35.

My sweet boy woke me up this morning by singing Happy "Dirthday."  After talking to my grandmother on Skype, I sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy coffee, oatmeal and some new sewing books that Chris had squirreled away.

A nice start to the first day of being 35.  Before lunch, a friend treated me to a smoothie and then I got some quiet time to sew as Dag took a long nap.

My birthday festivities centered around the letter M this year, beginning with a Massage on Saturday, trip to the fabric Market on Sunday (where I bought fabric for Me -- I'll be channeling the Selfish Seamstress in the coming weeks as the next few projects are all about Me) and Mexican food (and a Margarita) tonight with Chris and Dag.  When we arrived home from dinner, three of my new friends stopped by to wish me a happy birthday.  It reminded me of a surprise birthday party a different new group of friends threw for me my freshman year of college.  It seemed such a sad thing back then, being away from the friends and family I had always known. Being surrounded by that new group of friends that year, when I turned nineteen, was something I'll never forget.  Likewise, having new friends in China take time away from their families and busy evenings to wish me a happy birthday made China feel a bit more like home.  

So, I think 35 will be a good year.  I'm looking forward to it.