAILED to impress. IMO, a higher range home should have something to impress you on the inside--a pretty kitchen, tasteful colors, a pretty backyard etc... Well, this house had a plain and boring oak kitchen, an ugly countertop, and all WHITE walls (except for the bath). It was like they made the outside gorgeous and the inside--total blah and blah. Probably a lot like we as people (outward appearances). Josh said that maybe we are already living/making our dream house and I couldn't say that I disagreed.

So, on to another dream house. It's no secret that I also have a fetish with older homes that have interesting architecture and charm that eludes many newer homes. I love driving through neighborhoods with older homes and taking in all of the unique features. One thing is for sure...they aren't cookie cutter! I also will look at the websites such as Remax and such to see what is on the market. It is cool to see how people decorate and all of that good stuff. I was looking one evening and a house jumped off the page at me. It is a pretty LARGE brick home with a fence...the inside was pretty decent (not even over wallpapery). HATE wallpaper! A downside right away was the year it was built 1929. While homes built then are gorgeous, there are definite negatives to that era (knob turn wiring or WORSE), slanting or bouncy floors, steam heat (if it hasn't been converted), and on and on...basically something that can be a definite money trap. Furthermore upon driving past, it has NO BACKYARD =(. We love our backyard. The girls have to have somewhere to play!
Once again, I'm not dissatisfied with my house in any way and that dream house idea is probably right here under my feet. SO NOPE not a new house!

New car...well I have had my eyes on a particular type of car for a few years now. My brother will tell me when one is for sale yada yada. It just so happens that for 2010 they redesigned the car outside and in and made it look SO MUCH COOLER. I like them even more now, but we aren't purchasing new so it's wait until there are some used ones available. SO NOPE not a new car--yet. Oh yeah, my current car is 6 y/o and perfectly fine and most importantly paid OFF as are both of our cars so that's another thing. I love the paid of thing =).

Trip...our 10 year is coming very soon. It's so hard to believe. These years have been the best of my life. After all, I've spent them with my very best friend. For years, our dream has been a big Hawaiian trip or some tropical destination (since I'm a big fan of sun, water, and sand). So,












at this point, a trip isn't feasible for various reasons.




Well, what in the world is the birthday surprise????? I think it is a suprise and it's more a surprise to my blog friends because I'm surprising YOU! Why you?? To my knowledge, the blog is a pretty intimate and small circle of people mostly family and some friends. This surprise is not on Facebook and I don't know when/if I will put it there.

Have you guessed yet?????









Are you sure?????








Uno, dose, tres...












This surprise is most definitely better than any I mentioned above....










because...












It's a BABY!! Number 3 for us.








Are you surprised?? My parents found out on April Fools as Aliyah called them to tell. We have just wrapped up telling parents/grandparents this week. The big sisters are excited!
Yes, we tend to wait awhile to tell people. Aliyah just got the news 3 weeks ago and she didn't tell a soul except for Chaney the cat. In case you wondered, there is only 1 and due for September.

We will hopefully find out what we are having on April 29th.

Whew...lots of excitement for one post!