Birthday to me!

To make up for the lack of birthday excitement last year -- i believe we were moving that day -- this year's celebration has been doubly awesome.

After a long morning of lounging and french toast in bed, we headed out for the day. There was a package waiting inside the screen door: gifties from Helen and Oliver! I cannot believe how cool these stickers are: facial features you stick on inanimate objects to make them anthropomorphic! In fact, the computer monitor is the first lucky recipient.
Isn't he a happy computer chap?

Before we left, I practiced using the Sunday School button maker:

James had planned to start at Maxwell's amusements (go-karts, mini golf, etc.) but apparently it's not summer enough for them yet, so they were closed. Instead we went to Wascana lake to rent a canoe. It was a beautiful day for paddlin' and we had a lovely time. We even felt bold enough to pull up onto Willow Island, but don't tell anyone. We were distinctly outside the designated picnic area.

We enjoyed the waterfowl immensely, especially the goslings


and ducklings.
The protective mama ducks did some impressive flailing, zig-zagging in front of our boat.


I thought they were trying to look menacing, but James theorizes that they were feigning injury in order to distract us from their young. Fascinating!

We also saw a big ol' pelican and marvelled at his or her impressive wingspan. Those birds are massive.

After our delightful turn 'round the lake, we headed downtown. We thought we might find the hot dog cart on Scarth street, but he was nowhere to be found. We wound up on the O'Hanlon's patio instead.
Reginans will know that that is definitely the place to be, so I felt pretty darn special.


After some shopping around and a slurpee run (it was HOT today), we gussied up and went to the Creek Bistro in the Cathedral district. It was tres posh with a tapas and tasting menu - new to us, but very enjoyable. We sat in the courtyard with fountains bubbling and vines growing overhead.

Just after we'd ordered our wine, Janelle appeared out of nowhere! Party! She and James had rigged this surprise before, and I had no idea. Crafty, they are. We had a lovely meal, if a bit zesty in the price department. (Murray, we'll be brushing our teeth with baking soda until our kids are out of university, too.)

We hit Cafe Orange for some coffee, and I decided I'd better get a slice of birthday cake. A nice chocolately sliver arrived with the biggest sparkler you've ever seen in your life, thanks to the birthday button.

When James and I got home, I noticed that I'd left the light on in the kitchen. No, wait, that light is flickering... it looks like candlelight, but we just got home... oh my god, the house is on fire! James, the house is on fire! And then what to my wondering eyes should appear....


Yes, those two didn't stop at just a surprise dinner party. There was an awesome sunshine and cupcakes cake and Janelle had snuck in to light the candles. Now I understand why they were giving each other worried looks when I ordered the slice of cake at the cafe.

It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day. Yay, birthday!