I am not one to dread getting older.  In fact, most times I am just happy to have a day that is mine regardless of how many more gray hairs will appear in the next year.  So yesterday was my birthday. And yes, I love gifts.  Unfortunately, my DH has come up a little short in the gifting department in the past, but I could really tell that he was trying to make up for it this year.  And no I am not lying when tell you that when I turned thirty, he gave me a bicycle.  I mean really? I turned thirty, not thirteen. So let's get on with what he came up with this year....

My gifts actually started coming two nights before.  The first: a gift certificate to Cloud 9 restaurant complete with babysitting services from our fantastic friends, Bek and Lou.  The following evening, I got a surprise visit from a great friend (and a co-worker of DH) complete with a bottle of champagne, a carton of orange juice and a hilarious card about how I can't be old since I won't be leaving boob prints in my cake while blowing out candles.  Birthday morning started off with breakfast in bed (filet mignon, two eggs over-easy and toast) accompanied by piping hot coffee and a mimosa with another birthday card on the side.

Now, the cards I usually find for DH are a bit silly, cute and funny.  The ones he finds for me are usually a bit more heartfelt and pretty.  Like this.

So, I am finding the words he found in this card are so sweet and blessed that he thought he could apply them to me...until...I see he has slid another envelope inside the card.  The envelope holds a gift certificate for Margo to again work her magic and I am thrilled.  But. The. Envelope.  Now really, was that necessary?

Of course, I didn't take it to heart.  Did I really expect HIM to be all sappy and lovey dovey? No, I certainly know better.  He has the capability, but it just comes and goes so quickly that it seems he is more comfortable with his sarcastic self, which is totally okay too. Really though, I couldn't get mad when he explained how upset he was that I couldn't get my hair done ON my birthday 'cause Margo was on vacation and he knows I only let her touch my head. And I really couldn't be angry when he told me about he went the extra step he took; making me an appointment to have a pedicure ON my birthday.  Most of the time it is actually DH who does my pedicures, and while this one was pretty and I got out of the house alone for a bit, I had to admit that his are WAY better.  I mean, he takes the time to massage and soak and smooth the callouses and paint (yep paint) and this professional pedi was just nowhere near as enjoyable as his.

So it was an eventfully quiet morning that led into a nice, relaxing dinner out complete with fresh oysters and pan-seared scallops. But I most certainly could not end this post without sharing the freakin' adorable daisies my sister Karen left in three vases at my house.  Yeah her card was hilarious too as was Lauren's, which literally said Happy Birthday and all that crap.  It was the bestest simple birthday ever. There are some days when keeping it simple is the greatest feeling in the world.

This adorable face belongs to my sweet nephew.  He and his momma (my youngest sister) are on a little vacation from their home in North Carolina and last week's incredible weather made for a great excuse for some beach portraits.  We'll call this Part One of J's Two-year portrait session.




Now having one son of my own with his own plans for filling up the days of his life, I know just how independent a two-year-old boy can be.  Luckily for J's momma, I am totally cool with letting a kid be a kid and working around their quirks and independence to capture some great shots.  Some might seem silly at the time, but when they make it out of the camera we usually have some really great thoughts.  That being said, here are a few things I learned about Mr J...

Number one is quite obvious.  He really really loves his momma <3
Second. He has loads of treasures and is always searching for where he put them:)
Third. He would rather bury is head in the sand any day than actually look at the camera.
Yes, J certainly has his own ideas about how things are actually going to happen.  I can't say I blame him though.  Really.  What could be more fun than sharing fistfuls of sand with your auntie?
And after all the "sand sharing" a rest is quite welcomed.....even if it is against your own will.
The reality of being made to take a short break is that you really didn't know you needed it and you are thankful for it in the end.

After more running around and a small amount of bribery, J did manage a couple smiles just for me. Well, maybe his mom too as she played leap frog over me as the freezing cold water lapped at our ankles. Yep, he thought it was hilarious.

To be perfectly honest, I am not much of a princess.  That being said, often times in this life I have felt stepped on.  Walked upon.  Perhaps unleashing my inner princess (I know she's in there somewhere) might put an end to that.  Thanks to Miss O as she turned 3 years old this past weekend, I now have tips on how to be a princess.




















 Sometimes being a princess requires patience...

...and after you've expressed said patience, it is okay to give that boy a piece of your mind.  Especially when he is opening YOUR gifts.
Being a princess also means it's perfectly okay to keep wanting and wishing for more...

...but the most important thing about being a princess is the knowledge that glass slippers aren't all they're cracked up to be and doing your own thing is really the only way to go :) Happy 3rd Birthday Princess O!!