[gingita]

I wasn't going to post this until after the MNSSHP tonight, but I better get a jump start on it or else it may never be finished.

Here is a break down of my continuous birthday celebrations which dated back to October 4. My actual birthday was October 10, but who says the celebrating has to only be one day?

October 4-9: My visit to Utah to see my family
October 9 evening: Huge birthday party at Backstage Billiards (my favorite bar)
October 10: Happy Birthday to me!
October 11: Food and Wine Festival at Epcot
October 12: Birthday shopping spree courtesy of Drew
October 13: Le Cellier birthday party!
October 14: Another birthday party thrown by my friend Sarah
October 15: Downtown Disney celebrating
October 16: Please, I just want to lounge and watch TV
October 17: MNSSHP, 'Ohana, and the conclusion to everything

I have learned one thing through all this. My Florida friends really do love me. I love it here!

Now onto the pictures!

[WishUponAStar]

I can't wait to hear/see all about it! I LOVE birthdays that just seem to last for extended periods of time! Those are the best!!! It sounds like you've been having a fabulous time!

[dac921]

Ginger... what a wonderful plan of events...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDDO!!!!!!!!!

[gingita]

I will start with a few pictures from Utah. I missed my family a ton! It was great to be back there visiting, even though the scenery was quite depressing after being in Florida for so long.

My parents and 4 yr old twin brothers picked me up from the airport. The twins had made welcome home signs and had a balloon for me. So cute! My parents have all those pictures, which I haven't gotten yet.

Utah was just a swirl of meeting up with old friends and family. I have never compacted so much into 5 days, but it turned out really fun. I was freezing cold most of the time because I have become to accustomed to the Florida heat. I actually missed the humidity while in Utah.

Here are my cute twin brothers and me. We had so much fun playing while I was there.

[lovemysons]

SO cute! Can't wait for more.

[gingita]

My only sister and I have a very loving nickname for each other--Beef or Beefhead. This started many years ago and has stuck. My sister was shopping one day when she came across these fantastic shirts which of course she had to buy for us. A perfect birthday gift.

[dac921]

They are so cute!!!!!!!

[gingita]

We had family pictures taken while I was there. It rained the entire 5 days I was there, except for a brief 30 minutes on the Saturday we had scheduled the pictures. It was fate I think.

Here is one of the proofs from the photographers website since I wanted to show off my family.

Left to Right:
John (4yrs), ME!, Katie (my brother's fiance), Paul (older brother 24yrs), my mom Sheri, my dad Mike, Steven (21 yrs), Kelli (19yrs old as of tomorrow), and Ryan (4yrs)

[jenbarnwell]

I love your pictures! You are so beautiful! Your nephews are so cute! I love the nickname beefhead! Cute shirts!

[Dana]

Love the pictures! You have a beautiful family. Can't wait to see more.

[cinderbella]

Originally Posted by gingita

October 11: Food and Wine Festival at Epcot

I was there doing the SAME thing this day

[Maria]

Beautiful family, you look so pretty

More please! LOL

[gingita]

I promise I will have more pictures tomorrow! I have been really busy with catching up on homework, and now it's time to get ready for the MNSSHP tonight.

[gingita]

Ok, I am back, the party was fabulous and I have all the pictures ready to post! Now back to my birthday week!

[gingita]

October 9 Evening:

My flight arrived back in Florida around 3:30pm. Drew and our new roommate James picked me up. They decided to be cool like all the other drivers waiting for people and make me a sign with my name on it. They were each holding a piece of paper, handwritten, which spelled out "Ginjir Garit" of course with some of the letters written backwards and they had huge cheesy grins on their faces. As I am coming down the escalator, I see it and broke into laughter because they were right in the middle of all the "professional" people. The other people around me thought I was crazy.

Then the birthday surprises started. First they took me to Coldstone because it's my favorite. Then later in the evening it was off to our favorite local bar, Backstage Billiards. I figure we are just going for a few drinks, but nope. It turned into a huge surprise party for me with lots of my friends there! It was awesome! And of course I didn't have to pay for any of the drinks, which made it even better.

Now when a young woman celebrates her 23rd birthday, there tends to be a lot of beverages. Beer and me don't mix (since Arabian Nights back in September), so I go for all the other stuff. About 15 drinks later, I don't remember what happened the rest of the night.

But my party was a blast.