30 And Flirty

Happy Birthday to ME!

I've been dreading this day for a long time. 30. It sounds so old and yet... it's really not. I still feel 19 and if that old saying is true 'you're only as old as you feel' then I'm doing pretty good, right?

I hope to do lots of things in my 30's and make them the best years of my life. In a way, it's nice to be out of my 20's. In your 20's, no one takes you seriously. Now, when I tell them I'm 30, they'll look at me in a whole new light! And hopefully... just hopefully... they'll be surprised when I tell them I'm 30.

A little birthday story...

Two weeks ago, my mother-in-law gave me a beautiful ceramic Halloween pumpkin. I put it on my shelf above my fish tank. A few nights ago, John was looking for a missing fish in the fish tank and came up and bumped his head on my shelf. And down, DOWN came the cute pumpkin. He felt so bad. And so did I. But I think he felt worse. (It happened right after finding out that my 96 year old grandmother's health is failing and her days are numbered. You always think you're going to be prepared for news like that, but it still manages to hit hard. She's still hanging in there... ) He promised me that he'd buy me another. I was talking to my mother-in-law on the phone the other day and told her about the 'incident' and asked her where she got it from. She said she just happened to be going to that gift shop the following day and presented me with yet another beautiful ceramic pumpkin on HER birthday at HER birthday lunch. She refused to let me pay her for it. At the end of the lunch, Faith was poopy (of course!) and smelling the place up. She also needed a nap. I was holding her as she was arching her back, hanging on to her sippy cup, my keys, my purse, a bag of birthday chocolates my sister-in-law gave me and the beautiful pumpkin that was wrapped in bubble tape in a sack.

It happened so fast.

The sack with the pumpkin slipped through my fingers.

BOOM, CRACK, and DOWN, DOWN went the beautiful ceramic pumpkin.

AGAIN.

People that know me probably aren't the least bit surprised by this story. The klutz gene is a genetic defect. But I seem to be the one who inherited the majority of it.

I stood there and bawled in front of everyone. Nice. The second pumpkin crashing was just more than my little heart could take.

But today I opened the door after getting back from a walk and there was my ceramic pumpkin, all glued together and you almost can't even tell it happened. And along with it was two more UNbreakable pumpkins. Thanks, Alice. You're the best.

Here's a pic of the pumpkins. And a card I woke up to from John. When you open it up it plays the electric slide. It's hilarious and so ME. But what was even better was the message inside:

'Happy Birthday, honey!

You still look 19 to me when you were doing the Electric Slide.'

My favorite gift is my new pair of Brooks running shoes.

John, you're the best. I love them. I felt all young and light when I went on my walk today with the kids. They gave me just the birthday boost I needed.

The shoes are special because I went to a special running store to get them. Apparently I have really bad feet that prone inward. Explains the shin splints I get.

Good-bye Shin Splints! Hello beautiful running shoes!

A birthday gift to myself was this wonderful 'Family' block sign I made and finished last night. I love it.

And Jill, your cute package I got the other day made me so happy. It came at the perfect time. The 'Joy' plate looks great on my shelf and m&m's tasted great. They're gone. Imagine that!

I got to curl up with the kids today and watch my FAVORITE Disney DVD thanks to a wake up surprise this morning from John. Thanks, hon. I love it. Tonight I get to go trick-or-treating with the kids, and tomorrow I get to go to dinner to one of my favorite restaurants.
I'm so excited!!

Thanks to everyone who already called and e-mailed with birthday wishes!! I love you all!