Mommy turns 32

So last Saturday (June 22..mark your calendars for next year) I turned 32. It was a great birthday and Nick and Ellie and my parents made sure to make sure it was a special day for me. We decided we would go up to Santa Barbara for the weekend and so we all got up early on Saturday to hit the road by 8am. However, Nick and Ellie informed me that before we left there was something we had to do for my birthday.

For a very long time (I don't remember when it started but I was pretty young) I have had a Twinkie and a Coke for breakfast. Well, when the whole, Hostess-went-out-of-business-and-there-will-be-no-more-Twinkies-in-the-world thing started to go down, Nick went out and bought a couple Twinkies (among other things) and saved one for my birthday. Last year I learned the hard way that a Twinkie and a Coke is not a breakfast of champions (at least when you are over 30). I ate the Twinkie but saved the soda for another day.

I then got my first present of the day. You may not be so impressed with the fact that I got furniture for my birthday, however, I have been complaining about needing more storage in the living room and needing something for an empty spot in the living room as well. Nick, brave man that he is, went out and got something (without input from me). It looks awesome in its spot, serves its purpose, and is probably exactly what I would have chosen.

We then loaded up the car and headed up to Santa Barbara. The goal was to be up in SB in time to meet up with my parents and go to the Summer Solstice parade. Similar to the Doo-Dah Parade, the SB Summer Solstice parade is not typical and is not for the faint of heart. WE got there in time to find our own little space on the curb and also get some confetti eggs. I think there is a technical term for them, but these eggs (real eggs which have been emptied and cleaned) are filled with confetti and their sole purpose is to be cracked on people's heads.

Then we watched the parade. We didn't stay for the whole thing. It was hot, it was lunchtime, and we got our fill of crazy. There was also more confetti eggs cracked on each others heads.

We started to head back to my parents house for lunch and cupcakes but got distracted by a radio ad that said that some of my favorite bands (Guster, Ben Folds Five, and Barenaked Ladies) were playing that night at the Santa Barbara Bowl. So we stopped and picked up some tickets. Then we went to lunch and headed back for some afternoon cake and presents.
We opted to do cupcakes this year instead of a cake. Everyone got to choose their own amount of frosting (Ellie = lots and lots of frosting, Grandma Pam = just a tiny taste of frosting) so everyone was happy. Everyone got to put on their own sprinkles as well. It was fun.

Then there was more presents. Nick and Ellie had picked out some fancy gadgets for the kitchen and some tools for gardening, including a hose. Yes, I got furniture and a hose for my birthday and I couldn't be happier. Exactly what I wanted and needed. So after we all had our fill of cake and presents it was time for me, Nick, and my dad to head to the SB Bowl for the concert. It was an awesome concert and the weather was perfect (there was even a "super moon").



It could not have been a more perfect day for 32nd birthday. Big thank you to Nick, Ellie, and my parents for making it an amazing birthday.

Oh! random trivia. This was also the first concert Nick and I have attended together where the band was formed after we were both born. We've been to some amazing concerts, U2, Aerosmith, Van  Halen...but alas, all were formed before we were born. Just had to share.