Today

I'm older

Technically, I am only 1 day older than I was yesterday but because it was my birthday, I am now 28 instead of 27. I kid you not... I woke up with more wrinkles around my eyes and huge puffy circles... and they haven't gone away. Sort of scary. Aren't I too young for wrinkles? Even my mom, who isn't afraid to be honest, told me I had too many wrinkles.

Speaking of my mom, she gave me the greatest birthday gift ever. She called me to tell me she wanted to visit for Grant's birthday. Then she said, and I quote... "I don't know whether this is something you would like to do, but I can watch the kids overnight while you and Shawn go somewhere"   WHAT? YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE?!?!?!? I think she forgot she was talking to the most date deprived human on Earth! I just about died in excitement. She couldn't have given me a better gift. Well... I could think of better... but within reason, it was the best gift.

Shawn and I planned nothing. Just driving away from the house without kids was already the most fun I had had in a while. Wow.... that sort of sounds pathetic... but really, I was having the time of my life just driving. We agreed we had to do something. So Shawn took me to my favorite places.... Fabric Depot, and Powells Books. Fabric Depot is the largest fabric store in the Northwest. It is massive, and I could spend an entire day there. I walked away with this pattern and fabric. Oh my goodness, I love fabric!

Then we went to Powells, which is the largest book store in the world, really! It takes up an entire city block. I could live there... but Shawn can only tolerate about 1 hour. What a good sport he is. I bought: The Hunger Games, Tinkers, and The Field Guide to Wildflowers. I've already finished The Hunger Games (which has nothing to do with my story... I just wanted to say, it was really good.)

That night we ate at Red Lobster. I ate more than I ever have.... ever! I was starving, and wanted everything on the menu. Shawn and I usually fight over the lobster artichoke dip appetizer, so this year we each got our own. Then I ordered the Ultimate Feast, like I do every year. I always say I'm going to order something else, but I just can't do it. I can't! It's the biggest dish on the menu and I love every bite of it. That, paired with the salad, and 1/2 dozen biscuits I devoured, and Shawn almost had to roll me out of there like Violet Bauregard from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I know, you're not interested in every detail of what I consumed, but honestly, eating was my favorite part of our get away. I'm drooling right now and counting down the days 'til February 21, 2012!!

The next morning we got up and went to Voodoo donuts, which is a hot spot in Portland. We followed the hype and decided to go. We waited in a huge line that circled the block for 1 hour. 1 hour to get a donut?!?! These had better be some dang good donuts. After waiting that long, we decided we needed to get our money's worth, so we bought 2 dozen. The verdict..... they tasted just like.... donuts! Yes, just like the ones you can get at the local bakery. They did have some creative ones though, that I don't think you can find anywhere else!

 Like the Maple bar with bacon on top. We got the kids the 'double bubble' with bubble gum dust and a piece of bubble gum on top. They thought it was the best thing they'd ever had! 

We went home and I was greeted by my adorable kiddos who had gotten me flowers and a balloon, aren't they sweet?

Sweeter still, is my mom who sacrificed her sanity to watch the kids for Shawn and I. Thanks again, Mom. You truly are the greatest... really!

That was my birthday, short, sweet, and simple. It was nothing extravagant, but I seriously had a ton of fun. It was the most time I have spent with Shawn in weeks, as he's always studying. And it gave me just enough of a boost to make the next several weeks without him until his Boards in mid March.

So, here's to an adoring husband, 3 cuddly cute kids, a spoiling mother, and the best birthday a girl could ask for!


Wait! no pictures of Shawn and I? That's CRIMINAL! Well, here's Shawn on my birthday...

But, we have to do something about the extreme lack of pictures we have together.