1. For starters, I love birthdays. And birthday parties and birthday cake. 
2. I don’t like fancy cakes.  I will always choose an old-fashioned yellow cake with chocolate icing over a fancy gallette or anything with fruit filling.
3. I am cranky when I don’t get enough sleep.
4. I am really cranky when I am hungry.  
5. I don’t like to be kept waiting.  I want what I want and I want it NOW.   
6. I love snow. 
7. I wish for snow days.
8. I like building snowmen, making snow angels and even catching snowflakes on the tip of my tongue.
9. I also like hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows; in fact, I expect it after a good romp in the snow.
10. Sometimes I want my Mommy.  Or my Dad.  Thank God they still come running when I call.   
11. I like the Backyardigans.  Ok, I love the Backyardigans.  I’ve been known to comment (positively) on the choreography.  This should embarrass me.  It doesn’t.
12. I like most, if not all, Disney and Pixar movies.  Always have.  Even before I had five kids of my own.
13. I love Mary Poppins and like to say (and sing) Supercalifragiliciousexpialidocious! 
14. If I could wear footie pajamas, I would.  
15. If I could still sleep with “Abearham”, an Irish-knit clad teddy bear my “Mom-Mom” gave me from the now defunct Abraham & Straus, I would. 
16. I hate putting on sunblock.
17. Sometimes I don’t want to eat my veggies and I do want to eat dessert.
18. Sometimes I wish I could have Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes and other forbidden cereals for breakfast.
19. Sometimes I want to stir my ice cream into a soup.  Possibly a soup with chocolate chips and/or sprinkles floating in it.
20. My perfect day would include a trip to a zoo… 
21. … or an aquarium.  I love a good aquarium!  I especially like the “touch pools” with starfish and eels.  (I also like those traditional petting zoos with billy goats you can feed by hand!)
22. When I wear high heels, I feel like I’m playing dress up.  I like to play dress up. 
23.  I say “like” too much.
24. Sometimes I’m too excited to sleep – typically on Christmas Eve or the night before vacation.
25. A small part of me still believes in Santa.  In the magic of Christmas.  I love to run down the stairs and see what’s under the tree — even though these days, I’ve put most of the gifts there myself. 
26. I like presents.  I like getting them and giving them.  I really like getting them.
27. I like bubble baths.  I wish I could take them more often.
28. I must touch all dogs.  Especially big fluffy ones.  I just can’t resist. 
29.  I occasionally throw a wicked tantrum.  It’s not pretty. I’m not proud of it but, it’s true.
30. I really like Mac & Cheese. And grilled cheese. While I’m at it, chicken nuggets aren’t so bad either.
31. I have a fondness for McNuggets thanks to a fond memory of my first trip to McDonald’s with my Pop-Pop.
32. I love a place called Sundae School, again thanks to Pop-Pop.  Mint chip sundaes with hot fudge, homemade whipped cream and a real cherry will always be one of my favorite things.
33. I love to sing “My Favorite Things.”  I love The Sound of Music.  I still get scared at parts. 
34. Sometimes I don’t like sharing.  Especially blueberries.  I love blueberries.
35. Sometimes I want to play hooky.   
36. Sometimes I don’t want to make my bed, wash my face or brush my teeth.
37. I actually like milk with dinner.  Especially with meatballs and spaghetti.  Weird, right? 
38. I tend to trust people.  I believe most people are inherently good.
39. I believe that dreams can come true.
40. I still make a wish when the clock turns 11:11, when I throw a penny in a fountain, when a stray eyelash is blown away and of course,  when I blow out my birthday candles. I believe these wishes will come true. In fact, many already have.

So, with 40 just around the corner and this list in hand, I am truly grateful for my family and friends. They humor my childlike whims and  tolerate my occasional tantrums; they have shaped who I am today and will influence who I become tomorrow.  I hope they surround me as I blow out the candles for the years to come; if they do, that will be just one more wish come true.

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