Did I tell you...

That mom visited me on my birthday?

It was intended as a surprise... but alas, it is nearly impossible to surprise me.

C'est vrai.

But still, we had a lovely time.

We visited China Town which doubles as mom's favorite NYC attraction and my

 least favorite attraction in NYC, or possibly the world.

We ate delish Italian at S.P.Q.R. in Little Italy

(which is actually the first Little Italy restaurant we visited as a family in 2006).

Momma in Hoboken

Good thing this is a once-a-year event.
 I could have eaten that WHOLE thing... It was so delicious.

We visited Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, and proceeded to purchase the

most amazing chocolate ganache cake I have ever seen/tasted.

We celebrated with friends at the super chic Room Service Restaurant,

which looks far more expensive than it really is.

We bought many gifts for the munchkin...

because when you're the only member in our family under the age of 25,

you get a lot of presents, obvi.

We walked through the European Decorative Arts section of the MET,

which is my absolute favorite part of the MET.

We went to the movies, and ate yummy salads at Chop't

 (after a weekend of nothing but canoli and cake, we needed variety).

I had a party. Lots of people came and Mom made new friends.

Me with Rob

KLR & Karene

Mom and her two new best friends

KLR, Tash and Brad

Mark, Brody, Stef, Jane Madsen, Tashi, Liz and Rob

On her last day here, I treated mom to a true NYC brunch at Good Enough to Eat

which is quite possibly the best brunch spot in the UWS.

It was such a treat to see my mom. We share a very special bond and I miss her every single day.

 The best present I could have gotten has her company on my birthday.

What a lucky girl I am!

Parents....

I have this friend named Gavin. He is one of the most talented people I know. But that is besides the point... Gavin is also very good at writing beautiful things. Click here and check out what he wrote about his mom and dad. I don't know his parents, but based on this, I can see that they are really wonderful, salt-of-the earth type people.

This made me think about all the fantastic people in my life, but more specifically, my mom. My mom is the most amazing woman. I love that she is perfectly ridiculous, has a great sense of humor and has given me the world. I am who I am because of my mom. I am so, so proud of every step she has taken to become who she is. She is a fighter, a hard worker, and a loving mother. She is someone who deserves to be looked up to.

Mom with Little Rodrigo.