How to Make All the Ladies Jealous and All the Guys Hate You.

I turned 33 this year and my husband decided to make it a birthday to remember. He knows I am crazy about birthdays, so the cockiness is all tongue-in-cheek fun! Here's what his facebook status updates looked like this past week:

First he threw down the gauntlet:
January 24th: Be it known that this year on my wife's birthday, I will be making all the ladies jealous and all the guys hate me. Again.

January 25th:
Step One: Get a much needed haircut.

Step Two: Take an unannounced half day off of work.

Step Three: Flowers

Kai was sick and both boys were finally napping, so I was thrilled to have him arrive home unexpectedly, flowers in hand, to have lunch. When I told him I was worried about the boys waking up in time to pick up Ella, he said, "Don't worry. I'll do it." So, I relaxed while the boys slept and he picked up our daughter in the rain. Heavenly. 

Step Four: Dinner at Lonzerotti's.


We enjoyed a relaxing afternoon, then a dear friend took our fussy baby so we could enjoy a dinner out with the big kids. They surprised me with a gift card to a local movie theater and we enjoyed some yummy dinner and berry cobbler.

He missed this step, Four A, but my president arrived on January 27th. Here are my status updates:

An Amazon box arrived to tease me! I am pretty sure my birthday present is in there, but alas, I have to wait for Tim and Ella to get home.

Tim is living up to his birthday promises! Hidden inside that smiley face box was a Kindle Touch! This is one happy birthday girl!

January 28th:

Step Five: Make an Amazing Cake.

This is a big deal coming from a man who doesn't enjoy baking. Two years ago, he asked me to pick out a fancy cake from a magazine and I selected this one. He surprised me this year, but duplicating this moist, rich, perfectly chocolatey confection.

I would add:
Step Six: Throw a birthday party with three of my wife's favorite things: Decadent dessert, good friends, and great conversation!

Now, I don't want my birthday week to end! Thanks to my husband, this birthday made me feel incredibly special and made for a terrific start to a new year. Here's to 2012! Time to start planning Tim's birthday.