Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's Forty. . .

We're home and had a fabulous weekend. Fairly Odd Father had me fooled up until we pulled into the parking lot here. I doubt you want a play-by-play of our three days; suffice to say that I was scrubbed, buffed, moisturized and rubbed into pampered-momma bliss. He did good, my fabulous husband.

On Sunday, when we arrived to pick up the kids at my mom's house, I was surprised by a group of close friends and family who had balloons, cake and prizes for me. Much love and warm fuzzies all around.

Now, I'm back to reality. The kids are loud, spastic and demanding. The laundry piles are big. Thankfully, the husband took today off to ease me back into 'real' life, but re-entry is so hard. My newly forty-year-old mind and body is definitely feeling its age today.

And, yet, I am so grateful to have a mom, sister and brother-in-law who were generous enough to forfeit an entire weekend for my enjoyment.

I have a husband who planned every little detail of the weekend, down to my spa treatments and wine-and-rose-petals in our room, all to help me feel special over a decidedly scary birthday milestone.

I have three amazing children who handled their first-ever absence of both mommy and daddy with good cheer and fine manners. And, their welcome-back hugs made every part of me happy.

Thanks to everyone for their kind words, emails, cards, phone calls and telepathic well wishes. You've all made 40 much more fun than I expected.