Meet Rusty!

My birthday yesterday was awesome. Really awesome.

Chase was so excited to start his well-planned much anticipated day of Lauren celebrating that he woke me up at 7:15a. He was very sweet and offered to make me breakfast in bed. As wonderful as that is I am way too figity to eat in a bed so I joined him and his Mom downstairs.

I was greeted with a McCool Family tradition. A Birthday Sign! The family decorated this silly and fun computer-paper-banner for me. There was a guy being shot out of a canon. I know. Awesome. It also means that I am a part of the family. Very very cool.

My breakfast was perfect. Coffee - of course - and pancakes with chocolate chips, bananas, and blueberries. Yumm! After being lazy in the morning I made our lunches and went to Drake. I was supposed to be working but I got distracted Facebooking and Chatting with Emily. Chase finished his third to last day of bar studying and we went home to nap. We nap a lot. Chase works realy hard and gets tired... I just like to nap. I did read some of my new book The Fig Eater which is pretty good. Perfect summer reading. What are you reading right now?

Mom and Dad McCool offered to take us out for dinner to celebrate and before we left the house Chase let me open my presents! I really don't like it when they sing to you at restaurants so opening them at home was the solution to that miserable experience! So after much anticipation I got to open a big bag of presents!

First: I got my watch fixed! I have always loved my bright yellow watch but my dark wash jeans had done what they do and bled die onto the leather band. So Chaser got me a new leather band! Here is the one He (I) picked!

Second: I received another shirt for my "Des Money's" collection (I like to call Des Moines Des Money's).  It like my others is from Raygun a local store that makes funny shirts. This one is about a neighborhood here that I really love- Beaverdale. It has the best selection of Bungalows and Craftsman style homes. I would love to live there sometime so Chase decided that shirt was the right one for me. Now most people won't get what the joke is... FYI: Snookies is a legendary Ice Cream place thats in Beaverdale... Its funny to those from DSM... and those who are marrying those from DSM.

Except mine is an awesome grape/purple color!

Third: Chase bought me a fabulous orange sparkly cocktail ring! I dont have it with me here at Drake... just didn't go with my outfit today :) ... but I love it. I really love that he had to go to a really frilly women's clothing store to purchase it for me! What a great man!

Fourth: (my favorite) Many of you may remember Gracie our Goat (Painting). I really love her bright colors and happy little face. Well, Chase has done it again! He is helping me create a collection of happy silly goat paintings! I love that this is our silly thing. For the record - please don't start buying me goat figurenes or stuff like that... just paintings if your looking to add to the collection. I want to be the funny goat painting lady not the weird goat stuff lady.  So here is #2 in our collection: Rusty!

He is by an artist named Teri Kman. 

Isn't he the cutest?

Once I was done opening presents we made our way to Macaroni Grill. I could have just eaten bread and tiramisu and been happy but I also had some other yummy stuff! After a really lovely time together we made our way to Americana.

Wow we had a wonderful time with some DSM friends and it was full of laughing and storytelling and fun food and drinks! It was good food but I think I like Django better...which is where Keelia and I went a few weeks ago. I must admit I'm just comparing the cheese plates of each restaurant... I ordered the cheese plate at both! But they did give me a birthday dessert that was fun! It was a BACON Chocolate brownie topped with Kaluah mousse and homemade coconut ice cream! Whew it was great great great! I know it sounds weird but I loved it. Over all just a really great night! Great friends, family and food. Oh and goat paintings!

I am a blessed woman! I have been looking for volunteer things to begin working with here in DSM, but until I actually make the move I am helping my friend Martha collect new and gently used name brand women's clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. If you have some that you are willing to donate please please please message me. They are going to go to help fun an awesome and really respectable organization named Freedom 4/24.    As a non-profit organization, Freedom 4/24 exists to raise awareness of the rampant sexual exploitation of women around the world, and specifically in Southeast Asia, while raising money to support Christ-centered ministries that seek to rescue women enslaved in the sex industry. Please consider donating your fashion-excess! :)

Chase is getting closer and closer to the bar exam. I'm really proud of him. He is such a hard worker! Gooooooo Chaser!

Thanks for reading! I love seeing my "visits" counter go up up up when I post a new post!  Do you have a blog you'd like more readers to visit? Lets spread the good word post your blog or website to the comments!

PS: I am selling my Wii. I'll have more info August 1st if your interested. Let me know...