Narcissism to the Max

It's all about me.

I've been contemplating (as we bloggers are prone to do once in a while, or more often) the narcissism of this personalized internet experience, and whether or not it's something I should be carving out precious time for.  After quitting Facebook, it turns out I have a ton of things to keep my mind off what's on everyone else's mind, but it's my birthday and I've been on my mind all week!  How should I celebrate?  What gifts should I ask for?  Where should we go out to eat, and speaking of eat: ice cream or chocolate??  And the weather is getting good, which makes everything so much more cheerful, and it's clear that the Maker of Weather is even blessing me today!  Right!?  (Oh, of that I am sure!)

So I start off my day bright and early at a Weight Watcher meeting, where I learn that I've lost weight!  Isn't that fantastic?  Who doesn't want to hear THAT on their birthday?  Then I did something crazy and signed up for Bikram Yoga with my Yoga-fanatic friend Emily.  I actually enjoyed the 90 minutes of sweating, thawing out my California-deprived bones, and I managed to stay conscious (if not standing), and vomit-free, the whole class!  And then they all sang Happy Birthday to me!

Happy, sweaty and revived, I pulled up to the house, heart exploding to find all my little chicklets waiting on the corner for me!  They jumped up and shouted "MOMMIEEEEE!" and chased me to the driveway, laughing...what a great feeling!  They had been busy all morning preparing the breakfast of my dreams.  Fruit!  Coffee!  Gluten-free French Toast!  They even had time to make me a fabulous birthday sign!  I'm feelin' the love, yessiam!

 It has Noble-isms on the right:

"Ah kiss a momma!"

"Hapa Balda!"

"KeeCoo" (cookie)

"Ah luff momma!"

"Ah luff ceek!" (I love cake)

 Check out this fruit salad!  That right there would be the work of my fancy-pants, pineapple-loving husband.

 Open your presents now, Mamma!!!

 A beautiful painting by my Korah, with recipes for pampering scrubs and facials on the back...

 Articulate Taylor does it again.  This guy kicks Hallmark's butt.

"Today it's our job to be extra awesome to you."

Sweeeet.

 And then the boys made this whole comic strip for me, "Super Wendy"

It's HILARIOUS!  I want to scan it and show you because it's so freakin' stellar.

 I was in tears; it's so detailed and funny.  The kids piled in my lap and climbed on my chair and we all enjoyed it together.  I'm so incredibly proud!  It's an amazing piece of work.

Not to leave anyone out, but those are just some highlights.  I know five kids means I'm surrounded by chaos and chores a lot of the time, but let me just make one thing clear: I. Am. Blessed.  I have really amazing, interesting, funny, talented and loving kids.  And I have a really amazing, strong husband who loves me.  He really, really loves me.

 Not long after that....

(even though I could've stayed home and played with my sweet kids all night...)

 David took me out for my birthday to Pok Pok Noi, where I like to enjoy me some Som!

 Colorful beverages (the green one's just my waterbottle)

Yum-Yum-Yum!  My one rule when eating out: I can't leave thinking, "Pshh. I can make that at home" and this place hits the mark.  I'm a total fan.  When the sister-restaurant Ping opened a couple of years ago, we took another rare date there and it was so delicious I felt compelled to write a review.  That is, until I got busy chopping veggies and stirring Sriracha into everything for my own family that I just didn't have the time.

Okay, so my mind just went blank and all I want to do is go to sleep and dream of cilantro, thai chilis and drinking vinegars....  Happy Birthday to me, I guess!  And yes, it was.  INDEED.