![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgai_anPbEr7ao3se2KYNmxbdXSqt5VBcLXkidwf8RPn0kljIej62fErLKIWuAKLvGsoMKMXd_du3YXoW2rxSgTy2UzudD7fTUIi70CTIn3ZljnPIaq-irVzypIxFdocD4aoWl3toL5-Cw/w640-h530/20210228_204247.jpg)
Today I'm 37. I haven't had the usual birthday celebrations I usually do all throughout the month of February. Typically, there's numerous dinners with friends, drinks, days off, trips, etc. February always seems like a month of rejuvination: winter begins wrapping up, we/I tend to get out more, and spring is in the air. I always wished for a summer birthday, but the older I get, the more fitting it seems for my birthday to come just as change happens. This year, I was content with the few small celebrations I got. I am beyond content and happy with simplicity, which is something I only would have appreciated by going through this last year.
Last week, we did a brunch with my parents and sister. And the dogs. We can't forget about them because they've taken over our gatherings.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-oUEH7EX6zm2WwNvr7u8408d42SG-OkhAtM0gUO0GXiR1l_FxfV5jqhRX0K3973jUEiNCjpKk1e5ty2keb80Fkc__92kfR9tAp6X1zfI6AEyW6Q25sXlQXDMgpq1OTghGNvJ1zf0H_g/w472-h640/20210221_122501.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2ya-6ik1g23zfzyIHV9Ex3ccbCE0TbnQkFM2pPx7cU_WIHqKScfdM19xCm9I2_V46nL_OUYwymvuEkniVHcTGTXrudwKNM6tU4M0UPOQkDdsrW-8kQkOH9BIqiSO51JeGXGdWhAeYZk/w346-h640/20210221_123656.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJPDLPl9tZPcVZic7w7cE1skkqiAp4kEJbT3TVbbPxvcHnojQH2nP9enIAtOMuB1rLjW06WhJbgxvQwXTvGlxXG-CWucKLjjjSCWf4oampLZiDfvl_bVYNjWDSH0qBRCVoIW8Tc9w4BY/w360-h640/20210221_113409.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitah3b69tvjaYzVV2mQYVmDbCi5kLSHDZDhbaF1ANXDmtyHA4BuP_JlPMBREMJdTRqah_pnGkktEpLoMCarEw0pk_y9_cuNbiNs9B_n3LD6_60AQJpyYXr0-K4QG-g_3InDUd2WTBqyYI/w340-h640/20210221_143323.jpg)
Notice my parent's dog, Rudy, wearing his hat nicely. Then, notice my dog, crazy eyed, getting ready to eat his hat. No one was surprised.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LwvsUyOop6kesZCkuFW8CFDDLVHp6IHOrDpiFti2ZffizxzIRZq6ia5UGt2xWC627SKC6Mt62jU18d7QpBVVwkJ_caC9Ik8ClL8gFlCCBNlsQ5bBWhcddIy5umL7eoVaoCDAa3BQExs/w488-h640/20210221_143345.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeYjyyPB_TOSCUhgIQErEi7J09wluu7kiKjvo92OhT74tmiY7ntegbwuZGmJlxCH9ADZ5JSiM4xe8e2QI-9CPie0E72rx_jZSCOWwH9weGALBARzzr2vjr1zv-Q5kNLbgRJyZI7xORnQ/w396-h640/20210228_215203.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-rvkyWbisLBE8xDD00ps4QEMaXlyoeifeHQ5dW-6fjTXp-7-TbeBhLe0ymxdd81nrnnDxgASvU3ZJTcuRr9Gkvd4sIhJqjrk33K6pPcH9EqRgGU1XyXULI2H6jZdwTx-XfFIJS-WsyQ/w640-h484/20210228_215308.jpg)
Friday night I put on make up, actual clothes, and while the oldest mini played with friends, I hung out with my friend (one of the moms). It was amazing! Completely not for my birthday, but more of a catch up on life, talk about parenting, all of it. It was a highlight of my weekend! Of course I brought my daughter's lunchbox filled with seltzers.
On Saturday, we got a start on our State Parks Tour. Read about that adventurous day here.
This brings us to my actual birthday. A big highlight of my Sunday was receiving my second Covid vaccination. Beyond that, I requested breakfast pizza in the morning, watched my Sunday morning shows (CBS Sunday Morning and Face The Nation) in peace, went TO the grocery store (rarely happens for me), had a few porch visits, surprised the minis with treats, opened gifts, had a rehearsal via Zoom, and listened to the boys and dad figure out how to make lava cake. It was a wonderful day!
Shirley Temples and Girl Scout cookies (because the kids ate all five boxes of the ones we ordered last week!). After my vaccination, we made a quick stop at Smokey Row for coffees and lunch.
The mini's card and gift was my favorite: a giant car topper for a future road trip and THE BEST card I've ever gotten.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AmS7t38I7B0niMHx8ni0D67nv6Sm1Ex-wqIUe2deydb4eDwz1a9iFBgjGfBENhmCnOFzTc1u6GyDRrKf1Hko58vj6zzLN7pKeaoH4NZL0Lh_M7vSr9BxKpG3uZ2SBLgfPolto9TXKdo/w456-h640/20210228_181615.jpg)
In my cleaned office right before rehearsals for Expressing Motherhood (top). Figuring out lighting, the best device to use, and actually re-reading through my story (bottom) is how I ended my night.