Olives for Breakfast, Because it Was My Birthday

The twins brought me cans of olives to feed them this morning, and since it was my birthday, and I figured I could do whatever I wanted to, I didn't prepare them toast on freshly-baked whole wheat bread and cereal, as I had planned, but fed them two cans of black olives instead...

I say no harm, no foul. I don't even know what that means for sure, but I think it's applicable.

So I love how my small town celebrates birthdays. Our birthdays are posted on our church calendar, which is handed out AND emailed to everyone. On the day of your birthday, you can expect to have visitors coming in and out of your home all day long. Even if you don't know them well, they will have thought of your birthday weeks ahead of time, having purchased a gift in the states the last time they did shopping there. They come with cards, treats, kitchen gadgets, and hugs. It's the best!

Now, I will blog what I received, just so you get an idea of what others think I like.....

The 15-year-old girl gave me my favorite chocolate with sea salt.

My mother gave me a lovely necklace and earrings set, in sage and brown tones. She thinks I don't like it, because I didn't act enthusiastically enough when I opened it, but I do. I'm just not good at expressing enthusiasm.

John gave me $100, pomegranate chocolate candy, a framed family photo, a certificate to Bath and Body Works, a card, and I think some other things. The gifts started coming last week, and I've lost count of how many there were. He's so great that way. :)

Some of the chorus kids at the high school, where I assist, gave me a pin that says "One Year Sexier!" And I am, because last year at this time I weighed 210 pounds and was 8 months pregnant. Without giving too much detail, I'm now in the 160s. Way sexier.

My mother-in-law gave me two books by one of her favorite authors, which is awesome, because I've read everything I have in my house and needed something new.

My various visitors gave me chip clips, a reed diffuser, a really cool, big leopard-print bag, a lovely brown-toned bracelet, a pink tool box with pink tools, cool easy wrap food covers, cards, and some other things, but I can't remember them, not that I didn't love them, but it's late, and there was a lot!

My sister deposited $ into my Take Shape For Life account, so I can order free food!

One boy in chorus learned it was my birthday and pulled a sandwich bag out of his pocket with about 19 chocolate-covered raisins in it, and handed it to me. They were warm. He also asked if I wanted an orange, but I told him that was okay. So sweet.

Several people, including the 21-year-old girl and my mother, called and sang me entire birthday songs for my birthday, including, but not limited to, the traditional Happy Birthday song. And the 21-year-old girl still sings my name as "Mommy", which is special.

One of the best parts of my birthday, however, was going out to lunch with some of my favorite people. My good friend organized it, called all the girls, and even picked me up and drove me to the big town, where we ate at a delicious salad/pannini/pasta restaurant. I had not had food that good in a long time. Wow. And the company was fantastic, too.

So, thank you so much, all of you who did such thoughtful things for my birthday! Even though I still had to sweep up three cups of shredded cheese off the floor, fold five loads of laundry, and get four squirming little boys changed and ready for bed after coming home late from the basketball tournament, among the many other mundane tasks of a mom and housewife, you made my day special, and I got to wear my turquoise leather jacket to lunch, which I can finally fit into, and which is another story altogether.

The only unpleasant things that happened today were that while I was out to lunch, Twin B choked on a chip and our babysitter had to the do Heimlich Maneuver on him, successfully, and at the basketball tournament, a high school boy put the 10-year-old boy head-first into a trashcan. Surprisingly, the 10-year-old boy wasn't phased, but seemingly quite pleased that he had been afforded the opportunity to kick the high-schooler in the face, hard, while he was upside-down in the trashcan. Again, no harm, no foul!

Thanks for a great day everyone!

P.S. My sister and I are finally getting skinnier!
See how we're doing it HERE! :)