Tag: birthday

I love having daughters

Musings on Life and Beauty

I was in the hallway at church on Sunday as my children came to meet me after their classes.  One after one they said to me, “Mom!  It’s Janice’s birthday!  We need to have a party!”  By the time we got home their enthusiasm for the idea had taken on a life of it’s own.  A phone call was made and a time chosen.

I went to work in the kitchen and sent my girls outside to create the party scene.


A little while later I peeked out the window to see what they had come up with and smiled with delight.  It wasn’t just the supplies they’d chose to use that made me happy, but the feeling of love and teamwork they displayed.  I felt like I was watching a scene from Little Women or something.  They were a group of sisters totally consumed with making something pretty as a gesture of love for someone they care about.






I think that most mothers feel like they have more than enough bickering among their children and I would certainly fall in that category.  When afternoons like this one come along I thrill at the way they treat one another.  The “payoff” moments are fleeting, but they do come and it’s an added blessing when you’re there to witness them.






My two year old is an absolute riot.  I wish I had a running audio recording of her from morning till night.  The things that come out of her mouth are beyond hilarious.   During this little decorating event she was walking around saying “Someday when I am a mom I will make pupcakes for Sister Ingalls’ birthday!  I will.  I will make pupcakes when I am a big mom someday.”  The picture below was taken in the middle of such a recital.


The birthday party was a success.  I’ll share pictures of it this week.  I also need to remember what happened before the party.  I am so grateful for these daughters, for the way they nurture one another, for their creative vision and talents, for their desire to help make special memories for others.  I am such a fortunate mom!


Hopeful Homemaker

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Happy 9th Birthday!

Musings on Life and Beauty

Someone at our house turned nine years old today!  It was a great day and she wore a smile most of the time (except for one little mishap, when she cut her thumb on the lid to a can of her all-time favorite snack:  applesauce.)

The day in pictures:


Breakfast in bed, followed immediately by her main birthday gift so she could enjoy it all day long (even in the rain).


A new bike.  Her big brother literally broke her old one in half a few weeks ago, making this birthday gift one of the easiest decisions Mom and Dad have made for a birthday.  Did you know that big brothers could snap a bike in half?  Yea, me neither, but it happened, and we still have the pieces to prove it.  Let’s just say it was no surprise when he snapped his metal lacrosse stick in half at practice last week.


She spent much of the day riding around with a big grin on her face…


until we were off to soccer/lacrosse games for the afternoon.

Home for her dinner of choice and a trip around the table sharing things we love most about her.  After that a few more gifts to unwrap, including a new bike helmet (which she can also wear snowboarding since she likes to bomb the hills at high speeds) and a bike lock so we can prevent big brother from breaking another one.


I love hugs like this.  She’s an amazing big sister.


Finally it was time for birthday cake and candles.


She tossed in some good-natured patience and plugged ears when her brothers and sisters sang incredibly loudly.


At last it was bedtime, and she stayed up late hanging out with Mom, Dad and her big sister.  She has been a delight all her life.  We’re so blessed to have this amazing girl in our family.  Happy Birthday, cutie!

Mom

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“Two” Birthday Party

Entertaining



Last night we celebrated the two year old in our family.


I wrote here about my feelings heading into this birthday celebration and feel grateful that the little details turned out well enough that I feel happy about them.  As for the birthday girl, she celebrated life with gusto all day long, buzzing around and playing and never holding still.  Her only quiet moments were the two accidental naps she had in the car to and from a soccer tournament.  Perhaps the sweetest moment of the day for me was holding her asleep on my lap for part of the first soccer game.  Sitting in the shade with a gentle breeze blowing, children playing all around me, watching a soccer game and a little one asleep on my shoulder was wonderful.  I’m getting better at noticing these pauses in busy days and reminding myself that this is happiness, this is life.

At last the games were over and we headed home for the celebration.  I chose a pink and aqua theme for the night.  All of it was inspired by this vintage basket I discovered in a shop recently.


I found a wooden number two which I painted with mod podge then dipped in glitter.


I wanted to fill the basket with something festive without spending money.  I made some lollipop inspired sugar cookies which turned out just as I hoped.  We wrapped them and tied them with pink and aqua ribbons.


I also added strawberry poky treats and Neapolitan Oreos for fun.




I made strawberry shaped popsicles (which was all she wanted to eat).


The cake is a white cake with vanilla bean frosting.  I’ll share more on it soon but let’s just say it was fabulous.  I’m so happy that both of this month’s birthday cakes have turned out beautifully.


I found this darling little “2” candle and surrounded it with raspberry filled marshmallows.




As usual, I love the patterns and colors available in paper goods although most of us chose to eat off my vintage glass dessert dishes.


We lowered my folding table to toddler height and my all-time favorite vintage tablecloth was the perfect thing to tie it all together.


My brother and his fiancee were here to celebrate with us and we loved having them over.  My little one wouldn’t hold still for a single picture but was thrilled with her treats and gifts.  Of course, having four older sisters to play with you doesn’t hurt either.  She was the star of the day and she knew it and we all loved watching her.  She was shy but pleased as we sang “Happy Birthday” and had her blow out the candle.


Soon the mosquitoes were out and the darkness fell around us.  I love cleaning up after a party at that time.  It’s such a calm but happy way to end the day.


She was a true two year old and had to go to bed with all her toys in her crib.  One of her grandmas gave her some pink cowboy boots which brought on a tantrum when we tried to take them off for sleep.


It was a delightful birthday party for a little girl who brings laughter to our home in large doses.  I love her so much.

And now I’m off to wash all the dishes. {Happy sigh.}

Jennifer

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