Twenty Four

Okay, childish as it is, I am really excited about my birthday.  My mom is taking off work on Friday to hang out and both my brother and my sister will be home for their spring breaks.  And who doesn't like a little bit of extra attention?

Last year, my birthday was super exciting.  On the day of my birthday, my parents sent these flowers to my apartment in Morgantown.   They were so beautiful!  Little tiny yellow roses (my favorite!) and tulips...and, not being a horticulturist, a lot of flowers that are unidentifiable to me.  But, still, totally beautiful---and so classy.  It's not every day you get real flowers from a florist. 

These are the flowers I got from Andy for my birthday!  I know its silly and girly and eventually they die, but there's something about getting flowers that just makes me soo excited.  It's one thing that a boy does, not because its something he wants you to have, but because he knows that its a sweet gesture you will appreciate.  It's something I know he did just to make me happy, and I love him for that.  Love, love, love.

Since I was going home the weekend of my birthday, I took my flowers from my parents with me.  I didn't want them blooming their prettiest blooms when I couldn't see them!  Luckily, Lola, my Corolla, has good sized cupholders, and my vase fit securely in it.  I was so excited to get two sets of flowers, so I took pictures of both of them together.

Andy's parents got me this yummy, yummy cake.  It's from Ukrops, a Richmond specialty.  Richmond people are super snobby about it; they like to say things like, "Ohhh, so you've never BEEN to Ukrops?"   Ukrops has since been taken over by Martins, which is much less good and the employees wear fluorescent green shirts.  Not a good color on anyone.

One more shot of Andy's flowers...because he loves me...

My mom made this cake for me last year--my favorite kind--yellow with chocolate frosting, and lots of springtime sprinkles.  I like sprinkles.  Behind it, see that little bracket?  That's because my little brother insisted on having an "international" dart championship.  By international, he means that everyone in the world is invited to come.  But, of course, the only people who are there are family.  Still, he insists that its a world title when HE wins.  If he loses, though, someone cheated, and we have to have the international dart championship all over again.

This year, I have a different cake to look forward to....  ice cream cake! 

This is the most recent ice cream cake my sister made.  It's messy, but oh-so-delicious.  She bakes chocolate cake, and layers it with Cold Stone ice cream (she loves me), crushed up oreos and a deliciously chocolate fudgey fudge layer.  She calls it "Sarah's Magnificent Hot Fudge Lava Oreo Ice Cream Cake" and gets very angry if you can't remember every single bit of that ridiculous title.  She says that she wants these cakes to be her specialty.  Yumm.

In the spirit of giving, I picked up a (very) small present for Andy a couple days ago, and I'm kind of itching to give it to him...  Very, very small, but he gets so excited every year around this time when they come out.

Last year I tried to make him an Easter basket, but by the time I got around to shop for it, all of these were GONE!  I went to two different stores!  So this year, even though its a bit early to be thinking of Easter (we aren't even that close to St. Paddy's day!), I figured I'd scoop them up while I still could and bring some home to him.  I think I get more excited about bringing little surprises for him than he does.  I do always try to bring a little something. 

I'm also expecting my sister's birthday present to come in the mail soon.  Her birthday is the beginning of April and, since she has so many different exams in physical therapy school, she won't be able to come back again before the end of the semester.  I'm making sure to get everything taken care of so that she has a present for her from me and my brother on her birthday.  So excited!  I think I probably love picking out presents for other people more than just about anything.

Is it childish to be excited about my birthday?  Probably.  But it will be so much fun to spend the day with my mom and to have my brother and sister home for the weekend.  Super fun!

I hope you have a great weekend full of warm weather!