HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ASHLEE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. I turned 28 today and I could not have asked for a better birthday celebration.
Many of you know how special birthdays are to me and my team, aaron, Paula, Lynsey, and Spencer
have made sure they have made it a very special one. My family has little traditions that we do to celebrate and I have missed those because nothing could replace them but everyone did a great job to make me feel loved today. I look back on some of my birthdays and a few stand out more than others. I remember slumber parties, new kids on the block party, my dance party at Taylor James’ house, the time me and some friends went to Little Rock for the weekend and ate at Spaghetti Warehouse, and many more but its not often you can say you went to Budapest for your birthday. A few traditions I really miss from home are mom sending me roses, going to eat as a family, getting cards from each person in my family( my brother usually has a funny one), and of course birthday hugs from mom and dad.
Friday was our off day so we were very lucky to have been able to travel to Budapest, Hungary to celebrate my birthday. We left on Thursday night and stayed in a hostel and did a small walk to the Danube River to see 
a small part of the city at night. I had never stayed in a hostel before and it was very strange sleeping in a room with strangers specially when one of them snores all night. We woke up early Friday morning and headed to the market area next to t
he Danube River. We had breakfast there and I ate a chocolate donut thing that was delicious. Then we headed to the Holocaust Museum and I had never been very interested in stuff like this but I will really enjoyed learning about what took place. Katie and Don did not go with us because Katie had an appointment at the US Embassy to get more passport pages and Don went with her. After we got done at the museum we headed to meet them for lunch at a Mexican Restaurant. We 
really enjoyed lunch and after we got done eating they brought me out a browning with a firework style candle and sang to me. It was a great surprise! Then we headed to St. Stephen
s Cathedral. It was beautiful but I was a little shocked about them still having the kings right hand that had been mummified. I also learned that every year they have a parade around the city with his hand! As we were leaving the church 3 different bands came marching out and so we got to enjoy that for a little bit. Then it was time to head over to the castle that overlooked the Danube River and City of Budapest. It was a beautiful view and a great way to end our day in Budapest. We all were exhausted and ready to go home by this time. On our way home we stopped by a restaurant for a dinner of goulash and it was really good. I really thought Budapest was an amazing city!
UTA is the name of the league here in Arad. It was a lot of fun to watch and I was amazed by the cheering section. They are mostly males and they never sit down and they sing and cheer the entire 90 minutes of the game. After that game they all climb the fence and the players come stand in front of them and they sing another chant together. It was a lot of fun. I spent the afternoon with the kids of Oaza and we watched a movie 
together. Then the kids took me to the kitchen and we had cake so that was really special. After dinner Brandy, Kendra, Katie, and I headed home. When I arrived at Spence and Lynsey’s house their kids Trinity and Jonathan gave me cookies and my team had me surprise of Roses sitting on my bed. I cried is how in shock I was and that is one thing I was really missing from home. Then us girls went to the kitchen and made cookies and popcorn.
I have really enjoyed my birthday so thanks to all who have made it so special. I really appreciate all that each one of you have done to make this day so great. I will be honest and say that it has been very hard being away from home, traditions, family, and friends but I have been very blessed to be able to celebrate that way I did.
