A Birthday to Remember

As I turned 32, on September 20, I was reminded of how lucky I am. My weekend started off with meeting some of my closest friends out for night at the Sandbar. Once again being in the bar industry, wouldn't you know I'm friends with the manager up there, and she gave me a bottle of my choice, and a cabana for all my friends (Thank you Kelly and Chris. I love you girls). I am always spoiled by the ones I love the most. I'm so blessed to have the most amazing friends for up to 27 years (and counting). It's true what they say "it only gets better with age", and I must say, having the friends I do, just keeps getting better and better with each and every celebration. I love you guys, thank you for making it out, and please send over pictures.

On Sunday Jearel had BIG plans for me. I had no clue as to what he was doing, but he was smiling from ear to ear for weeks about it. He got a kick out of teasing me, especially because this was the first year my guesses were oh so WRONG.

Here's how my surprise went....

Jearel told me to be ready to go by the time he woke up on Sunday. Jayla and I were waiting patiently for daddy to wake up. When he did, I was told I needed to pack my bags for overnight, as well as Jayla's (he forgot to mention this before). So we rushed around in a hurry. Then Jayla came up to me and said, "Mommy do you want your presents?" I said, "Sure baby." Then she said, "You help me get it, it's too heavy." "Do you know what it is Jayla?" "Oh yes mommy, it's pots and pans!!! *Big smiles*" So here came daddy with two packages, that looked nothing like pots and pans.

Jayla had to help of course!
Nope NOT pots and pans, but a NEW laptop. I was so excited I was crying!
I needed this oh so bad, and with just Jearel working sometimes you just need to put things on the back burner, until NOW. WAHOOOOOOO!!

Jearel only gets the best of the best when it comes to that stuff, and I must say it is pretty SWEET!

After that we went to lunch so I could spend sometime with Jayla because she was headed to Grandma's for the night, and we were headed somewhere?!

My two LOVES!

Finally after an hour and a half in the car, we arrived in Cornville to visit their wineries. I've been wanting to do this FOREVER. We went to 3 wineries in Cornville, and then headed out to dinner in Sedona, and then stayed the night up there.

Here we are at the second winery, Javelina Leap.

Then it was off to our final spot, Page Springs Cellars. It was beautiful there, and by far the best winery up there. It was the biggest of the three, and located right on the creek. There was a lady doing messages in the vineyards, and they played the BEST music, all from Maynard James Keenan. He is the leader singer of Tool & A Perfect Circle, two of my fave bands. Plus he owns Arizona Stronghold, one of the biggest and best vineyards in AZ. He is directly involved with the wine making for Page Spring Cellars, and his very own winery/tasting room in Jerome.

The employees all shared some great personal stories of Maynard, which just made that place all the better for me.

A little horse shoe action!

Walking down to the creek.

Blood into Wine is a documentary about how the wine making business started in AZ, and how Maynard is one of the main reasons Arizona's wineries got so big (no I have not watched it yet).

That's my boy Maynard-HA!

Merkin Vineyards 353 Chupacabra, is pretty tasty :)

Yes Chad, I have a bottle waiting for you!!

Down by the creek with a bottle. Can't get any better than this!!!

And then your teeth get nice and red after you've had one too many, it's just too good to stop!

Sedona's beauty on our way to dinner.

The view off the balcony to our hotel room.

Monday morning (my actual birthday) we drove up to Jerome.

We enjoyed some lunch. Check out the size of that yummy burger.

HA HA!

After lunch, I had to go visit Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room. All of Maynard's wines, of course. I was the only one doing tastings, so Jearel could get us home safe. It was a VERY COOL place, but to be honest, Page Springs Cellars was by far the best one yet.

After we got home, we headed to BJ's Brew House, for dinner with our pretty girl.

Jearel and Jayla, thank you so much for the BEST birthday ever. I love you two more than anything, and am so thankful for the life I have with you.
I am one lucky girl!! XOXOXO

And a HUGE thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Riley for watching Jayla so Jearel and I could have some much needed alone time. We love you!

Just in case you wanted to see the present opening LIVE.