a recap from my birthday.

Well, I turned the big 2-7 yesterday, and I have to say, I rang it in with style! I wasn't expecting too much (because really, the next big birthday after 21 is 30... which I feel I am quickly approaching!) but I clearly underestimated my friends! Lissa and Leigh threw me a surprise party on Monday evening - and I was VERY surprised, especially because I always thought I'd figure out something like that far in advance! I was so completely blindsided by it! I actually walked into Leigh's house eating quinoa with my fingers (I forgot a fork! I was hungry!) and almost threw it everywhere when my closest friends leapt out of the next room shouting "SURPRISE!!"

Lissa and I at the party

Though I had to work on my birthday, Claire spent the day at school trying to score a winning prize to give to me as a birthday gift: a squirrel! Her favorite thing!

Claire on squirrel duty

(Thanks for sending this to me, Stacey!)

Last night I came home to a lovely dinner (Lissa should really open her own cafe) that was just amazing. I had my choice of wine, too, from the party the night before! And hey, if you're in the neighborhood, swing by and share some with me, because otherwise it will be in my house until 2014!

Birthday dinner with the birthday wine selection

I had saved all of the cards and gifts that my incredible family and friends sent me so that I could open them on my birthday, so I did that after dinner. Claire sat by me and sniffed every package - normally when I bring home gifts, they are for her, so I'm sure she was hoping for a bone. She didn't find any in my gift boxes, but I did buy her some at Whole Foods so that she would have something to look forward to.

Organic beef bones for Claire and a magazine for me!

I spent the rest of the night watching old home videos from my parents' wedding, my christening, and my first birthday that my mom was kind enough to let me borrow. My parents were 27 when I was born, and it was crazy to see my mom when she was my age - she doesn't look any different than she does now, and she used to talk to me in the same baby voice that I use when I talk to Claire! I should note that when I pointed that out to her, she said, "Oh goodness, how ANNOYING!!" Ha!

All in all, turning 27 wasn't as scary as I thought it would be! But that was clearly because I had some great distractions from my family and friends. Thank you guys so so so much!