Mama's Birthday!

I had an absolutely fantastic birthday, no, birthWEEK, this year.  It really started the week before my birthday.  We had our monthly family birthday dinner - normally for March it's just me and Leah.  This year we also had Becky, Brian & Ani Smith to celebrate.  This meant I finally got to see baby Cody up close and personal rather than just via facebook and cell phone.  He is absolutely adorable & was decked out in the cutest little green outfit - just in time for St. Patrick's Day.  I'm not sure who was cuter - Cody or sweet Amelia, full of the most bubbly, friendly personality.  Ethan hasn't really seen her all that often but talks about her quite frequently.  He and Alex had a great time playing with "the cousins."  We all really enjoyed ourselves, especially with ice cream cake and sundaes for dessert.  Then came time for presents....I got beautiful charms for my Pandora bracelet I'd gotten for Christmas - a shamrock & beautiful green bead from Katie and dangling birthstone charms for August & November from the boys; a pretty little pink purse from Eileen which is the perfect size for everything I need and cute, too - the perfect combo; the perfect size & shape of the Target card from the Gossoms and I was set.  I wasn't done yet though.  I still had my mom's present to open which we'd forgotten at home (she mailed it) - a pretty white blouse, a cute cardigan with hearts all over it and a pretty necklace along with some unmentionables completed my night.  Fantastic.

Fast forward to the day before my birthday.  Ethan had planned for over a month to take me to Gattitown for my birthday so Steve decided we should go someplace nicer for my birthday dinner the night before.  I picked O'Charley's.  At dinner Steve asked Ethan if he wanted to make a cake for my birthday.  The day before Ethan's answer to that same question was a quick & firm "no."  This time he looked at me and said, "is today you birfday, Mama?"  Me: "no, tomorrow is my birthday."  E: "Why?" (my favorite question) Me: "because 35 years ago, I wasn't born yet."  E: "Why?" Steve: "Cause she was in Nana's belly like Alex was in Mama's belly."  E (to me): "Are you still in Nana's belly?"....yeah, I guess it was a little far fetched to think that would clear it up for a 3 year old.  Oh well, back to the cake subject.  Steve decided they would make a chocolate mousse pie for me since I was going to have cake at work.  Ethan wasn't sure about that - he wanted birthday cake.  Steve told him this would be my birthday cake pie - he was satisfied with that.

Finally - my birthday arrived.  I felt at this point like I'd already had a great birthday.  Then it got better.  As I walked in the main door at work, I could see a happy birthday sign on the door to my office suite.  More signs at my desk and then my coworkers sand and had a very moist & yummy cake for me complete with signing card and gift card.  I then got more Pandora charms from my boss/friend, Linda - one with little footprints like a baby's foot - too cute.  Then I get a picture text from Steve.  It's the boys - completely covered in chocolate.  Apparently the mousse turned out great and it was yummy & they were hoping it would be even better cold....

...I met my boys at Gattitown after work as promised.  Both boys actually ate dinner without a struggle.  As our rule is if you don't eat, you don't play and I wanted to play, I was really happy for no struggle.  I then got two more charms for my bracelet including a "mom" charm from Steve - 8 charms total now.  My bracelet is looking great!  Ethan and I raced cars, played guitar hero, Deal or No Deal, air hockey, skee ball, basketball....all while Steve entertained himself and Alex with skee ball trying to get enough tickets for the boys to cash in for some cool stuff.  Almost out of points on our cards, we all rode the carosel & then got to pick out toys before heading home.  Ethan & Alex somehow managed to break the helicopter Ethan had just gotten at Gattitown but we had birthday cake pie so they didn't care for long.  I don't know how the mousse was when first done, but it was fantastic cold.

I honestly can't remember the last time my birthday was this much fun.  Thank you to everyone for your parts in that.  Especially Steve & the boys - no arguments; no one in trouble; just good, clean fun & yummy cake-pie.  :)