BIRTHDAY!!

It's all because of my mother...

Both the fact that I was born and the fact that I am convinced that every birthday should be the most wonderful day of the year (with only the possible exception of Christmas Eve). It is also a well known fact, in the Stark household, that the magic of a true birthday begins several days before the actual day of birth and can last for up to a solid week after. Everyone wants a reason to celebrate, right?? 

And this, my first birthday in the Dominican Republic, was no exception. The day would have been a typical friday morning: helping an exhausted group muster up their last amount of energy to clean out their rooms and pack up the bus for their trip back to Santo Domingo, except for all the friends and family who either stopped by, called, or left me yummy treats filled with birthday wishes. What a wonderful start to the day! Eventually after a birthday chat with my mom, Dan and I hopped in the car for my birthday drive to the capitol. 

This sign was at the entrance to the resort... I have no idea if it was actually for me, but the top line says, "Welcome Birthday Girl"! Woot! Now the only thing they are missing is the marching band and parade in my honor. haha ;)

After dropping our bags off at in our room, we wandered a block or two down the road and had a birthday lunch at a fancy deli/wine bar. Delicious! -and a fun change from regular resort buffet. After lunch was a great birthday nap that we woke up for just in time to get ready for a great birthday dinner. The resort had gifted us a dinner for two at their fine dining restaurant. After they had spoiled and stuffed us with great food and wine, the chef and waiter brought out a huge birthday cake, singing the most adorably pathetic version of "Happy Birthday" I've heard yet. haha, it made me smile. 

But of course Dan doted on me most of all, with lots of laughes, great conversations and love the whole day...awww :)

And I got to continue the celebration all weekend long! The son of our friend and bus driver, Monchy, had a birthday on Sunday, so they invited us to celebrate along with them for a double birthday party on Sunday evening.

And the birthday weekend kept rockin as we got to celebrate ANOTHER SIX birthdays when Lassie (Monchy's dog) gave birth just a few hours earlier to some very cute and healthy puppies. So stinkin adorable.

Birthday Wishes!!

DR birthday #1= big success