happy birthday to me!

today is my birthday. the big 23. seems kinda funny - i'm past the age of majority, i've been married for more than a year, i've held down the same job for 5 1/2 years now.

and i still don't feel like an adult! oh, well, i suppose that's a good thing... young at heart, or something like that.

the day was nice and relaxing. the message at church was fantastic, and left my heart soaring. i've been spending more time in my Bible lately, and it feels so good. after church, i sent matt golfing with a few of his buddies, and had the afternoon to myself. i started a huge batch of chicken parmesan (just the chicken part) to freeze individually for good meals on a day that i don't feel like cooking (after all, how hard is spaghetti & a little marinara, and voila!). anyway, feeling very martha, i baked a batch of sugar cookies and even cleaned up after myself (that doesn't happen very often.)

after my leisurely afternoon, we met my mom & stepdad, step-siblings and my grandparents for dinner at my faaaavorite sushi restaurant. oh man, i could eat sushi multiple times per week. mom & bob bought me the Making Memories Runway tote, in black - so CUTE! and gave me a hefty gift certificate to my LSS. guess what i'll be doing this week! ;)

also walked away with a gorgeous skirt and some yummy bath products from my grandparents, the Designing With Stamping book (love those girls individually, and now i'm hooked on their books!) from my best friend, and a Starbucks gift card. my dad sent me a soldering iron (he knows me so well) and a JoAnns gift certificate. i see much shopping in my future.

and of course, my hubby did QUITE well. ;) (and by that, i mean that he authorized my purchases). the cutest green & blue down coat; new jeans; and a black broomstick gauzy top. yummy.

i'll post some pictures a little later, but i have to share that my 3 yr. old nephew has figured out cameras. it helps that i've been blinding him with my flash since he was less than a few hours old, but after he was done dancing for me ("take a picture of me! now take a picture of me thinking! now take a picture of me making faces!") he decided that he wanted to take the pictures. hesitantly, and with a prayer, i handed over my $400 camera and he did quite a good job! it's fascinating seeing the world through his eyes. the pictures even got more amusing when he figured out to point the lens AWAY from his face, instead of towards it! ;)