Mer’s birthday was Wednesday the 18th. We usually celebrate our birthdays on the following weekend, but I did want to take Mer out to dinner on her actual birthday. I had a $10 gift card to Outback Steakhouse, so that is where we went. We like Outback’s food, and it did not disappoint. Since it was Mer’s birthday, she got a free sundae, but she supplemented it with a dessert that gave smaller portions of three desserts, and I got my own dessert as well. So, between the two of us we had five different desserts on the table. I think that took our server by surprise. Happy birthday indeed.

On Thursday, we braved a snowy drive to go to Aunt Mary’s. The roads were not bad, but the traffic was so heavy that it took almost an hour and a half to get to Aunt Mary’s, when it normally takes about forty minutes. We got there safely, and Aunt Mary treated us to her company and to dinner at Grinders, which is a local chain of which Mer and I are very fond. Given the late hour that we ate, we were not able to linger too long at Aunt Mary’s house after supper, but we did have time to open the several gifts Aunt Mary gave us (my birthday is on the 24th, so Aunt Mary included me in the celebration as well). The drive home was on clear roads with little traffic, so that was a good end to a pleasant birthday celebration.