In high school I served as my neighborhood representative on the Mayor’s Youth Council.  My two years were the second and third years of Mayor Menino’s youth council.  It was such an awesome experience.  Our group problem solved problems we felt teens faced and made a real tangible difference.  During my tenure we successfully had the hours of student T passes extended and created what is now the Mayor’s Youth Line- a resource of youth service that is now online (then a call in service).  I met lots of great people I still connect with, and learned a lot about how city government works.  I saw first hand Mayor Menino’s love for Boston.  I truly believe one of the reasons we still live in the city- and our kids go to public school- is because of what I learned then.

With Mayor Menino leaving office soon, there have been lots of tributes.  Our group was amongst them.  There was a reunion held and it was such a great time.  I reconnected with old friends and was reminded again of why this experience made such an impact on my life.  The Mayor was clearly moved by the tributes, and those of us on the older end, were moved by his words telling us that it was us- not him- who made the changes Boston needed for youth.  He seemed to not want to leave, and stayed to take pictures with all of us.

What a great birthday!  This past year has been one of adventure with lots of unexpected surprises.  I can’t wait to see what the next year holds.

For my actual birthday we celebrated by “zorbing” and tubing.  So much fun!  Zorbing is rolling down a hill inside a small ball inside a bigger ball with some water inside.  We loved it so much we did it twice.  Tubing was great too- we had fun racing, going all together and in groups.  Here is a video!

We had the traditional cake celebration with family and friends which is always a fun time.  Jen had to work so we went out the next night for dinner- our first hibachi experience.  It took the boys some getting use to- having a chef in front of you preparing food can be a little overwhelming!

My friends and I had done a really good job for several years to plan monthly Girls Nights Out.  We would gather in a restaurant for hours recapping kid issues, stories about family and how we were balancing work/life or stay at home mommyhood/life.  I loved that night month.

Then life happened and we got away from it.  We would all say we needed to do it but there would be kid parties, family obligations or plans.  But we found a night.  And decided no restaurant wanted us as long as we were planning to gab.  I got home at 1:30am that night.  So needed.  And so in sync are we that two of us brought the same dessert to celebrate finally getting together!

The next day was a college reunion of sorts.  My two great college friends and I got together with our husbands and children for a BBQ.  There are six kids among us and 16 years of friendship- the kind of friends you can pick up right where you left off.

It was the kind of weekend I needed!