loved.

I had a birthday on Monday.

It was low key and lovely. Getting Grace and Luke situated at Freshmen Orientation Week (Grace is part of the upperclassmen group running it).  Swim lessons. Meeting an out of town friend and her kids at the St. Louis Zoo for the afternoon. Taking a long bath to cool off from the hot and humid afternoon at the zoo. Getting sweet texts and calls and FB messages throughout the day. The kids gifted me with sweet cards and handmade things, my favorite. Luke made a digital drawing of Auggie and Bear that is really cool. Gracie made me a video of scenes from our recent trip to Colorado/Wyoming/Montana.

That night we went out to celebrate as a family. We had drinks and a delicious meal at a favorite restaurant down the road. We headed towards the Missouri Botanical Gardens next, but it was closed early. The alternate plan was to wander a bit around our first St. Louis neighborhood. We even got out and walked a bit at our old favorite park where Gracie and Luke humored me by letting me take their picture in the swings where they spent HOURS of their early years.

The night wrapped up with coffee and desserts at another Webster favorite. We split three different super rich desserts among the six of us and then sat around the patio talking. My babies are getting so big and so darn easy.

I definitely felt the love this birthday and am so grateful for so many people who love me well.