Birthday Present Recap

I got a lot of presents this year for my birthday. That's mostly because the Jazzercise people threw me a birthday party. They do that for any Jazzerbabe who enters a new decade, so this time it was my turn.

The Party

It took place on Thursday (the 29th) and was a LITTLE awkward just because I hardly knew the woman who hosted the party and also hardly knew many of the people who came to the party. I SEE them all the time because we all exercise together, but most of them I never say anything to beyond "good morning" or some such. Also, most of these women are quite a bit older than me. The oldest woman at the party was 75, and the youngest, besides me, was 40ish. Most are around 55-60, no job, kids grown. They all know each other well and get together for coffee after class all the time, so it was a party for me, but mostly no one talked to me. I just followed my kids around to make sure they didn't ruin anything in the lovely home we were in. When I wasn't doing that, I was trying to sneak in bites of food. BUT, despite all I said about awkwardness and not knowing these women, I do have to say they are generous people. Almost all of them brought me a gift! I could NOT believe it. Here's a list of what they gave me:

potted gerber daisy plant
potted mums
plug-in Scentsy warmer with Pumpkin Roll scented wax bars (gift giver is a Scentsy distributor)
$15 Coldstone gift card
box of three duckie soaps (actually matches my little boys' bathroom)
shopping list notepad with magnet on the back (I totally use these ALL THE TIME)
Cranberry Spice scented soap
a lawn and leaf bag containing 30 rolls of toilet paper (apparently it's a Jazzer-party tradition)
a bottle of Victoria's Secret Pear Glace lotion
a framed watercolor painted by the gift giver--it's lovely deep red cherries

That's all I can remember. They also sent me home with a WHOLE chocolate birthday cake topped with purple M&Ms. At the party, Johnny ate handfuls of the purple M&Ms and later told his Daddy about having eaten "just a couple."

The Birthday

On Friday, I opened most of my presents in the morning. (I had previously opened my card from Jeremy's grandma with its appreciated yet predictable enclosure.) Jeremy's mom sent me a hand-knitted hat and scarf. I really like the funky chunky yarn she picked out. Here's a photo. Sadly, this is the only photo taken of me on my 30th birthday.

Do you like my pajama shirt? It used to be Dad's.

Oh, and Jeremy's mom also sent me some maternity clothes gift card love. Thank you!

Next Charlie brought me the little card he'd made me which read "I love Mama. From Charlie." Awesome. Now it was time to open Jeremy's gift. He brought it out. It was a new mouse for my computer. Hooray. I really needed that. But secretly, inside I'm going "that's it?" There was a card attached to the gift with a note reading "open this after you open the present" and inside the card Jeremy had written "you didn't really think that this was your whole present, did you?"

Phew. He trekked out to the garage and brought in a ginormous box. I opened it and only saw some random junk from the garage. Okay. He told me to dig deeper and I soon found a wrapped box. It was heavy.

Inside was a Blendtec Blender. My response was "no way." Then I think I giggled.

Somewhat Interesting Back Story

Back in late September when, honestly, my birthday wasn't really on my radar yet, I went to Costco. There was a guest demo featuring Blendtec Blenders. It's not so infrequent to go to Costco and see someone demo-ing a blender that's supposed to do everything from cleaning your toilet to making your cookies. I usually walk on by. But since she had just finished making ice cream in the thing and the boys wanted to try some, and since I had gleefully watched some of the amazing "Will It Blend?" videos put out by this company, I paid attention. There was a special Costco price, but it was still about $300 out of my price range. I did want one. Truly.

I came home told Jeremy about it. Before that weekend was out, and unbeknownst (is that word still used?) to me, he went to Costco and bought it for me. For my birthday.

Then, a couple of weeks later, when it was about the right time, Jeremy asked me what I wanted for my birthday. The first thing I said was "a Blendtec blender." Ha ha ha. Then I sat down and gave him a list of ideas of things I did really want that were a little more in our typical birthday price range. Jeremy was mentally congratulating himself on having already purchased for me the thing I actually really wanted but which I had NO hope/idea he would actually buy for me.

I thought for about 2 seconds about taking it back. We really can't afford this splurge. But then I thought, "Naw." Jeremy's the financially conservative one in our marriage. If he felt like he could justify buying it, then who am I to doubt him?

Other Presents

My mom brought over her gift to me a little bit later. It was a Dust Buster. Yes, they still make them. Do you know how many times I've wished for a mini vacuum to take care of a certain messy little boy's mishaps? Yet, I've never thought of buying one for myself. My mom also wrote a really lovely little post about my on her blog. AND she watched our boys so Jeremy could take me out for a birthday dinner.

My sister-in-law did some photos of us and gave me a disc of them (along with two framed prints). That is a happy thing.

A couple of other people have said that I still have gifts coming to me. How about that?

Reflection

If on any of my previous birthdays you had told me that for my 30th birthday I would receive a blender and a hand vacuum as gifts from my husband and mother and that I would be thrilled about it, I would have laughed right in your face. I've frequently said in the past that appliances given to a woman as gifts are not personal enough or somehow lock her into a housewife identity. You know, something feminist like that. But it turns out that I am thrilled. I've learned lately that appliances--especially of the top-knotch type--really do make my life easier. That's not to say I don't still love those romantic gifts that don't require electricity or batteries, but an appliance or two isn't all bad. I guess I'm growing up. And holy moley, is this blender fun.

Or something. Thanks everyone for the birthday presents. It was a good day.