Buon Compleanno

Today was one amazing birthday. I figured with age the butterflies would go away but I still was excited like a small child when I woke this morning. I wore a new dress that I brought from the states even though it's just me at the office. I reached my goal and finished the library and finished two of four elevations in the dining room. So I hope to finish that room completely tomorrow but only have three hours tomorrow since I pick the boys up early. For lunch I had left over pasta and the last piece of chocolate cake from last night. I went and got the boys at 4 and had to buy milk so I splurged and bought them a chocolate egg each. When we got home the mail man was delivering packages. He was carrying two and both were for me!! One from my parents and one from my Aunt Diane and Uncle Gary. The boys could hardly wait to get upstairs to open them. My parents gave me a scarf and a purple hat. We all tried it on in the mirror and had a fashion show. My zio and zia gave me a box full of AMERICAN food!! Can you say Mac and Cheese!!? The boys begged me to fix it for dinner but their grandma bought homemade pasta from that pastaria so we had that and fish sticks. I'm turning into a gormet chef :-) We all went to the park and Balbina met me there with her Brazilian friend. He speaks English really well so we had a great conversation. Balbina baked me a chocolate cake!! The boys were really enjoying this birthday. I fixed dinner for the boys and we each had a slice of cake. Like father like daughter: I put my piece in a glass with milk and ate it like that. And just like my dad use to do, I told Fil a bedtime story about one of my adventures on my grandparents farm.

I got this idea to go to Paris for my birthday at teh beginning of Sept. So all month I have been planning and trying to save money. Balbina was going to go but then we found out tickets were 95 euros each way. So Andrea and I were going to go. We were going to take the night train complete with bunks but it was 205 euros one way and 95 back and last night Andrea called and said that he didn't think it was worth all the money just to stay 1-1/2 days. So at the end of Oct there is national holiday and everyone gets 3-4 days off and my parents said I could go then....so keep your fingers crossed that will work out. So my wonderful Paris plans are delayed. I was disappointed and Andrea was like I know we still have to go somewhere this weekend cause you were planning so hard, where would you like to go? I wasn't sure so I told him to come up with something and make the arrangements. So tonight I got the surprise that we are going to Canne France and Montecarlo. He is forgiven for delaying Paris :-) We are leaving at 8 on saturday morning and driving to Canne. We will come back late Sunday. I'm really excited cause I don't really know that much about the two cities except for the film festival and poker. I will take lots of pictures.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I am slowing coming off my sugar high so it's time for bed.
Buona Notte Tutti
Lindsey