Now I Actually Feel Old

This year, Matt pulled out all the stops and really surprised me for Valentine's Day and my birthday. I was impressed when he chose a restaurant and made reservations in advance for Valentine's Day - usually we go back and forth and can't make a decision, and we end up waiting for a table once we finally decide - but little did I know he had a bigger surprise up his sleeve.

I spent some of the evening kind of teasing him for making me drive to meet him for dinner (he was working at the studio) and for not brushing his hair to my satisfaction (yes, I am annoying). I gave him points for the reservation and changing into nice clothes; he even wore a pink shirt so he was very festive.

"You're earning a C+ right now," I told him.

When we got home from dinner, though, he quickly proved me wrong. I wasn't expecting an actual gift; we really don't do much more than dinner and cards on Valentine's Day. When I opened the watercolor print he'd gotten me, I was so surprised and touched that I started to cry.

"And you thought I earned a C," he smirked.

Matt had remembered how much I liked my lemon painting last year and when he was working at the art festival one day, he searched around to find something he knew I'd love. He surprised me with one print on Valentine's Day and a second on my birthday (which is the day after).

He picked out one of my favorite poems for the second watercolor; how did he know?!

He went out of his way to have them framed, too, and finally framed my lemons!

We hung them in the dining room.

Getting art as a gift had the weird effect of making me feel old, but in a good way. Mature. Most of our art up to this point has been pieces my parents had retired from their house; I love the Chagall print and other paintings we've gotten from them, but it feels really good to have art that is specifically ours. And I love that Matt knows me so well that he picked out literally the perfect pieces for me.

Now...I wonder how I'll top this for his birthday in August!

I couldn't finish this Valentine's Day/birthday recap without talking about my 7:15am birthday party! Stacey (our art teacher) told Elizabeth and me to come to her room before buses arrived. There we were greeted by a special little birthday party, complete with gluten free brownies and party hats!

We "blew out" some unlit candles because of fire codes.

I guess if there's any cure for feeling old on your birthday, it's acting like a child.

Do you like to collect art?
What is the most special gift you've received?
How did you celebrate your last birthday?

ABK