My best birthday present came about a week after my own birthday, on April 5, 2004, when two little babies were hauled out of my uterus and came screeching and complaining into this world!
Since that time, my birthday has largely been overshadowed each year by preparations for Simon and Alex's birthday, and Easter, which sometimes -- like this year -- falls on the same date!
In the tradition started for me by my own mother (and her mother before her, and so on), the day begins with a "Birthday Table", complete with balloons and a few gifts. Thankfully we have evolved past the 5 a.m. wake-up time, and a more humane 7:30 a.m. arrival of two excited albeit somewhat groggy little boys in our bed marked the time to go and dismantle said table...
On offer this morning: Some new bathing suits and lunch containers, two Swatches I had found for a good price on Craigslist, a custom made poster of the planets with a Chris Hadfield quote for Alex and a Blue Whale one with wisdom from Jane Goodall for Simon, two books (one one the Chimps of Gombe and another on female artists), some bedside clip-on lamps from Uncle Vinx (which we attached to their beds right away -- the lamps, not Uncle Vinx), and some gummy bears and a big batch of colourful socks from Rick. ("Mommy, you can never have too many socks!", noted Simon.)
Since that time, my birthday has largely been overshadowed each year by preparations for Simon and Alex's birthday, and Easter, which sometimes -- like this year -- falls on the same date!
In the tradition started for me by my own mother (and her mother before her, and so on), the day begins with a "Birthday Table", complete with balloons and a few gifts. Thankfully we have evolved past the 5 a.m. wake-up time, and a more humane 7:30 a.m. arrival of two excited albeit somewhat groggy little boys in our bed marked the time to go and dismantle said table...
On offer this morning: Some new bathing suits and lunch containers, two Swatches I had found for a good price on Craigslist, a custom made poster of the planets with a Chris Hadfield quote for Alex and a Blue Whale one with wisdom from Jane Goodall for Simon, two books (one one the Chimps of Gombe and another on female artists), some bedside clip-on lamps from Uncle Vinx (which we attached to their beds right away -- the lamps, not Uncle Vinx), and some gummy bears and a big batch of colourful socks from Rick. ("Mommy, you can never have too many socks!", noted Simon.)
The big highlights of the morning, however, were the two brand new scooters the boys had been hoping for, and which their dad, his girlfriend, Tats, Rick and I got together and arranged for!
Then came a home-made (with a little help from Betty Crocker) cake, which was not particularly pretty, but came disgustingly bedecked -- as per the birthday boys' unanimous request -- with an assortment of gummy worms and swedish berries!
This we ate with some real berries and milk, and then looked at the boys' baby box, a small box containing little shoes, measuring tapes, a hat, a "we're expecting" journal filled out by their dad, and various other artifacts from their birth. Following this, the boys played in their room until a more hearty breakfast, this time with whole wheat toast, eggs and a fruit smoothie, could be arranged!
After this we planned to test out the new scooters, but as it is SNOWING AGAIN!!!! we decided to just hang out and read books until it is time to leave for the escape room, where we are meeting some family friends later this afternoon for a birthday adventure and dinner.
One thing about multiple households and blended families: There sure are a LOT of birthday celebrations!!! Although today is the boys' actual birthday, there have been several gatherings and cake-eatings in various locales already, and today's festivities will mark the climax of multiple birthday celebrations.
After this we planned to test out the new scooters, but as it is SNOWING AGAIN!!!! we decided to just hang out and read books until it is time to leave for the escape room, where we are meeting some family friends later this afternoon for a birthday adventure and dinner.
One thing about multiple households and blended families: There sure are a LOT of birthday celebrations!!! Although today is the boys' actual birthday, there have been several gatherings and cake-eatings in various locales already, and today's festivities will mark the climax of multiple birthday celebrations.
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