birthdays all around!

so, i have to admit that i was totally suprised to find that we had a TGIFriday's in our city when i arrived back in April. it has been a great place to gather and celebrate birthdays. most recently i was fortunate enough to help celebrate two birthdays with friends there. the staff does a great job of wishing the birthday guy or gal a great big TGIF birthday!it was happy birthday to my roommate! it was great to have her folks there, too. we had quite the crew there, so it was a special celebration for a special lady indeed. below was the spread after the meal at TGIFriday's. yummy cake and ice cream. the candles are arranged into the number 25 since it was her 25th birthday! beautiful!
then the next day i was so excited to take my lang helper, dear NA friend out for her birthday! i asked her if she wanted to go either ice skating or bowling--her choice--whatever the birthday gal wanted! she chose ice skating. i was so proud of her. she had a great time i think. it was fun to be back out on some ice. i can't even remember the last time i went. below is us at the end of our skate session.

then off to TGIFriday's! yes, again. she loves snacky foods, so i thought she would enjoy this place. also, i really wanted her to experience the birthday song and dessert there. we started out with the boneless chicken wings and we both had the bacon (beef bacon:), cheese-burgers. then the fabulous folks at TGIF came out with the yummy brownie dessert and a wonderful happy birthday song to serenade her! she enjoyed it:) below she is blowing out the candle on her birthday dessert!

i was so excited that she stayed the night! my first overnight local houseguest! we woke up and i made her a birthday breakfast! i made up some bisquick mix biscuits. she really liked them! we had a great morning of just talking, sharing, and laughing. i am just so glad to know Sa. she is such a dear, dear friend to me. i am so grateful to know her. what a joy!
so, this week has been exciting to say the least. i am back in class taking a class that covers the upcoming Big Eid. looking forward to Thanksgiving and thankful for so much that i am truly grateful for like my family, friends, this opportunity to be here, food, shelter, water, and most of all my G. i hope you have a really great Thanksgiving with you and yours.

please know that i will be traveling next week. so, you may not hear from me for a bit. so, stay tuned! i will have many, many photos and updates after my trip (going to two pretty amazing places). thanks again for journeying along with me. i am oh so thankful.