surprises from Ryan and Anna

Today is my birthday. I'm not really a big birthday person - I don't like attention (yes, I see the contradiction in that statement and announcing it's my birthday but a blog is a different kind of attention that for some reason, I don't mind) and I don't like a big fuss made over another year. But I digress...back to my birthday.

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this one...49...which means next year is the big one. Yikes.

Actually, I don't think turning 50 is that big of a deal except when you have two children who haven't even started kindergarten yet. And that probably isn't as big of a deal except when I think about how old I will be when they graduate from high school or college or get married. Yikes again.

I took today off work, mostly to just relax and get some things done. Exciting things like going to the Social Security building to have Anna's name changed from An Jing to Anna Jing Smart. I also went to the gym for the first time in months. And I'm getting a massage in a few hours. See? Exciting birthday stuff (I'm obviously a bit rusty writing a blog posting again...apologies).

But I did have some very bright moments this past weekend. Tony and I had a night out on Saturday and went to the movies. Auntie Liza babysat the kids and decorated a birthday cake with the kids while we were out. It was supposed to be a surprise.

Sunday morning, the kids got up early and Ryan ran in my room and yelled "mommy we made a surprise birthday cake for you!" I pretended not to hear while Tony tried to shush him and hurry him out of our room.

On Sunday night, Tony made his famous enchiladas and guacamole for my birthday dinner and after dinner, I was able to shoot this gem of a video:

So tell me, with two adorable children like Ryan and Anna and an amazing husband like Tony, how can I have anything but an amazing birthday?

Thank you all for your Facebook birthday wishes. How wonderful to see so many notes, texts, voice mails and message.

Love to you all!
Natalie