25

Well, it's now official. I am a quarter of a century old! And to be honest, it doesn't feel much different than 24. Except that it's cool I can say I'm a quarter of a century now. And I can rent a rental car. So that's pretty neat. :)

My birthday was sort of low-key this year, which was kind of nice, actually. My birthday was on a Tuesday, so Dave and I celebrated a bit the Saturday before as well as the actual day. On Saturday we went to Station Park in Farmington to window-shop for a while. Dave's present to me for my birthday were my cowboy boots from Jackson Hole, so I didn't buy anything except some flower clips for my hair from H&M. But, it was so fun just to wander around at the all the shops and to see the fountains going and to just be outside! I ordered a yummy taco salad from a little Mexican restaurant there, and we just hung out around outside.

After that, Dave took me to get a pedicure. It was SO nice to get my feet feeling pretty and soft again, and it was SO relaxing. After leaving, Dave said he now understood why girls like to go get pedicures. He didn't quite realize the extent of the pampered-ness there with the massaging chairs, the foot/leg massages, the sea salt wrap in a hot towel, the hot wax molding to your feet, and the little Asian workers who can all magically paint the most intricate little flowers on your big toe. Needless to say, it was pretty fun.

We got home, and Dave made me the tastiest dinner ever. I had actually requested a taco salad (and oops! I kinda forgot until after I ordered my lunch that I'd be having the same thing for dinner.) Dave was ready to make me anything else I wanted instead of two taco salads, but I was totally fine with two taco salads. His was WAY better than the little Mexican shop.   

Yum!!

That night, we started watching Jane Eyre. I rented it from the video store since it is a British classic, and if you didn't know, I'm sorta into those. :) We started watching it though, and it was kinda weird - I could have continued watching it, but Dave was pretty bored. So, we started re-watching our favorite British series, The Paradise. We watched a few episodes, had some ice cream, and then went to bed.

The next day (Sunday) we had a birthday dinner for me at my mom's house. She made some super tasty cream cheese chicken that I had requested and she made me the BEST ice cream cake ever. I found this recipe I wanted her to try. Picture this in your mind: Thick Ghiradelli brownie as the bottom layer, then a fudge layer, then Tillamook Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, then a layer of crushed oreos, then a layer of whipped cream, and then topped with chocolate shavings. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was seriously so good, but I could only have about 5 bites before I was full. A little bit went a LONG way with that bad boy. From my parents I got a bunch of books (The entire Work and the Glory Series, which I am already reading again!, and the Bruce R. McConkie "Messiah" series. I am SO excited to start those. I just have to finish Jesus the Christ first.) All of those books were 15 books altogether. Good thing I love reading, huh?? My Dad also gave me a share of stock in the Walt Disney company!!!!! Now, like Lydia, I am a shareholder! Cool, huh??? You better believe next time I go to Disneyland I am going to tell the workers there that they better be nice to me, because "I own you!". Kidding. But seriously, I'm a shareholder! 

See my name there?? It is official! 

On my ACTUAL birthday, Dave had to work, but my mom came up early in the morning and we spent the day together. We went shopping at the mall, and then picked up Dave and went to lunch, and then came back home and started watching the long version of Pride & Prejudice. Mom watched the baby and did my laundry while I watched and worked on a quilt. It was so nice to have her here. She was so sweet to come up. She was having a Relief Society party at her house that night and leaving for South Carolina the next day, so the very last thing she had time for was to come and spend the day with me, but she didn't care. She came up anyway. She said that she might not have time to get everything ready for the party, but years later she wasn't going to remember having a perfect house and yard for the relief society party, but she would remember spending my birthday with me. I have the best mom ever.

Birthday lunch!

That night, we went to the Olive Garden for dinner and I realized how much I missed that place. It had been a long time since we'd gone, and it was SOO yummy. Our cute waitress was from Siberia and she was in love with Lydia. She kept saying she wanted to take her home. Haha!

Birthday kisses (or licks, more like it) from my girl. Look at those chubby legs!! 

I got so many phone calls and text messages from family and friends too, and it just made me feel so special and so loved. So thank you everyone, for remembering my birthday and for helping make my day fun! Having a birthday is the best thing ever, and I'm so glad I could share it with the people I love the most. :)