lxforever

“…I know I’ll make it, love can last forever / graceful swans of never topple to the earth / And you can make it last / forever you / you / can make it last / forever you / And for a moment I lose myself / wrapped up in the pleasures of the world / I’ve journeyed here and there and back again / but in the same old haunts I still find my friends / mysteries not ready to reveal / sympathies I’m ready to return / I’ll make the effort, love can last forever / graceful swans of never topple to the earth / tomorrow’s just an excuse / And you / can make it last / forever you / you / can make it las / forever you”

—Smashing Pumpkins, 33…naturally

EOTD(ays):

Friday. I took Friday off to have a day with my dear daughter. Unfortunately due a combination of events the night(s) prior, I had slept very little and was not feeling up to the task without a nap or something. First we enjoyed waffles and yogurt together, just mommy and baby, then Grandma Sue to the rescue and I rested for a bit. Finally the fog cleared (though it was sunny sun sun at the park/in the sand!), 1YO went down for a nap, and I called MY mommy to cry. Sleep and other things had really escaped me and the week had been a struggle. I was filled with sadness that the day (and the next, which was MY BIRTHDAY) might not go According To Plan.

The cry and the call miraculously turned my day around completely and I am EXTREMELY grateful for that! Thank you Mom! So I ate some yogurt, watched Scandal(yesssss) and 1YO slept on. I did some chores and opened up a really wonderful present from Stephie, Mike and the kids (“have a fruity/sporty birthday!”) And amazingly…I felt calmer than I had in days. It just came over me. So thankful. Prepared some ‘lunch’ and woke up 1YO. We enjoyed grilled cheese and grapes together in the evening light. I was so happy and couldn’t have loved looking at her little face more. We played in the yard a bit in the sunny sun sun. Up and down the slide and on and off the swing and playing with the ball and laughing.

Then! Per her ‘request’ (I think?), off on the bike! It was completely beautiful out and around Lake Nokomis we went. There is a sort-of secret old-school park there and we checked it out. Down down down the big slide and lots of crazy swinging. Played in the sand and met a beagle named Apollo. Played with some other kids then went home. She only takes her helmet off when the bike stops per the agreement. Ha!

Jeff came home too and after some dinner(?), we put away groceries all together, then went on a little night walk to check out the carnival! It was a really happening event. Rides, vendors, beer tent, all of it. Pretty awesome. It was cool to be out at night. Bath and bed for 1YO and pizza and Mad Men for us. A great night!

Saturday. Sleep was better. But I was incredibly groggy. I got up first and hopped in the shower so I could be a clean 33-year-old. I saw there were some presents for me, wrapped in gold/pink and dark red/yellow, in the living room! They were GIANT. Jeff and 1YO got up too and 1YO tore open a corner of the gifts. Well… so I decided to open them. Jeff had put together a THEMED GIFT and it couldn’t have been better!!! What a guy!!! The pink/gold gift was a gorgeous framed Paris poster, and the red/yellow one was a beautiful framed Rome poster. Wonderful things for the lovely new house! WOW! AND…to go along with it…two gift certificates to our two favorite Italian/French restaurants. WOW!! With a lovely card. I am so, so lucky. The luckiest!

My mom had called at 8:31, my birth time!, so I called her quick, then we packed up and got out to the bagel shop for breakfast. Beat the rush! Yummy bagels, 1YO ate a lot of sausage. Good job her. Then off to the apple orchard! McDougall’s Apple Junction. We’ve been going there for YEARS, at least 4?, and it’s the best place in the area IMHO. Lots of good but small attractions, CHEAP, and they have amazing peanut butter and the GOOD apples. We got a peck of SweeTangoes, a tub of PB, some apple donuts and a coffee for me. 1YO LOVED the donuts. We trolled around the place…checked out the pumpkin house (“the house where adults can’t get their kids out” -some middle school boy) and patch, the lookout tower, the playground with its tiny barn, the goats/chickens and walked up and down the orchard. So much to explore! WAY different experience than last year. Really awesome. We’ll be back!

On the way home we stopped at Menard’s, Jeff’s old workplace. It was weirdly very fun. Tried on sunglasses(?), looked at Halloween and Christmas(!) stuff, and spent a lot of time in the plumbing aisle (the point of the visit). 1YO was fascinated. Perhaps she’ll be a plumber. OH YEAH and on the way to the orchard I talked to Jenny!! She was on her way to a girls’ day out. It sounded fun. It was great to talk to my other JJ!

Got home and prepared a little lunch. I was feeling pretty poor by that point due to aforementioned Insomniac Week 2014 so I went to lay down for awhile. Thank you Jeff! 1YO did not want to nap. I got up and discovered Jeff’s plumbing project success. GO JEFF! He is pretty amazing! Got 1YO and we went for a walk where I called Stephie and talked to her and Anna. Hilarious! Anna is great. I can’t wait to see her soon.

Home and got ready and off to swimming. 1YO had a GREAT class and did some new tricks. She’s becoming a real little fish. I love that pool. After we cleaned up we went to 5 Guys as is our tradition every!Saturday!after!swimming! for burgers, fries and cherry-vanilla Coke (I stuck with ginger ale this time due to Insomniac Tendencies). SO! GET THIS. We walk in and we are placing our order and something weird is happening…the order-takers are chatting, also note when we came in a couple workers said to us “hi, nice to see you again”…hahaha. ANYWAY. They had NO IDEA it was my birthday so this is not why this happened, it is just COINCIDENCE! The owner guy put our order on the house! Wow! What a guy! We felt very flattered and amused. Guess we are really regulars, huh!!! I still can’t believe that happened.

Home and played a lot. Played chase, Jeff hung my gifts, we did some chores. I opened the many sweet cards people had sent, read the many kind messages they had left on my wall, and opened a gift. People are so thoughtful. Chased 1YO on the couch. Called my mom and dad for some FaceTime which was hilarious! 1YO eats that up. Fed 1YO Dinner2 and then my Grandma called! How sweet is that! We chatted about stamps, babies, and her Sunday plans. It was really nice. Put 1YO to bed, she fell asleep in my arms, then Jeff got us Blizzards and we watched Mad Men while I texted Jenny about her weird night out, haha. Now Jeff is playing video games and I just finished my snack plate and this blog. Though it was kind of a challenging week, this was probably one of my favorite birthdays in history. None of this would have been possible without my mom, my daughter, my loving family/sisters/friends, and most importantly, Jeff. He made this ordinary day extraordinary just by being there for me and with me and being a dad to our darling. I love him so.

Happy 33 to me. Thank you Jeff.