cause for the birthday hangover....

Two months and ten days ago I thought about my birthday and dreaded it. But yesterday as I played with my kids, took phone calls and visits from friends, and just let myself smile and laugh and accept a few compliments--and eat a lot of empty calories :)--I realized that I'm going to be just fine. I really think I am. Thank you faith. Thank you time. Thank you everyone who went out of their way to make me feel like a million bucks yesterday (including all you generous commenters!).



I started out my day getting my patootie kicked in step choreography class. Felt great! Sharon, my instructor, is about as big around as a toothpick--but the woman could easily pick me up with one toe and throw me across the room. Nobody messes with her.


In the afternoon, I took my older boys to see Kung Fu Panda. Hooray for a cartoon that didn't make me cry in the theatre (stupid Finding Nemo.....). If you loves ya some Jack Black like I do--you'll want to see this one. My favorite line: "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery--all you have is the gift of today--that's why they call it the Present". That really was about the deepest thing in the movie---the rest was all fat Panda jokes and kung fu fightin'!


For dinner, I went out with the sweetest, funniest group of ladies. Ladies--are we ladies? I really felt more like girls last night.....I thought they might kick us out we stayed talking so long! Thank you Kindra for arranging it! I'm sitting between Mikki and Amanda-----more proof I actually know some of my bloggy friends in real life :)!
Marilyn and Linda arrived after the first picture was taken, but I wanted to make sure I remembered they were there. And Tresa too---she took the first picture and then I never got one of her.
Mmmmmm.....Macaroni Grill. Jazz music, crusty bread, and the ability to doodle on the paper tablecloth with crayons. Love it!!!
It's not your birthday dinner at a restaurant until you get a hunk of free cake and sang to by a waitress! See the massive pile of forks next to me? One for each of the 10 of us there and we STILL couldn't eat the whole piece of cake. Pretty pathetic :)! And after hearing some crazy in-law stories, I really feel more of my friends need to start blogs....

After dinner, I came home to have MORE cake with my kids. This was a poppyseed cake with lemon frosting that my friend Michelle made for me. I ate some of it for breakfast this morning. Hey--it has eggs and flour and breakfast-y things in it, right?!?! Perfectly acceptable!

Just some of my "loot". Lots of things to make me smell irresistable, yummy stuff to eat, and pretty things to look at. Got some more candy, cards, and another gorgeous rose that didn't get in the picture. And money from Mom P.----THANK YOU!!!
This was a plate of cookies----quickly devoured. Thank you Franz family :).
Another cake from my neighbor. An ice cream one! Don't worry little cake---you, too, will make a fine breakfast soon enough.....
And lookie what a cute gift Elena sent my way. LOVE IT :)!

**********And now I must take a second to yell at my new age: HEY!--33!!!---YOU BE GOOD TO ME!************