no better way to spend a birthday ... (round 3 or maybe 4 ... who's counting?!)

when you get older it's your own prerogative how you want to spend your birthday ... as well as how many times you can celebrate/how long you can stretch out the celebration.

this year i chose to celebrate with my family on the actual day ... we had alfy's pizza and went to the skatedeck! earlier that day Andy and i went to lunch and later that night i went to a late night movie with some girlfriends!!

then a few nights later i went out to dinner with my 2 best girlfriends (and when i say 'dinner' ... we ate a little and talked a LOT ... we solve the world's problems on a regular basis! (dinner was at 8 we talked until midnight))

to top off my week + birthday celebration, the Party got together tonight for the premier of Iron Man 2 and dinner at Maggiano's. we made a reservation and it is a good thing we did ... when we arrived 20 minutes early the place was PACKED!! our table was ready right on time and we went in and sat down. excellent service, delicious food (i tried everyone's dish ... all were spectacular!! - i even tried calamari - not terrible but not yummy ... in a word: 'myeah ...' ) and GREAT conversation.

the conversation is always easy with us ... we seem to move effortlessly, flawlessly (naturally even?!) from poop and boogies with our collective 9 kids to work and computers to leisure time and vacation plans to how to talk to our kids about sex and everything in between! we share laughs and fears and trade hilarous stories about kids and everything ... there isn't anything off limits with this crowd. we talk feelings and memories and hopes as well as bathroom humor, TMI, and 'really did you just say that out LOUD?!'

these people are truly my BFFs ... they know far too much!

as we were leaving the restaurant, i said, "i love to sit and eat and then talk for hours with you guys! it's my favorite ... what a great birthday! thanks!" and i meant it ... every word.

memorial day campout 2008

we were at maggiano's for 2 1/2 hours!!

i love us!