Andie's 31st Birthday!

Hello Everyone!

A massive THANK YOU to so many friends and family who thought of me on my birthday! I received several lovely cards in the mail, countless emails, phone calls, and over 35 Facebook messages (you gotta love technology!). Thank you so much! I felt so loved!

My actual birthday was so nice! It started off with an early morning long run, followed by a trip to the doggie pound (I'm in doggie withdrawl!) where we got to walk a big, slobbery dog named Sylvester. His massive features make him look a bit scary, but he really was a (slimy) teddy bear! Hopefully the poor guy gets adopted soon. After the pound, AJ and I joined up with some friends for an authentic lunch at a lovely pub in Bristol, called the 'Dove Cote Inn'. We were amazed that it was built in the 16th century, which appeared to boast the same features of yesterday (low ceilings, old fireplaces, wooden beams). Can't wait to take family and friends there someday!

After a lovely afternoon walk, we headed to our friends Dave & Emma's house for a birthday celebration! I was greeted with a balloon tierra and butterfly (fairy?) wings, which Dave instructed me to wear the rest of the evening! Emma knows that I've been missing my recipe books, so she purchased several great cookbooks for me to use...I was thrilled! One of them is full of traditional (English) 'pudding' (a.k.a. desserts) recipes, which we've come to love!

Here's Emma and I (note I'm still wearing my crown)!

After pouring into my new books, I fluttered into the kitchen to find AJ secretly cooking my favorite meal, SPAGHETTI! Yum! Doesn't AJ look thrilled?! Ha.Ha.

To make my birthday complete, Emma baked an enormous, rich 'Mississippi Pie' in honor of our homeland (note the wings)! Ha.Ha. It was fabulous! I think we walked away 5lbs. heavier that night.

Thanks for the great birthday everyone!