Celebrate

 

Another coronavirus-era birthday, another challenge to rise above the feeling of restriction and deprivation and embrace the challenge to make the day feel special. Audrey Grace, my smart, strong, puzzle-solving leader-in-training had another "Yes Day" to mark her 12th trip around the sun, and we decided that making her hunt for her presents might spice things up to juuuuuuuuust right. So this "scroll" was tucked into her Birthday Bag along with a guinea pig shirt and notebook and a few of her favorite sweets. The afternoon of her day, our "pod" friends came over, and she was presented with the first of her five challenges, which sent them running straight out into the driveway... 

...and then on to her second clue...

...and her third... 

...and her fourth... 

...and finally, the last one... 

...which they didn't even have to finish solving, because their smart little friend figured it right out and solved the last puzzle with minutes of daylight to spare.

Afterwards, we had fondue and a 12-layer chocolate cake (that fell over the night before and was rebuilt with no one the wiser!), and all in all the report is that it was a very satisfying day.

I hope she remembers it fondly, it was a lot of work! But to be honest, I might have had as much fun setting everything up as she did puzzling it all out.

Happy birthday to my girl, you are so loved.

Happy Birthday Little A

 

My Squishy is 12 today. This will be the last kid birthday year without a teenager in the house. I'm so proud of this girl... such a smart, sensitive, thoughtful hardworking girl. I love her so.

Today, for her big number twelve, we can't have a party like in years past due to this whole COVID-19 thing, so we'll have another Yes Day. On the agenda: doughnuts, sushi, fondue, and some surprises later in the day. 

Happy Birthday, Audrey Grace!

Take a walk down memory lane: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

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Happy birthday, Kyle... I think we did good this year, and I think you agree...  I hope you liked your fabulous 'cak.' We love you.

BD

Happy birthday to me, my family made me pumpkin bread (well, Audrey did) and a chocolate chip bundt cake, took me to get takeout from a favorite local restaurant, and surprised me with our practically-family-friends for cake and cream tequila when we got back home. Also, I got new shoes (thanks Bill & Linda!), a hand-made ceramic butter dish (thanks Mom!), some shirts and other swag (thanks Mom & Dad!) and a couple prizes that will allow me to do a little online shopping later (thanks Katy, John, & Nanny!). 

It was a great day.

Just don't ask me how old I am now, I'll never tell...

...because maybe I won't know for sure.

Our Last 9th

Our Henny-Benny's 9th birthday was yesterday, our last 9th ever (*sniff sniff*)- but because of our SIP situation we had no party, no friends over, no outings planned. We stayed put and tried to make the day full of things he loved- pancakes with whipped cream and orange sprinkles, new Lego builds, mac-n-cheese and mint Milanos, a family game of laser tag... and an afternoon of Minecraft and friend messenger fun... or at least that's what we'd planned. BUT our internet went down around 9am and didn't come back until almost dinner time, so the second half of his isolated birthday was spent watching the chicks, hanging out with Mama while I worked on the pond waterfall, haunting Sissy while she helped, and halfheartedly sketching in his sketchbook. Poor guy. But true to his sweet laid-back nature he never made a big deal about it, never really indulged in more than "ooohhh maaaannn!" When the internet finally came back on he was so excited we let him stay up an extra hour to try and make sure his birthday wrapped up on a high note.

And speaking of high, would you look at how much he grew over this last year? He'll be as tall as me (and taller!) in no time.

Happy birthday Henry Warden!

Elevensies

It's never very much fun to have a birthday on a weekday, is it? But we did our best to help our oldest Little make the most of her day today- first thing in the morning she had her birthday bag and a lemon muffin, followed by a ride to school and drop-off with Grammy and Gramps, cupcakes to share with her classmates, special drinks when she got back home, steaks for dinner, three new book series to add to her collection..................................... and her very own laptop.

Oh, and she lost her first molar at dinner, too.

Little Brother is doing his very best to be happy for his sister, and we're having fresh new conversations about responsibility and trust now, too, thanks to this new device being located in her room. I think she's up for it, though. My girl is a pretty good rule-follower. The first thing she said after all the "THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUs" was, "Now I can do my homework on my own computer in my own room!"

Set that good example, Big Sister. I think I know what just made the top of Little Brother's wish list!

Happy birthday, Audrey Grace, we love you more than you will ever know.