Happy Birthday to Me!

If you didn't know (or you live under a rock) yesterday was my birthday. My 33rd. If you know me, you know I love to celebrate my birthday - I try to spread it out over a week or two as my own Annukkah celebration. This year was a little less festive, Ryan is doing a side job with our old neighbor remodeling a kitchen. It's a big job and it's taken a few weeks. So that left me with the kids during the week - and for some long days for both of us. By Thursday I wasn't feeling very good and at the end of the day I sent out an S.O.S. to my knight in shining armor and Ryan stayed home on Friday.

After sleeping in Friday I was able to go to Jon's school and have lunch with him and hang in his class for a bit - I headed home in the afternoon and my dad came down to visit and stay the night and celebrate. We had a nice dinner and cake (orange angel food from Taylor's Bakery - my favorite) then dad and I were able to head out to Town Center and enjoy the quiet and some shopping minus small people. So nice, so very nice. I didn't buy much because I wanted focus all my birthday money on a new bike that you'll see in a minute. I did manage to get a couple pairs of shoes (God Bless DSW and my wonderful dad!) and scored these sweet kicks:

and an awesome, totally impractical pair of heels (that are miraculously comfortable), that I wore last night.

Saturday we had soccer in the morning and football in the afternoon and date night in the evening. It was a full day to say the least. The plan was to clean up, zoom out the door and get to Matthew's Bicycles down on Pendleton Pike by 5:30 because they close at 6. I wasn't so optimistic that we'd find a bike and get it all done in thirty minutes. Well, we did. It is awesome. It's a Trek 1.1 WSD - don't ask me what it means, I don't know. I mean hell, I showed up in heels to buy the damn thing. I am sure the salesperson didn't think I was worthy, but he still took our money. Here it is:

Of course I had to get a helmet - now if you don't know this little known piece of information - do with it what you will, I have a freakishly small head. So small that I fit into all my kids baseball hats, the fitted ones, and I needed a child's helmet, I also have been known to by children's frames for my reading glasses and would really love it if they would make hip child's sunglasses, but I digress... I was geeked because they had some fun pink helmets to choose from, instead of the severe red or blue they had for adults. The salesfellow at Matthew's was skeptical, but once he put it on my head AND had to tighten it, he agreed it fit very well. So I walked out with my shiny new bike, a new helmet, water bottle and holder (which after my first ride this morning, I can not drink and ride at the same time, but I am optimistic I'll get there). We were on the road by 6 pm.

We went out to dinner and thinking that a Saturday night would be busy, we thought we'd have a long leisurely meal. Not so much, the restaurant was dead and we were done appetizer to signed check in one hour. The worst part was that we TRIED to drag dinner on, but the food was good and we had fun, that's all that matters. We walked the mall a bit and then headed home, got in our jammies and watched the premier of Glee, since Ryan hadn't seen it yet. It is a damn good show.

I took my bike out for it's maiden voyage this morning and despite the fact that it took a whole block to get my foot in the toe strap, it went great. I love my new bike, I look forward to my many rides solo, with friends and with my family. I was really, really spoiled with this gift! One might wonder what I am to do with such a bike. I have wanted to do a sprint triathlon for a couple of years now, well I can swim and I can run, but I didn't have a bike and that kind of put a kink in the whole triathlon thing. So now I do and I can't wait until next spring!

Move over Lance

Last, but not least I got one of the quirkiest, coolest gifts from my darling love. For those of you who aren't familiar there was a grocery chain back in the forties, fifties and maybe even sixties called A & P. Do you know what A & P stands for? Ann Page!!!! I have a jar that my mom stored buttons in that once held Ann Page pickles. How cool is that. So a month ago I started scouting ebay for Ann Page goodies and came upon some awesome 1940's ads for Ann Page goods. I forwarded the ads to Ryan who gave me this yesterday:

The bottom ad is from 1942 and it has a woman in an officer's uniform - doing her duty - feeding her family well. It is from Ladies Journal and it is a riot! This little gem is now proudly hanging in my kitchen. I couldn't have been more surprised or more pleased with how cool Ryan pulled it all together.

Today is the Colt's game, I have been told I need to change into my jersey and my husband, as part of helping me out, went grocery store on Friday and not only bought what was on the list, but enough football snacks to feed an entire suite of people. Needless to say we invited the neighbors over to break in the new TV room (pics to follow) and eat up some of our snacks - we really can't (or shouldn't) eat 120 pizza rolls. So my birthday weekend is coming to a close, I still have few things coming up this week, dragging Annukkah out a bit more. Thanks for all the birthday wishes, the cards, presents (thanks Brooke for my posters of "Edward"- girls eat your hearts out, we are so ready for my New Moon Party in two months!) and more. I feel loved and happy - I just don't get why people don't like birthdays!

Take care and thanks! - Oh and GO COLTS!!!!!!