And the moral of the story is... If you're turning 26, Get A New Haircut!

I've finally done it! I've chopped my hair!!! After having the same hairstyle since I was about 13 years old, I decided it was time (finally!) for a change and I am SO glad I took the plunge... My dear friend Miss Cara Jean chopped off at least a foot of my hair and I'm thrilled with the results. I wanted something fun, something I could wear both curly and straight and something different. I really think she helped me accomplish all 3... It's an A line cut that's shorter in the back and longer in the front, which I love. We also darkened my hair a bit. I have loved doing something new! It's been really refreshing for me. If you have curly hair, you know that a "cute sassy short do" can quickly turn into an out of control frizzy fro! :) I also decided to do this right before my 26th birthday. I wanted something a little more sophisticated since I'm a year older and now closer to 30 than I am to 20... CRAZY! My birthday was on Tuesday, February 12th, the same day as Cara's actually. It is so much fun sharing a birthday with a friend as wonderful as Cara. Read on below for more on the cut and on my birthday...

Back View :)

This one gives you an idea of the shorter in the back/longer in the front thing going on... This is at my work's Awards Banquet the Friday night before my Birthday on Tuesday. I'd just gotten my hair cut the day before. On the left is Sina and on the right is Angel. Two wonderful friends from work. These ladies are so much fun and I can always count on them to grab sushi with at lunch! Yum!

And this is my dear friend Amanda, who I also work with. We started on the same day back in February of 2005. It's our 3 year anniversary of working at Zones this month. WOW! Time flies. God has absolutely blessed me with this girl at work. She loves the Lord and is such an encouragement to me. Amanda is in such an exciting time of life right now. She is getting married in June of this year and I have the honor of being one of her bridesmaids! I am so thrilled to share her special day with her... It's going to be amazing!

The Sunday night before my birthday, Steven and I celebrated. We had Young Adults on the night of my actual birthday since it fell on a Tuesday. Steven made reservations at one of our favorite restaurantes, Daniel's Broiler and we had a delicious meal complete with appetizers, entrees, desserts, etc... I ate way too much! :) On the way to our yummy evening...

I LOVE DESSERT!

Thanks to my sis-in-law, Melody, for being our photographer so not all our pictures are self-taken... Ha!

I love this man so much... I really had a beautiful evening because of his thoughtfulness.

Wish you all could see my dress better... It's a 35.00 Target special, ladies and gentlemen... and I loved it! It had a big ruffle all around the collar and down the front. Very fun and very cheap! Yea for good deals!

Just the 3 of us... The night before my birthday celebrating at the Hardebecks. I am such a blessed lady to be part of such a wonderful family! Tom, Patti, Matt, Mel, Ben, Glade, Michelle, & Eowyn, I love you! And Lily, too! ;)

Okay, these pics really are from my actual birthday... I decided to try and wear my hair curly on my actual birthday and see how it turned out... Risky thing to do on your birthday... hahahaha... Cara and I went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch to celebrate our birthdays together and of course, we had to order dessert!

They wrote, "Happy Birthday to You!" on our plates in chocolate sauce. How cute is that???

Happy Birthday, Cara Jean! Love you!

That night after Young Adults, I opened all my beautiful cards from my family in California that of course made me cry because I miss them so much (note the Rudolph red nose that is an Alison signature when I've been crying)... And then last, but not least, Steven totally surprised me with Keith Urban/Carrie Underwood tickets when they come here on tour later this summer/fall. I was not expecting that at all, so needless to say I was pretty excited! And then, on top of that, he is taking me to a beautiful hotel/spa for a night that I've been wanting to go to. It's only about a half hour away from where we live. It's the Salish Lodge an Snoqualmie Falls. He purchased a promotional package that includes side by side massages and a yummy breakfast with your overnight stay. I am THRILLED! In the 3 1/2 years that we've been married, we've actually only "gone away" for a night together maybe once so this is going to be such a treat for me. My love language is totally quality time.

I was really blessed in so many ways by family, friends and my one-of-a-kind husband. Thank you so much for making my birthday and my life so special and memorable! So here's to another year! I look forward to it with anticipation and excitment!