Birthday presents (and surprises)

Last week I had a birthday.  It was lovely.  My mom took me out to brunch in the morning, and Alan and I went out to dinner (alone!) in the evening on the way to the airport.  (Alan left that evening to fly to Seattle to visit his Washington family for a few days.)  

However, I found out in the early afternoon, that our painter we were hiring was going to be ready to come the very next day!  That was a bit stressful, but we were excited to finally have the job done.  I spent all afternoon removing things from the walls, moving furniture to the center of the rooms, and taking off outlets and light switch covers.  

Here is the finished product.  Our front room and hall are now gray instead of green. (I have not finished hanging pictures or decorating yet.)

Our basement TV room and hall are now light gray instead of taupe. Yuck, I need to organize this TV stand.  Don't judge. Ha ha.

It was totally worth hiring out the painting instead of doing in ourselves this time (been there, done that!)  They were done in a day and a half, and I feel like it was a really good deal.  Plus, we have a really high ceiling above our staircase.  Not fun to do ourselves.

Alan bought me a 6-qt. crockpot I've really been wanting, plus we bought a new yellow storage ottoman for our living room.  It arrived right on my birthday!!  (See living room picture above.  The ottoman is in front of the fireplace.  It fits all of Evy's toys so nicely, so now our front room is more organized.)

Alan also wrote me a sonnet for my birthday.  I LOVE these poems he writes for me.  They have so much thought and time put into them, and it is a special gift he has to write them:

Inheritance

I often contemplate our life ahead,

When we will be together without end.

It is magnificent that we, though dead,

Will come forth from the grave and live to spend

Eternity in love as man and wife!

We've been endowed with sacred priesthood power

To magnify the Father's Plan of Life;
Creating worlds where we will teach to our

Posterity all things that they must do

As they progress along the narrow path.

As equal partners, we will go forth to

Inherit everything the Father hath:

Eternal lives and endless worlds above,

With hearts and hands entwined in holy love.

(To read more sonnets by Alan, click here and here.)