A few images from Grace’s birthday and life around here …
Birthday morning: Grace’s favorite breakfast, cinnamon rolls
After an all-day field trip at Plymouth Plantation (which I chaperoned) we had birthday cupcakes at school. I drove to the field trip with two other mothers from Grace’s class, and I think I may have scared them off permanently when I mentioned that I sometimes walk and sit in the local cemetery and then also referred to my dislike of music, strong tastes, smells, etc. I think it is possible they think I’m a tiny bit weird.
After school Grace and I took our second-annual birthday pilgrimage to Barnes & Noble. She had a couple of gift cards (fabulous birthday gifts!) and I’m eager to help her develop the passion I feel for bookstores, so off we went. She now thinks of this as what we do to celebrate her birthday, and as far as I’m concerned that’s great.
I bought these lilies over the weekend because they were from a local farm. I’ve never really had lilies before, and their flashy beauty struck me as they unfolded just in time for the birthday. One small thing I’m proud of: from Memorial Day until late September I didn’t buy fruits or vegetables from anywhere other than local farmer’s markets. It is kind of killing me to go back to Whole Foods, so I’m trying to stretch the local focus as long as I can. Hence the new flowers.
After dinner of take-out sushi (Grace’s choice, but cucumber rolls are as far as she will go) we had her now-traditional birthday cake, which is half chocolate and half vanilla (both cake and frosting). Yes, I’ve been baking up a storm. Yes, I’m ready for my kitchen not to be awash in leftover sugar, sugar, sugar, but ooops, now it’s Halloween.
And also, a couple of photographs of our resident comedian, Whit.
Even Captain Rex gets tired out after a long day of lightsaber fighting.
Real men aren’t afraid to waltz with their buddies (note that Whit’s friend, the same age as him, is a full head taller … oh my poor wee little guy).
It’s good to fly before bed.
That’s an armful of books, and some yummy looking treats. I hope it was a wonderful day for everybody. My oldest LOVED “The Doll People”.
My heart dropped a little in empathy, but I had to laugh, at your conversation with the other moms. Don’t worry about it. If they think you are weird – they are not your peeps. Courtney and I had to have a long talk yesterday about her not regurgitating my political opinions in certain social situations if she didn’t want to be left out in left field. It’s a delicate dance between living out loud and not caring what anyone thinks and trying to accommodate the norms at least a little bit.
Your kids look happy. Your house looks happy with sweet treats and stargazer lilies (my favorites). It sounds like a good week.
Just lovely. Thanks for the peek into your life!
And rather than being a ” little weird”‘, perhaps you are opening people’s minds to the possibilities of living beyond the box. Coloring outside the lines and all that sort of thing, you know?
Sometimes I think that when we conform to other’s expectations in an effort to keep them comfortable and happy, we don’t allow them to grow.
It’s not easy, though!
XOXO
Those cinnamon buns are my favorite! I make them Christmas morning as my family is opening presents.
A dislike of music, strong smells, tastes, etc. does not make you weird at all! I think you are fabulous!! XXOO
This is so beautiful! I had to laugh about the cemetery thing. I think it’s awesome. A trip to B&N for books sounds like a heavenly gift!
So sweet. Happy Birthday to your beauty.
Look at that girl! Such joy. Books and cupcakes and a waltzing brother. A mom wise enough to pay attention. A family that celebrates birthdays with love and togetherness. This glimpse of the goodness in your world brightened mine considerably this morning. xxk
Please promise me you’ll introduce her to Betsy, Tacy & Tib – she strikes me as the kind of girl who will love them as so many of us did!!!!
Love that a glimpse into your life includes a little of my handiwork! I have to say I love the wipeable ease of those place mats myself.
I love these glimpses that you share. And I love the bookstore too. We go there as a family often. The boys get treated with hot chocolate and we explore the kids area. Of course, we always come out with new books. I never ever deny them new books.
Happy Belated Birthday to Grace! Lovely blinks you shared with us. I hope to cultivate the same love of books with my own daughter.