With age, comes...

When my aunt and uncle visited from Australia back in January, my uncle told me a really interesting story about his experiences when traveling for work. In Germany, he was asked, "Where are the young people in your company?" and then he was told (in so many words), "We need to know that you're not the future of your company because you're old!" In Japan, on the other hand, he was praised for his age--in fact, everyone asked how old he was, so he could receive the credit he had earned for being the oldest member of his company on that trip. The older you are there, the more experience you represent and the more respect you receive!

Well, today is my birthday. I'm 38! In some ways, this feels perilously close to 40. In other ways, it doesn't feel old at all. Regardless, I've decided that I'm going to go with the Japanese mantra on age...I really do prefer to think that with age, comes clout, reverence and wisdom!  ;-)

My special day started with a big thrill: Sammy scored the first goal of his game (and his first goal of this season). He was really excited.  Gooooal!!

After that, I took Sebastian to his friend and school buddy Jocelyn's 2nd birthday party. The kids were adorable and had a blast.

 Brie made me this gorgeous birthday card. Like my hair??

And I got in some sweet birthday snuggles on the hammock before feasting on sushi. What a perfect day!!

Another nice part of celebrating my birthday this weekend is the fact that it's Mother's Day** tomorrow.  Yay!  We don't have any special plans (though I do plan to get a massage!), but it's always nice to have an extra reason to look closely at your kiddos and be in awe of them.  And I love how sweet they are when they know it's my birthday or Mother's Day.  A whole weekend to feel the love.  And...maybe...it just gets better with age??

P.S. Sam and Brie each brought home a flower from school as a Mother's Day gift for me. Hope they grow big and strong like my munchkins! (That's our on-its-way-out parsley in the middle.) 

**I was born on the first Sunday in May 1978, so if you're doing the math, that means I was one-week old when my mom celebrated her first official Mother's Day. :-)