Feeling the Birthday Love

Way back in December, I was treated to a series of birthday treats, celebrations and events. The weekend showed me once again how fortunate I am to have people in my life who set aside time to celebrate with me.

It started with yoga, baked goods and a sushi lunch with my mom.

It included dinner out with Jamie and Sylvia.

And, of course, a day of Paul-planned surprises. I awoke to flowers and a vegetarian eggs benedict, salad and twice baked potato.

After breakfast, Paul, Uli and I headed out to a dog park we had never been to before.

Uli loved it and it was fun for us humans to have some new paths to explore.

From there, we went to the Science Museum for an Omnitheater movie about whales. Its a fun place to visit and the lobby is full of interactive displays.

The musical stairs are always a day-brightener, too!

I may or may not have eaten a birthday lunch that was centered around guacamole. So. Good.

After a stop home to drop Uli off (he napped in the car during the museum and lunch) and to open some presents (I got a juicer!), we went out to dinner.

Nicollet Island Inn, our dinner location this time was a bit of old school classy. While we were sitting at dinner, a horsedrawn carriage went past the window!

As has become customary, we asked for someone to take a picture of us and expected it to look wonky as it has in year's past. This one wasn't too terrible!

Then, just last week, one of the birthday gifts I was given happened! Lately, I have been into giving and receiving gifts that are more focused on shared experiences. My mom honored that with an awesome jewelry making class that we took together.

We got to learn a lot of skills including how to solder. My mom was a little skeptical but she shouldn't have been. Her skills were great and her project turned out just how she wanted!

Sarah of Quench Jewelry Arts was a great teacher and kept out class moving along on pace, so we all finished the night with our own fidget/spinner rings. Mine is on the top and my mom's is on the bottom of this photo:

What a lucky birthday girl I was!

A White Christmas

Oops! Had a few more posts from December that I didn't write up and publish. As I'm trying to get things wrapped up before I head off to lovely Costa Rica, I thought it a good time to get them on the blog!

By late December, we still hadn't seen much snow in Minneapolis. On the drive up to rural Wisconsin, it went from a day with no snowfall to a lovely, thick snowfall. The turning point in the weather seemed to match up with the potty and cheese break we usually take at the Burnett County Dairy Cooperative.

By the time we got near to my dad's house, all of the trees were flocked and stunningly beautiful.

We mostly enjoyed staying in by the fire, but ventured out to play with the kitties and go for walks, too.

Our Christmas season is usually comprised of 3-4 family events, so after our winter wonderland visit, we returned to the city to participate in the rest of the gatherings.

There were no shortage of gifts, but I liked that this year's haul included an emphasis on experiences over things.

Christmas fell close enough to my birthday this year that I took a little extra time off to make it a nice extended break. I got to put some of my gifts to use right away like this julienne peeler from my mom.

Wherein I Can't Stop Talking About the Mountains

I wonder if my friend Becky ever tired of me talking about the mountains that surround Salt Lake City when I visited her last month. It is her hometown, so she sees them everyday. I am sure some of their magnificence is muted for her. But, oh my, they are stunning!

Everywhere you go, there they are just hanging out in the backdrop beside the highway,

When you park your car.

While you wait at a stoplight.

Even the airport background is so pretty it looks fake!

Ok, but the mountains were not my reason for the visit. I was in town to spend time with my good friend Becky and her son Charlie and to meet her stepchildren Grace and Jack as well as meet her new husband Kyle.

Our annual visits usually happen during a trip we are both taking, so it was a new treat to partake in some of her family life. Our catching-up time was especially needed since we were both on other big trips in the fall last year and missed our visit with each other.

Becky is an aerialist and shared some of that part of her life with me when we went to a showcase at a recently opened aerial gym. It was really inspiring to see the physical strength and athleticism the aerialist in the show possessed. I am vowing to improve my upper body strength!

I visited Salt Lake City a handful of years ago, so this time we took a more mellow approach to sightseeing. We went to a cider brewery and the Red Rock Brewery,

Santa wasn't in, but we got to sit in his chair anyway.

If you visit Salt Lake, you should go to Ruby Snap because you do want her cookies.

My visit was shortly before Christmas, so Temple Square was in full holiday swing. It was super cold, but we braved it to see the lights.

It was a mob scene there so we had to park really far away. After the walk to the square and our time around the square, we were all really cold and dreading the walk back to the car. Becky had the brilliant idea of jumping into a pedicab. When our driver zippered that plastic case up around us, I nearly said "hallelujah!"

And, before I knew it, the weekend visit was over and I was on a plane back home!

Jessy Gets a Kitten

My sister Jessy has had a lot of big things happening in her life lately. She moved, got a new job, had a birthday and got a new kitty!

Her Moonchi kitty came into her life right around her birthday so her birthday presents, cards and events all tended toward a Crazy Cat Lady theme. She embraced it.

The man of the house, Atreyu, is a little taken aback by Moonchi's energy but they are finding their groove.

I wonder if Jessy wished for a year of adventure. If so, it is already coming true because we spontaneously booked a trip to Costa Rica together!