Double digits! Oh, wait...

Even though I realize this is almost a week late, I'm going to share events and thoughts regarding my birthday this year anyway. It was a good one. Bitter sweet. (that seems to be the theme for this past week.)

Because my big day landed on a Wednesday, it all started off with breakfast at Communal with two of my buddies, Nate and Eric. (i definitely carbo-loaded on the best french toast in the world!) Typically, we do lunch together and Brandon joins us when he's not sleeping. Great guys, awesome friends. Nate had to hurry it up a little cause he had a Hebrew class to get to (he's super cool like that) so he was only there for about 50 minutes. Haha a short period of time when you consider our traditional Wednesdays out usually last about two hours. It's my favorite day of the week.

After getting home, I did some homework then went over to Jonathan and Ali's place to shoot some pictures of Ali's outfit for her 21 day challenge. I played with the bubby and watched an episode of the Big Bang Theory (fantastic show Ali turned me on to) while Ali did the finishing touches to get ready for her photo shoot. I love, LOVE spending time over at their place. Mostly because I adore my nephew, but also because Jona and Ali are two of my very best friends. I can talk to them about anything and their advice is always good. They take care of and look out for me.

My bestie, Becca, met us over there and we had a great few hours taking pictures and coming up with statement jewelry options for the next day's shoot. This really was a great day.

This is my favorite picture from that day, which I have stolen from Ali's blog post. Mmhmmm. Love the shoes, the composition, and what looks like Ali's "accident"... haha.

To top off the evening, we had a big family dinner complete with brother, sister and nephew. The very, very best thing about having a birthday in our family is baby-veto power. Veto power = I get to hold him whenever the fancy strikes. No matter who else is holding him. (except, of course, mom and grandma. grandpa nosed his way in there too.)

I was kind of a pain this year, and I didn't give anyone specifics with regards to gifts. (or so i thought.) Instead, I asked everyone to contribute to my Tuition/Textbook Fund. We didn't have cake either; I'm all about ice cream. Strawberry ice cream, to be exact. None of that chocolate crap.

My family. Can I just take a moment and say how much I love them? Thanks.

I love them a lot. There is nothing, and I do mean nothing, I love more than all of us being together. We always end up laughing. Without fail. And this isn't a few chuckles either; this is full-on belly laughs that cause tears to stream down my face.

Even though I didn't ask for anything, (except for doll hands. don't ask. i'll get to that) I was showered with some great stuff. I received a plethora of singing, flashing cards that were pretty spectacular. My family caters to my BSOS quite nicely, I must say.
A new cocktail ring was added to my collection (he's a big, silver, sparkly elephant. and his name is totes marvy. marvin for short.).

Tickets to the symphony were supplied. 3 of them, to be exact. With an extra for a guest of my choosing to each one. (be nice to me and you might get one haha). Apparently a certain sister(in-law) reads my blog and pays attention. I've been wanting to go for a LONG time! I love Abravanel Hall. It's a beautiful building and I performed there once! A few years ago, I got to solo with Thurl Bailey for the Days of '47 Pops Concert. (quick side note; that man is unbelievably huge. i think i maybe came up to his waist.) I have great memories of that event and I haven't been back since and I've been meaning to for a while. Now I can! Birthdays are the best!

On to my favorite gift of the evening. Doll hands. Doll hands and arms, to be exact. The tear-inducing laughter started the moment I opened this one, and didn't stop for five whole minutes straight. I really did have tears streaming down my face and I couldn't breathe.

I do realize that to the average reader, this is probably the kind of present you'd expect to hear about from a psychopath. To my friends, they're probably just shaking their heads and wondering how they got mixed up with me, knowing that I do not collect dolls or make them for any sort of hobby. Comparisons to Sid (creepy kid from Toy Story) and probably flashing through minds at the moment. Allow me to shed some light on the situation: Click HERE or here or here for enlightenment and laughter.

Seeing as I have three sisters and Halloween is coming up... can you see where I'm going with this? Yes. It would be awesome. Epic, even.

I hope you are all green with envy over my awesome family, because they are worth coveting! And they sure know how to make a girl's birthday a special one.

With all of the time I was able to spend with so many people who are so precious to me, there was one irreplaceable, unfillable hole in my day and weekend. My dear, dear best friend Annie. Her birthday is two days after mine, and for the past few years, we've had a joint party to celebrate. This year was going to be extra special because Annie is the youngest one in our group and she finally turned 21 and we were supposed to go hit up Vegas, baby! This of course was the plan before she moved out to New York at the beginning of the summer. I miss her terribly and our birthday just wasn't the same without her. Happy Birthday, my friend. I hope your day was amazing! You certainly deserved it!


Here's to future birthdays and bigger and better plans!