I had a pretty tremendous birthday this year. The actual day fell on a Sunday, but the festivities started on Friday and didn't end until Sunday night. It all started at 9:20 in my 8th grade U.S. History class. I was just starting class when my roommate, the Pre-K teacher, comes in and says a few of my students were late because of her. Then, one of my boys and two girls entered carrying a cake, cookies, chips, drinks, everything! My 8th graders threw me a surprise birthday party! How sweet is that?! They bought this really big and pretty cake with "Happy Birthday Miss Jones" written on it, and it was just the best thing ever. And they made me a certificate for being the "awesomest teacher." It's super cute and hilarious. A bunch of them signed the envelope, even some of my former 8th graders! A few of my kids were really funny throughout the day. My 6th graders tried to hide and surprise me with "surprise! happy birthday!" when I entered the room, but being the great teacher that I am I knew what they were doing beforehand. I still let them "surprise" me, however. Everyone's "happy birthday"'s were heart-felt and sweet.
On Saturday, I went hiking in the Ngong Hills. It was techinically a late birthday celebration for my roommate, but I enjoyed it very much. After that I went to the market to look for outfits for spirit week. It was a fun and sucessfull trip.
On my actual birthday, Sunday, I went to church and sat through my first Sunday school class in months. We switched out teachers, so I get a break! During church one of my colleagues gave a praise during prayer requests and praises time that it was my birthday. Then during choir practice, everyone sang for me which was slightly awkward considering they were trying to make me dance in front of everyone. After church my entire school went out to lunch with me! Well, sort of. Since I helped plan events for our staff this year, I added a trip to one of my favorite restuarants on my birthday. Fogo Gaucho, is this amazing Brazilian steak house where you eat tons of different kinds of meat. They give you a card that you flip over when you want more, and they bring it! All you can eat salad/pasta bar and all you can eat meat! It's a heavenly place. So, it just so happened that a lady from the NICS home office came to visit us over my birthday. Every time a NICS home office member comes, they buy the whole staff dinner. So, my entire staff got to eat Fogo Gaucho for free on my birthday! It was a pretty sweet deal. I had about 50 people sing me happy birthday, plus the waiters who brought me cake. After the meat fest, a few of us went over to a friend's house to play games, where I proceeded to eat three more peices of cake my roommate had bought. It was yummy.
And, of course, I called my family so they could wish me a happy birthday. Joys of living overseas. But, overall, it was a fantastic birthday.
THEN.... like icing on the cake, I got a birthday package from home! It was perfect too. tuna, wheat thins, starbursts, ziplocks, even Chanel! Plus lots more. Just what I wanted. I love my momma for putting it together!
ah...I just love birthdays :)
