It Was a Perfect Birthday

I turned 35 yesterday. What a perfect day it was too. The loveliness started with breakfast at Belinda's house. She set the table so beautifully just for me and made some fancy and delicious food too. I can't thank her enough because I love being fussed over like that. I can't even recall the last time someone made me breakfast at all let alone all fancy and beautiful like that.

Mike had taken the boys to the father and sons camp out the night before and when I got home from breakfast the boys where waiting. Jonathan had collected a birthday present for me up in the mountains. Mike said that he had wandered off and was found in a field picking flowers for me for my birthday. He hung on to those little weeds all the way home down the canyon and presented them so adorably my heart just melted. "Here's some flowers I picked for you mommy. Do you love them?" Big grin, hopeful expression. So cute!!!






My sweet husband, who forgot my birthday the first year we were married and learned the hard way to never do it again, also brought me flowers, but his were a little less wilted and weed like.



So beautiful! Thanks honey.

Because our friend Brandon's birthday is the day before mine we decided to combine the celebrations. Mike, Brandon, Ashley, Brandon's sister Brook, my cousin Marc, and I all went over to the church to play a little half court basketball. I know what you're asking yourselves... how did I get roped into playing basketball on my birthday? I don't exactly know, but it ended up being actually quite fun. Marc was on one and making me laugh my guts out. I always love a good belly laugh or two. We kept the games low key and just enjoyed each other's company. As you can imagine, Mike was very happy with this part of the my birthday celebrations as well.

After basketball we joined up with Kendall and Chris in Emigration Canyon at Ruth's Diner for dinner. The atmosphere was perfect and the food delicious. I had a blue cheese burger with the best fries I've ever eaten, but the biggest and possibly best surprise of the day was when we got home. We pulled up the driveway and in the headlights we could see the words "Happy Birthday" spelled out with sticks with arrows pointing to the the front door. Upon entering there was a red carpet rolled out for me and a huge happy birthday banner created by the kids stretched out across the doorway. The boys were bathed and in bed sleeping and Mary Kate and Rachel (greatest babysitter of all time) had cleaned the house thoroughly from top to bottom. I'd be hard pressed to come up with a better birthday present than this. Here are Mary Kate and Rachel in my spotless kitchen, holding the happy birthday sign.

And if that wasn't enough, Kendall showed up a few minutes later with an ice cream cake for Brandon and I and we sang Happy Birthday with candles and all.

As you can see, I was treated perfectly on my birhtday. The day before Belinda stopped by for a visit and gave the boys a little talk about how to treat mommy on her birthday. They really took her advice to heart and even they were thoughtful and well behaved (mostly). Thanks to everyone who made my birthday so perfect. Thanks to all my friends for their thoughtful gifts and cards. I have the best friends in the world. (Michelle, I'm listening to my new CD this moment and Shawna, just so you know it's 1:05 in the p.m.) Mike, Mom and Dad, Dave and Lynette, Laura, everyone for their gifts and phone calls, and kids for the good behavior and house work. I feel so loved.