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My birthday was yesterday & I started the day off right. I slept in 'til 10:45am and then poured myself a big, fizzy Diet Coke for breakfast.

I am so off the wagon.

(Or is it on the wagon? I can never get it right.) Disclaimer: if you are reading this and you are also my neighbor Christine, I promise I will return your yellow cup. I keep washing it with good intentions, but then it beckons yet again! It is the perfect DC cup.

I emerged from my nest to be greeted with birthday loot...

And a puppet telling me "Happy Birthday."

The night before, Mike & I went to dinner and a movie--Terminator (don't you think that was selfless of me to go to an action flick on my birthday?)--and the kids had been very good while we were out. So, as promised, I took them to get a glitter ball. An outing to buy toys for others on my birthday! Another example of my supreme selflessness.

Kids looking into Partyland. Irresistable.

After obtaining the much-sought-after glitter balls, all the rage in gradeschool, I went home and helped Mike clean the garage. Seriously? What was I thinking? On my birthday. You may roll your eyes....now. Cute little Max kept hovering and berating me for doing such a thing on my birthday. I really had been looking forward to it, though. A gritty-floored garage makes me cringe. But Max wanted to be more celebrational and I realized he was right. I cut that project short and made a beeline for the park, wacky picnic in tow compliments of Max. I realized at the end of the day that my kids like to do traditional birthday observances for me, even though I kind of just want a day all to myself...a day off. (Mike, if you're reading, you've got to kick it up a notch and do the full-fledged party from now on. Cake. Ice cream. Balloons. Party-ish atmosphere. For the kids, you understand.)

So next year I will endeavor to let my kids hover about me and provide them with appropriate party materials. We all know that the Man Party is a bit more low-key than that. (Again, you may roll your eyes....now.) I will plan ahead to have a movie night or day full of games or some such kid-fun. All I really wanted to do was get a pedicure and have some alone time. Which I will do this week. They really were cute, though, and gave me the BEST birthday present ever, a charm bracelet with all of their initials. It's the best present ever.

Ever.

Here are some attempts at my annual birthday photo. It was more difficult this year to capture a good one because Jack is so wiggly!

I love these urchins.

Ann came over with a candy poster! I was so happy to see all that chocolate in one place, just for me! Bring on the Diet Coke and the stolen yellow cup!



And here is the rest of my birthday loot. Cards and tidbits galore. (the Hello Kitty coloring book page from Mimi is not to be missed.) A pink package from my mom, the Grande Dame of Good Mail. Do you see the Diet Coke and lemons from Stacey?
Seriously, ribbon & cellophane do make anything adorable! They are still sitting on my desk, almost a week after receiving them, just because they are so cute. A 2 liter of DC with a pink bow--perfect decoration.

And look here......at the package of tags, sent by Michelle. Oh la la, the glory! And in my new favorite color combination--although I don't think she even realized it. Each and every time I see a Creative Friday post by Michelle or Jill featuring these tags, I covet them. In a very jealous, covetous sort of way. In a "I'm going to just show up at your Creative Friday and invite myself in and leave with some of those glorious tags," stalker-ish sort of way. So Michelle, you have no idea the trouble you saved yourself by just sending me some. Merci.

After my coke-guzzling, glitter-balling, garage-cleaning, park-playing, cupcake-gobbling, present-delighting, birthday-kissing day, I went into my room and enjoyed a Bajio salad while watching Lost in Austen. Oh, sweet silent Birthday Bliss.

Goodnight!