it was my birthday, shout hooray!

Yesterday I turned twenty-three years old. It made me feel old and grown-up. If I were a boy, I could have been home from a mission for two years. What?!

But I'm not a boy, I didn't go on a mission, and my birthday was lovely.

I will tell you the reasons why:

• At midnight the night before my mom sent me a happy birthday email. I got it right when she sent it because I was at the library working on a paper.
• Chris made me breakfast while I slept in until 9:00.
• I went to work at 10, we had a party at 11, I ran a bunch of errands at 12, then left at 1. So work was awesome.
• The aforementioned work party (which was for Christmas), doubled as my birthday party. They sang to me and I got to be the lovely assistant when my boss did magic tricks.
• My parents took me out to lunch at Kneaders and I had good conversation and a heart-wrenchingly delicious pecan tart.
• I had my last lecture in 19th century art, where we talked about Cezanne, Art Nouveau, Watts, and Munch. Rocked my socks.
• A nice lady in the JKB told me she liked my blue tights.
• Lots of friends sent nice texts or left me nice messages or called and told me nice things. Thanks friends.
• The moon was pretty and mysterious and rising over Y mountain when I walked to my car after class. I took a picture on my phone, but I have no idea how to get pictures from a phone to the computer, so if you want to see it, let's meet for lunch.
• I returned home to a beautifully spotless house, courtesy of husband.
• Then he took me to Carrabba's for dinner, where I had the Pollo Rosa Maria. I had it when we went there for my mom's birthday in November and I haven't stopped thinking about it since.
• We also got dessert.
• After dinner we drove around looking at people's Christmas lights. That might not sound very exciting, but I LOVE doing that, so it was fabulous for me. And we got lucky enough to sneak into a gated community behind another car, and that was probably the best decision of the day. Those richies really know how to decorate. I was screaming. Also took some pics on my phone, still don't know how to get them here. Lunch date.
• Then we went home and the rest is none of your business.

You did not read above that I received any presents. Please do not feel bad for me and rush to the store to buy me gifts (as you undoubtedly would, if I were not giving this explanation of the situation). You see, my parents gave me the gift of Christmas, in the form of a tree and ornaments.

And Christoph bought me a beautiful purse/backpack substitute bag about a month ago. I wanted a nice bag to use for school that was neither a backpack nor a purse, so he got one for me as an early birthday present so I could actually use it this semester. So there's the story on that.

Plus, I'm 23 and way too grown up for gifts. I just want everyone to be happy, no one needs to get me anything, please.

But I do like people to know it's my birthday. . . . that I will never outgrow, I'm pretty sure.

oh, and today Chris and I both got new jobs. A belated birthday surprise from the employment gods. Hooray!

oh, and one more thing--today is my little brother Zach's birthday. So happy birthday Zachy.