Iron Mama Birthday!

Today I'm 36 years old!!!

Wow, let me try that one out again.

TODAY, I'M 36 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!

Feels gooooood............

I had a great birthday today - I really did! I know that I am absolutely blessed and loved, and I can't give enough thanks to all of my precious friends and family for the phonecalls, messages, texts, emails, cards, gifts and hugs! How special and spoiled you made me feel!

It was very cold and rainy here today, so I guess it's good we didn't have any outdoor activities planned! My husband sent me off to the spa for some indulgent pampering, which was perfect for the 50 degree chill and horizontal rain.

The gal who gave me my massage today was named Channah (which means "grace"), and speaks fluent Hebrew, so my usualy "M.O." of NOT talking during massages or similar such pampering went completely down the drain. We jabbered the entire 50 minutes about this and that, mostly about my children and their names (which are a mixture of Hebrew and Greek with a good ole "Smith" thrown on the end.) Funny story: turns out we've been pronouncing some of their names wrong. At least according to her. Not their first names, so that's a relief, but a few of the middles ones we were apparently a little off on. We thought we had them down after lots of studying and listening to the language on tape and on the online lexicons AND talking to a Jewish friend of ours, but maybe it's like a po-TAY-to/po-TAH-to type of thing... Oh well, at least WE know who they are, God knows who they are, we're teaching THEM who they are, and we're all good! :)

Daryle and the kids picked me up in the afternoon and we headed to our next adventure, an early dinner at Red Lobster!! I'm pretty sure their lobster pizza is the stuff legends are made of, so imagine my disbelief when Ma-lak ordered macaroni and cheese... It's actually not too shocking at all - this guy will NOT eat fishy stuff! How are we related!?

And after that, the big highlight of the past WEEK - Iron Man 2!!!!! Daryle and David have always been big fans of the Marvel comics, and so the rest of us have also become so by association, I guess. So here's the verdict: I loved it, thought it was better than the first one. (I was also pleasantly relieved that there was no bad language! Good job, guys!!) Ma-lak and Ya'shar couldn't take their eyes off the screen, Ni'ke fell asleep, and Rea watched, but kept asking when we could go home and put on our pajamas. Daryle thought it was absolutely atrocious that Hollywood continues to ruin the Marvel comics by putting in strange storylines that include a super hero who reveals his secret identity. Because that NEVER HAPPENENS (in real life...)

Lots of laughs today, lots of love today, and lots of "blessing countin'!!"

(sigh)

My cup is full....