A Quarter of a Century Day

Working more (due to subbing and assisting with Nutcracker rehearsals), a miserable cold, and the immediate threat of tons of pumpkin from our CSA to roast, puree, and turn into bread have gotten in the way of posting pictures from my 25^th birthday. We celebrated with our families early in the week and shared amazing food including some treats from my favorite place in the world, delightful local French pastry shop: Au Peche Mignon. We count ourselves lucky to have such amazing families in the same town. How we ever got through Little Bear’s first year without grandparents nearby is beyond me.

Ever since our housemate Kris got one for Christmas and I spent the rest of the year coveting his gift, I’ve desperately wanted a KitchenAid and Daniel’s folks made my dream come true. It is awesome.

From my Mom I got a precious movie that I recently watched and adored, Ballet Shoes, and the original book by Noel Streatfeild.

I’ve only just started the book but I can already tell that it’s wonderful children’s literature and I can’t wait to have daughters to share it with. It warms a ballet teacher’s heart and as for the movie: Emma Watson… need I say more, Courtney? Speaking of, I hope you’re as excited as I am about the new Harry Potter movie coming out in 52 days. I’ve watched the trailer at least 12 times in the past 24 hours and if that doesn’t make me a nerd, checking for update on mugglenet twice a day definitely does.

Daniel gave me this beautiful icon a few days before my birthday.

We are the worst at saving gifts for the actual day. I get too excited about the presents I get for him and give them early and then I get too excited about the presents he’s gotten for me and beg to open them early. That’s customarily how it works.

On Saturday of birthday week I had to spend about 3 hours assisting with auditions for the Nutcracker in Thomasville, GA, so Daniel and I made it a date and drove up a few hours early.

We visited our favorite coffee house in the world, Grassroots Coffee, and wandered in and out of an enchanting bookstore and various strange and delightful shops.

Historical downtown is seriously cool. Each establishment has a small plaque outside describing the original use of the buildings in the mid to late 1800s like “Green Grocer, 1852.” I made that one up, but you get the idea.

This is me in front of the taxidermy/smoke shop. Yes, you heard right.

Seriously, this town rules. You can read Daniel’s take on the day here.

After auditions were over we ate delectable seafood at Jonah’s Fish and Grits and then headed back into town to pick up our Little Bear from his day of fun at “Ooma and Oompa’s” house.