Birthday

Last Monday, Sam and I turned 29! On Saturday, Liz and I had gone shopping, and when I got home, Samantha wanted me to go ahead and open my present from her. A while back, I had told her about a painting that I really wanted but couldn't get because the artist painted on window panes, which obviously wouldn't ship well to Chicago. It was a painting of a barn and cotton bulbs and a William Faulkner quote, "To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi." Well, I opened the huge package without any idea of what it was, and when I saw the cotton bulbs and barn through the bubble wrap, I started crying. She had arranged for the artist to have it done on canvas so she could ship it. I couldn't get over how thoughtful it was. Then I opened the other box. She had found two celebratory plates at Goodwill, she keeping one of them, and taped a single candle to mine. Since this is our first birthday apart from each other, she had made a way for us to have the same plate, just put a dessert on it, and we would call and sing and blow out our candles at the same time. Again, just a cryin'. There was a note Aiden had written with all of her kids' little hands traced on it. The last present was a butter dish. When she came to visit, we went shopping and while in Crate and Barrel, I had noticed these clean white dishes and mentioned how much I wanted those when we replace our ever-chipping dishes. I also mentioned how I needed a butter dish since I leave my butter out on the counter. She put the two together and got me this clean, white covered butter dish. Y'all. Those gifts just touched my heart. So incredibly thoughtful. 

On Monday, I got up and was making breakfast for the boys. Jack was so excited coming into the kitchen singing happy birthday. We had a busy, productive day. For some crazy reason, I really wanted to clean the house... ask Travis, this NEVER happens. Maybe it was a resolution-type state of mind. Kind of like the new year. A birthday kind of pushes reset for you, in a way, and you get a little recharged for life to be better. So I cleaned the mess out of the apartment, played like crazy with those little boys of mine, and really enjoyed my birthday just doing normal mama things. When Travis got home from work, he had delicious Italian dinner for us to enjoy with the Thompsons. I swear I'm supposed to be in some Villa in Tuscany. I could eat Italian every single day of my life. His dinner choice was amazing. And I'll go ahead and take the opportunity to confess that once a year I'm allowed Olive Garden. He thinks it's trash. I think it's the bomb. So my birthday trumps his opinion, and I get Olive Garden. He did a search, and much to his pleasure and my dismay, there were none within a good 30-or-more-minute drive. I mean, living in Chicago, I can get over not having it. There is real Italian food here. And the lasagna and ravioli were yummy yum yum. Charlie loved it, too. Then, of course, we had Sweet Mandy B's for dessert. My fave is their carrot cake cupcake. My mouth is watering just typing about it. If I could give you a bite right now, I would. I promise the world would be a better place if everyone had a bite. Except you gluten-intolerant folk. Although they do have a flourless chocolate cake. I've never had it, though, because if I'm going to splurge, I go big or go home. 

We FaceTimed with Sam while we did the cupcake/candle/song. I got a video from the Avens singing Happy Birthday. I got facebook messages and text messages. It was a sweet, perfect day. Thank you, everyone!! and Happy Birthday, SAM!