Birthday

Technically my birthday isn't until Sunday but I've been celebrating it since last Friday. I came home from work to find a brand new shiny bike waiting for me. Adrian decided it was finally time to replace the really awesome mountain bike (really it has been!) that my dad bought me somewhere around 17 years ago. Though honestly I hadn't busted it out in nearly 2 years. So Friday night we went on a bike ride and stopped at his dad's place where I was given more gifts (apparently no one told them that if you give up your surprises before the actual birthday you are still expected to give gifts on THE day... not my fault.) So I got the entire set of Harry Potter books, in hard-back and a genuine (non-cultured) pearl necklace. Hey what can I say? I'm the best daughter-in-law he could ever ask for, right? We spent the rest of the weekend doing all kinds of fun things, Saturday Market, Parma Motor-Vu drive-in, lots of bike riding, including the Greenbelt on Monday. I got a couple of great gifts from students this week (though not specifically for my birthday, they just wanted to show their appreciation... always a blessing) and today when I came home I had still more birthday surprises. Adrian teamed up with his sister, Monica, to pick out a great weeping birch tree for a corner of the yard I had yet to do anything with. She, along with my mother-in-law, bought me a couple of beautiful rose bushes to add to my collection. Adrian spent the day digging and planting so that it would all be ready when I came home. Now, I love plants as gifts, but I love them EVEN MORE when I don't have to do any of the work! And we still have 3 days before my actual birthday. I've got to say, it sure takes the sting off of turning... 24....... again. Shut up. :)