My Birthday 2011

Times are crazy and yet the birthdays come along and provide times of rest and celebrating. Peter made the beginning of the day special by making a delicious french toast/strawberry/whipped cream breakfast.

Gifts. For me. Amazing. :)

Dinner was Chicken Cordon Bleu, asparagus and surprise something underneath the foil. The beautiful flower arrangement was from my sister, Joy and her family.

The surprise food was crab cakes. I've never had crab cakes. Peter found some that you take home and fry yourself. I thought they were great. It was fun to try something new.

I received a whole grain baking book from King Arthur Flour. Just my kind of gift. :)

The highlight was this wonderful, homemade apron from my mom. She made it by copying the design of a vintage one that her mom made back in 1938. I have a feeling my mom put a lot of work into making this when she didn't have a real pattern to use for it. I love it.

Last, a turtle cheesecake for a birthday cake. Happy day.

It was a happy day. I think it was the only happy day in the midst of a lot of hard ones. Peter always does such a great job making it a special day. I never expect it and he always finds a way to surprise me, even this year. After the lovely breakfast he made, he loaded up all of the kids and took them to the park and for a walk down by the river in order to give me several hours at home by myself to do whatever I wanted. I couldn't have thought of a better birthday gift considering our phase of life just now. It was just what I needed and was like balm to me. God knows what I need and so often provides it through my husband. Thank you to everyone who helped to make my birthday special. It meant so much.