Today is my birthday.  And, because there are no secrets on this blog, I’ll just go ahead and tell you: I AM 27 YEARS OLD.

I decided to go to bed early last night and “sleep in” until 6:45.  Unfortunately, I woke up at 6 anyway, but it felt good to not HAVE to get up.  I must have fallen asleep again, though, because at 6:44 I realized I was being stepped on and sniffed by Henry.  Joey must have brought him to me to be my alarm clock, and it worked.

I opened my eyes, rolled over and said, “It’s my birthday; where are my presents?”

(Don’t judge me, you probably do that too.)

Last week, Joey told me that the presents my mom sent had arrived at DTS, and he was holding them hostage until the appointed time.  Yesterday he brought them home, but he wouldn’t even let me look at them (and they are wrapped) so I have been very, very curious.

“Look on the floor,” Joey told me.  I rolled over and – ching! – there were two presents and a card sitting on the carpet, waiting for me to snatch them.

“Woah, how did you get them there?” I asked.

“I brought them when I got Henry.”

I scooped up the presents and unwrapped them immediately.  From my parents I received a couple of gift cards, a CD which I am very eager to listen to, and a new W for my collection.

Tonight I’m having a surprise party.  It’ll be amazing, and my third birthday party in recorded memory, too.  (Mom says it will be my fourth party, but I don’t remember the one when I was three, so it doesn’t count.)

The first party I remember was for my sixth birthday.  Mom invited my friends from church (Sheri! Kelli!  Other people I don’t remember!) over to the yellow house and we played games and ate birthday cake.  This birthday stands out in my memory because SOMEONE gave me a BARBIE doll, and I was not allowed to play with Barbie (because she had a boyfriend and unattainable physical proportions), only the Heart Family (which all came with built-in underwears).

I always wanted a Barbie anyway, though, and was super excited.  Mom was chagrined, but she let me keep the Barbie on the condition that it was the unmarried sister of my Heart Family doll, who I had named Candy.  I was all, whatever sounds find to me.  Candy this is your new sister.

But I will never forget opening that present, seeing the Barbie and wondering if I’d get to keep it.  Best birthday memory ever.

Ten bucks says I don’t get any Barbies for my birthday this year.  But I’m looking forward to the par-tae, and the fact that it’s Friday, and Joey said we would go to Sprinkles sometime this weekend.

Somehow, this birthday is turning into a weekend-long extravaganza.  Meh, I don’t mind.