Best Birthday - EVER!

Paige Martinez may go down in the neighborhood annals for having the best, most awesome, truly epic birthday of all time. For her big five, Paige had asked for a cowgirl themed party. Mom Lori and dad Tim hit upon the most cowgirl-themed idea possible – pony rides.

Lori Martinez says she had the idea and after a quick internet search found Sarah’s Riding Stable out of Willow Springs. What made them the perfect choice is rather than just taking the kids out for pony rides for a few minutes, the ponies came to them. For a whole hour and a half. That may not seem like a long time but when you are five, sitting on top of a beautiful black pony like Midnight is a moment that lasts forever.

One of the best parts will surely be the bragging rights Paige will have when school starts in a few weeks. But, an unintended side-effect of Lori and Tim Martinez’s best birthday idea ever is the smiles they spread throughout the neighborhood. 

Driving home from a typical Saturday afternoon shopping trip filled with all the usual annoyances and irritants of traffic, finding the sales and navigating the store aisles were instantly forgotten as I caught sight of something I’d never thought to see in my little neighborhood.

A little girl on a horse. Walking down the sidewalk. In the middle of the neighborhood.

Every now and then, something happens that just makes you smile. We each have things that are guaranteed to bring a bit of happiness, but there are some that most everyone shares. Like getting a pony ride on your birthday. In your neighborhood. Up and down the street on which you live. Yep, there are some things that just make you smile.

Happy Birthday Paige, and thank you mom Lori and dad Tim Martinez. You surely made this the best birthday any little girl could dream up, but you also spread a little joy among your neighbors. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next year!