One of the happiest

For philosophical reasons I usually keep my birthday pretty quiet. Not that I mind people talking/blogging/whatever about their birthdays in general. Not one little bit. I just have my own reasons for wanting mine to pass mostly unnoticed by anyone other than my closest family and a few friends with good memories who remember it on their own. Birthdays are a touchy subject for me. I love having them. I don't like people commenting on them. That basically sums it up. In a cryptic sort of a nutshell. :) But this year was too wonderful for me not to record. It was one of the happiest of "happy birthdays". I feel awfully official. And pretty fantastic. And loved. I guess you could say I'm slowly starting to get more comfortable in my own skin - one year at a time.

Since my birthday was on a Sunday this year, the celebrating spanned a whole weekend. Quite an excellent plan. After this weekend, Eric and I decided that birthday celebrations should always go for more than one day. Elena took two days this year to celebrate hers. I took two days. And I think we'll continue that tradition. Saturday, Eric let me be quite lazy - I slept in, I didn't change diapers or feed children, and I went out for a quiet afternoon of errand running/shopping. Then he picked up our babysitter and we went out on a date.

All gussied up and ready for our date!

(Sorry for the slightly weird picture quality - I had to do my best to edit out the flash in the mirror behind us. :))

I told Eric that all I wanted for my birthday was good food and not to cook it. I've already mentioned how I love food - too much. So we headed to Red Lobster to indulge. And indulge we did. Our dinner went something like this:

Absolutely sinful Shrimp Bruschetta

(Red Lobster's pic, not mine - I was too busy eating)

Virgin Pina Coladas

Caeser Salad

Cheddar Bay Biscuits (love me, those things are good)

and then two shared entrees: Jumbo Coconut Shrimp with Pina Colada sauce

(pic from Red Lobster)

and some shell-fish platter of goodness including: Shrimp Scampi, Wood-grilled garlic shrimp skewers, and Wood-grilled petite lobster tails.

(this is it minus the scallops and add in the shrimp scampi)

(pic from Red Lobster)

We stumbled out of the restaurant in an absolute food coma. It was incredible. And it was like 5000 calories. But you don't count calories on your birthday. :)

During dinner we talked about this year and all it's upcoming happenings, things I'd accomplished up to this birthday, how we felt about getting older, etc, etc. It's interesting... more than ever I am painfully aware of my flaws and weaknesses. It's funny how that happens as your kids gets older - I think they're harder to hide. I have a lot of work to do. And I'm still working on that ginormous goal of punctuality. Why is that the struggle of my life? Patience and punctuality - that pretty much sums up my two biggest weaknesses. But, weaknesses aside for a moment, I'd still say that I feel really fantastic about where I am in life - overall.

We are on the threshold of adventure and relief and change this year - Eric's graduation, Elena's end of treatment, etc.- which is very exciting.

I feel closer to the Lord than I think I ever have in my life and I feel like I'm making some progress on various spiritual goals I've set for myself.

I feel - physically - the best I have ever felt (well, other than these darn shin splints :)). No fear here in turning another year older. Last month I finally reached my original weight loss goal of 40 lbs! And this month, I surpassed it by another pound and a half. When I did the "fitness test" (a test that measures your cardiovascular and aerobic fitness - kind of like the maximal oxygen uptake measure) on my new Polar monitor last week, I ranked in the "Elite" level. I feel healthy and strong and just plain GREAT!

As we talked, I realized how at peace I was with where I am. Not that there aren't things I'd like to do differently or to change (remember those flaws?), but I feel peaceful and grateful about what I do have right now. That's a nice feeling to have as you're reflecting on another year of life spent.

After dinner we headed to the grocery store to pick up some items for my birthday dinner the next day. It was so fun to laugh together and be silly. I love grocery shopping with a strange passion. It is one of my favorite things to do. So, happy birthday to me that I got to go grocery shopping with Eric sans kids. That never happens.

On Sunday, I enjoyed many well-wishing phone calls and again got to take it easy around the house. After church, Eric and I set out to prepare my birthday dinner. I had had trouble settling on a meal in the weeks leading up to my birthday. Eric would ask me what I wanted and I was stumped. But after our dinner at Red Lobster, I finally decided on not so much of a typical, structured meal, but rather a smorgasbord of yummy things: homemade bruschetta (more!), tons of fruit (pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, and pomegranates), and Chili's chips and salsa that we had picked up the night before. Totally random, but all awesome.

And Eric humored me by making me these absolutely decadent macaroon-type cookies (recipe from my friend Jen Beebs) to hold my birthday candles. Basically they're a layer of melty shortbread, followed by a layer of a coconut-sweetened condensed milk mixture, and then a layer of chocolate drizzled on top. They are heavenly. This was the first time we'd ever attempted them (I've just always eaten the ones Jen made) and they kind of kicked our trash. They are some high maintenance little cookies and I need some tutoring before I try them again. :) Our cookies crumbled not too long after you picked them up and the coconut layer was a little too "solid", but they still tasted AMAZING.

Then it was present opening time. (Thanks to those who sent such nice gifts and cards!) At the very end, when I thought we were all done, Elena hopped up and said, "Wait, Mom!" as she ran into the living room. She returned a few seconds later with something behind her back. Then she whipped out this card she had made for me:

Elena told me the pictures on the right are (starting from the bottom and going up): suckers, doughnuts, cookies, a cake, and syrup. :)

Eric looked at me, "I didn't know she made that. Did you know?"

I didn't. The little miss had sneakily made me a birthday card all on her own. And I cried, yes I did. I feel like an official mom now - my first time crying over a card/picture/gift from one of my kids. Seriously, I was so touched. I don't know if I've ever loved a birthday gift more. The part that got the tears flowing was the "BRIANA I<3 U" in the top left corner. Something about how no one coached her on that - she wrote the "I love you" part all on her own. I feel like such an awful, weak, failing, lacking mom so often - like I would hardly merit such words unprompted. Her little card meant more to me than I can express.

Me and my sweet girl

So, there's the recap of one of the happiest birthdays I've ever had! And to top it all off, yesterday my dear friend from high school, Emily, took me out to Chili's for lunch. I'm so loved! That to all my wonderful family and friends for making it a birthday too good to not document. :)