Friday was my birthday. I'm suddenly reaching those years when someone asks you how old you are and you can't remember for sure, so you actually have to do some math. I hate math. But I have to say, I'm starting off good at 34. I've lost 10 lbs. of baby weight - and counting - since the beginning of the year, though I may have to re-lose a couple of those pounds after all the red velvet cake I consumed this weekend. (More details on that shortly.) I can hold my own in Turbo Kick Boxing class next to all the wafer thin college girls. I feel pretty good, but most of all, I feel blessed. I don't wish I was younger, because that would take me back to a time before I had my Jack and Andie. These days are better - more full. God has been good, indeed!
I got to take Friday off from work, so we all loaded up and headed to Sherman. We dropped the kiddos off at mom & dad's and headed off for my lunch date with Bret and his buddy Shawn. They took me to this hole-in-the-wall place where I enjoyed a BBQ bacon cheeseburger and tots. Obviously, I wasn't counting points. :) They talked me into trying a bite of frog leg. I'll try almost anything once. And I have to say, this was my first - and last - bite of frog leg. It tasted like pond.
From there we headed over to the DMV so I could renew my license. Now, I know that's about the LAST place on earth you'd want to go on your birthday, but the wait there is less than 30 min. compared to the 2-3 hrs. minimum it would have been back home. I would have had to take time off of work, so this just made sense. There were only 5 people in line in front of me - practically painless.
After that, we stopped at an estate sale. I spotted these lovelies. (People really collect this kind of stuff?!)
I'll admit, I was somewhat tempted by the bath tub lamps. I ended up walking away with some cute floral pillow cases for $.50.
I've been needing new running shoes, so afterwards, a trip to the shoe store. I scored these with these shoelaces on the way.
I lusted after these, but they're not much good for kick boxing, so I went with the running shoes instead. If anybody wants to give me $250, I'll happily pick up the boots too.
Later I had BBQ (yes, again) and went to see my Grandpa in the hospital. We were supposed to celebrate that night with my grandparents since my grandmother, Jack and I all have birthdays close together, but Grandpa has had a rough week to say the least. He's getting released tomorrow, though. He's a tough one, that man!
When we got back to my parents', we finally cut into the thing I had been thinking of all day long - my awesome red velvet cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. I am allowing myself to indulge in the leftovers until tomorrow. Then it's back to Lean Cuisines and Skinny Cows. 11-ish pounds to go.
When I got home later that night, I had one last surprise - this little pretty was waiting on my doorstep. My sweet sis had it sent to me. I LOVE IT so much - thanks, Sarah!!
It's the best birthday I can remember in recent history, filled with all my favorite people. And food. Who could ask for more? Here's to 34 more just like it...
