Happy Birthday to me!

I'm 36 today. 36. Wow. That sounds old, doesn't it? I'm not going to let it bug me though, because I don't actually feel old. I feel like a kid. A kid who woke up this morning thinking, "Wheee! It's my birthday!" and grinned from ear to ear.

Alan and the boys let me sleep until 8 (bliss!) and then serenaded me with the "Happy Birthday" song. I came downstairs to discover fresh flowers, lots of lovely presents, a pot of tea and a plate of chocolate croissants, cinnamon scones and strawberries. Yum! I opened cards and gifts and parcels (with my two little helpers eager to be paper-rippers), enjoyed my breakfast, and had great fun watching Peppa Pig, all cuddled up with the boys on the couch (and yes, the episode we watched was Mummy Pig's Birthday!) Now it's 9:30 and I'm reading birthday emails and working on my second cup of tea. Aaaah... Aren't I lucky that today is Easter Monday and therefore a holiday? Normally I'd be at work right now, teaching grade 6 Science! (I think "Birthday Monday" has a nice ring to it, don't you? maybe I can work something out so I can have it again next year?)

Plans for today include a birthday phone date with Em (you know, since I can't actually be with her in Paris today- pauvre moi!), reading a good book and drinking a glass of white zinfandel during the boys' naptime, and going for a birthday walk around the lake (with a wander round to Starbucks too, I think!) I'm looking forward to all of it, and dinner & cake with my parents tonight. A very happy birthday, indeed.

For now, back to my tea! I want to take things slow and savour the day. After all, you only turn 36 once, right?

photos via my sweet friend Kim (aren't they fantastic?)