If it looks like a 3-day food fest and acts like a 3-day food fest, it probably is a 3-day food fest

I love to celebrate birthdays! Including my own. Since I spend most of my life on a strict low-fat, low-cal diet, I love the excuse to take a break and eat whatever I want for a few days. So if it looks like a 3-day food fest and acts like a 3-day food fest, it probably is a 3-day food fest. Fortunately, Shulamith loves food as much as I do; she makes for a good celebrating companion.

We eased in Thursday night with a lovely dinner at Cheesecake Factory with a couple of friends. Then Friday morning, a quick breakfast consisting of a Harmon's maple bar with whipped frosting and Diet Cokes. For lunch, Shulamith picked me up between my two classes, and we met our friend Lacey at City Creek, where we ate Red Iguana enchiladas. We used to go there every Friday last semester, and Lacey would sometimes meet us, so it felt like old times.

When I went back to teach my second class, one student had brought homemade cookies, and they all sang "Happy birthday, Sister Webster" when I walked in. So sweet. This is an especially nice group of students.

Friday night it was "The Dog Haus: The Absolute Wurst," a cute little restaurant in Sandy that serves super yummy hot dogs and burgers. We ate bacon-wrapped hot dogs, mine with caramelized onions and cheese. Mmmmmm!

Onward.

Saturday, we went to Denny's for breakfast, mostly because we love their pancakes that taste pretty much like vanilla cake. If you haven't tried them, I highly recommend you do.

For a mid-afternoon lunch/dinner, Gerald was kind enough to keep Shulamith's two older kids at home, so I could enjoy a relaxing meal with three of my cute kids. We went to Hu Hot for Mongolian bowls, plus S'mores for dessert. So good. Only sad part...this is one of Eli's favorite places, and he wasn't here to go with us.

I always say that my favorite child is whichever one I'm with at the time. That day, these three were my favorites. The food was so good; the company, even better.

This morning, I went out early and brought home Cinnabons and Diet Cokes for a before-church breakfast. They were gooey, gooey good. Then this afternoon, Shulamith made me taco salad and chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. This is quite a sacrifice for her because she doesn't eat salad (only the hamburger and the chips...boring) and she much prefers white cake.

All in all, it's been a delightful food fest, and no better way to celebrate my birthday. And it's not quite over. Matt has been away all weekend, so we haven't had the chance to do our standard, girls only, celebration without kids (well, her baby gets to come). We always do dinner and a movie, and that will still happen, but probably not for two weeks, because Gerald and I are going to Rexburg next weekend to visit Eli and Amanda. I'm hoping the movie "Battle of the Sexes" is playing here by then.

Thank you to restaurants that make good food and to my sweet little family for sharing it with me. I am a lucky mom. Love you!