a day fit for a queen

So today is my birthday, and in my family we've always made a big deal over birthdays. Today was no different. My parents came down last night and we all went out to dinner at Buca di Beppo. It's a restaurant we hardly ever go to because it's more fun to go with lots of people. Our little one had a great time playing with the crayons (for the first five minutes until she threw them on the floor and we couldn't find them), dipping her fingers in olive oil (yeah, I know...gross!) and drinking from Grandma's straw.



This morning I got presents--a new digital camera from my parents, because we have a huge monster camera--takes awesome pictures but it's way too big and cumbersome to take everywhere, and I wanted one I could put in my purse or the diaper bag and have it with me everywhere. And my husband surprised me with a long weekend for the two of us in Chicago! He didn't plan the details--he wanted me to do that so I could get to do what I want to do, so I get to get started planning a fun trip--awesome! I was floored. I never would've expected that from him because he's a mountain-climing, clean air, national park lover who really hates cities and would never choose to vacation there, so the fact that he gave this trip to me means he really loves me if he's willing to go just because it's something I enjoy! How sweet! I can't wait. I don't know when we'll go, but sometime this spring or early summer.



Then we had a girls' outing--my mom, my little one, and me. We went shopping and I bought some birthday presents for our little one's upcoming big day. My mom took the two of us out to lunch. I chose California Pizza Kitchen because I love it and my husband hates it and I only ever get to go there if I go with someone else (so not very often at all!). It was delicious and they surprised me with a hot fudge sundae with a candle on top at the end--and didn't even sing to embarrass me, for which I'm thankful!



Next we came home for naptime. After she was safely asleep (with Daddy home to supervise), my mom and I left again for another shopping excursion. It's always a treat to go shopping without a toddler in tow. We went to the mall to several shoe stores I never get to go to with my little one, because I'm looking for a new pair of sandals. I didn't find anything, but we had fun looking and we did some more birthday shopping for a certain almost-two-year-old, as well, which is always lots of fun.



The plan was that my husband and I were supposed to go out to dinner tonight and my parents would babysit, but on the way home from the mall I realized that I really wasn't hungry because of my huge lunch, I was tired from shopping all day, and my husband's basketball team is in the final game of their conference tournament tonight and he really would rather stay home to watch his game, so I decided to save our date for another night when I was hungrier, less tired, and there was no basketball game fighting with me for my husband's attention (I'm plagued--March Madness is ALWAYS starting the week of my birthday. Ugh!). But it's okay...it lengthens my birthday this way!



We ordered pizza instead and had the cake my mom made me (from scratch carrot cake--yum!). And despite my dateless evening, I was a queen today and had a great day full of my favorite people and my favorite pasttimes (spending time with them and shopping!). I'm a lucky girl.