The Birthday Play by Play

Despite the fact that I was having a hard time this birthday year, I do have awesome friends and had some great celebrations!  

It all started on Tuesday night when my fellowship group celebrated with chocolate cupcakes!  Have I mentioned my FG lately? Oh how I love these girls.  We have been meeting together every Tuesday night at 7:30 since the fall of 2008.  I might need to do a whole post on this group, but for now just take a look at this post by Amy

On Wednesday (my actual birthday) I started my day with a early morning walk along the Hudson River.  I wanted to start my day with the Lord in His creation.  I took my phone with me because I knew at exactly 8:05 AM my parents would call me.  You know b/c that is when I was born and they have done that every single birthday since I have been away from home. And of course they had to tell me my birth story and my dad has to tell me he had to shorten his morning jog b/c my mom was in labor.  It would not be a birthday without this story! 

When I came back to my apt I was greeted with this lovely present from my roommates. And you better believe I kept the curly ribbon on them.  It makes pouring Diet Coke that much more fun when there is gold curly ribbon tied to the top! 

Before heading to work I had a little birthday party for myself and opened my parents presents.   Although they gave me a photography class for my birthday (Thank you!) It is imperative to my mom that I have something to open on my birthday. (which I appreciate)  It was fun to open up some fun little presents, all stuff i love!  

On the way to the office I passed the polygamist family from the TLC Show "Sister Wives". A random sighting I know.  

 My sweet Co-workers (thanks Amy R) decorated my desk for me at the office to celebrate!  It made working that much more enjoyable for the few days I was able to leave the decorations up!  

For lunch my very close friend A2 took me to a new burger joint in Time Square.  And if that were not enough she planned 2 more birthday celebrations for me! Can I just say that she is such a great friend!!  Really don't know what I would do without her in this city.  ok so celebration 1 was on Wednesday night when she gathered a group of my friends at Mama Mexico for a celebration dinner.  

And I was greeted by this guy and his whole mariachi band.  

Not only did they sing Happy Birthday to me twice, but they also serenaded me with another song (which I can't remember the name!) 

It was so fun to celebrate with my sweet friends including this girl below.  You might remember her from this post and then the whole fiasco of missing her wedding.  Well she and her hubby Mike are back from their around the world travels and it is so fun to have them here in NYC again.  

With Mark, Meghan, Maggie, and Mike

The whole birthday crew. Thanks friends for coming out!  

It really was a good birthday and I know I am so blessed with such sweet friends.  Not only did they come celebrate with me, but a group of them (and others) went in and got me a gift card to my favorite camera store!  so excited about using it to purchase a new lens!  Don't I have great friends???

And if this wasn't enough I have one more birthday celebration to share about.  I will update on that soon!  

Finally, I do want to thank all my sweet out of town friends who called and texted me throughout the day.  I felt really loved!