Across Country

 

Across the country we sent a birthday package.  Containing lots of handmade goodies including cards and a note written by a Japanese student who is visiting here.  I asked her to write Happy Birthday and she wrote a whole paragraph and then translated it, on another piece of paper, into English.  Also, in the box was a package of local salt water taffy and a water color.

It was fun doing the watercolor.  First we all came up with 21 adjectives that describe the birthday boy.  Then Eli painted a full page watercolor painting.  I cut the paper into small strips. I was just going to put them randomly on a piece of ribbon but noticed how cool they looked when placed almost back together.  We all wrote a few words so everybody's handwriting was represented.  Then I taped them onto the ribbon into a chain of colorful words!     

Happy Birthday to Nate

From the Utah mountains,

to the California deserts,

to the glacial lakes,

to the organic farms.

                        Here's to lots more adventures in beautiful places. 
                                          Happy Birthday to Nate!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to Eli

 Happy birthday dear Eli!  Eli's birthday was on a Friday this year so we had the afternoon off which was a treat.  Down to the Boardwalk we stole which was an impromptu birthday treat.  We had a round of golf.  Then, I had to show Eli the game that Charles showed me when him and Nate were about 11.  These ice hockey players are actually wearing knitted sweaters.  I kid you not.  I love that.  Eli then moved to a more fast paced racing game.  We strolled back to go out to dinner and home for presents and talks on the phone.  Then gearing up for the big party here tomorrow. 

Fourteen

Yummy cake from our favorite local bakery.  I must say this is about the fanciest of this kind that I've seen.  Extra frosting embellishments.  Also, an added pink, silk ribbon around the outside. 

Cards from her brothers.

For some reason I often find my self late at night the night before Emily's birthday looking for something to adorn the middle of the table with.  Something girly that she's had for a while.  Maybe that was a present or had belonged to one grandma or another.  Something sweet and pink.  Something that reminds me of when she was about the age she is in the pictures below. 

Hard to believe that four year old is fourteen.  Seems like I blinked and there she was.  Standing in front of me with her hair slightly curled and her tight skirt on.  Standing in front of me with her layered tank top and new white cardigan on.  Standing in front of me in her skinny jeans.  Standing in front of me with her snow white canvas Vans on.  Standing in front of me challenging every decision I make.  Standing in front of me desperately asking for me to be there for her while she yells at me to go away.

Isn't there some book titled something like that.  "Go away, but first can you take me to the mall".  Fourteen!  Wow!  She likes to remind me that she can drive in two years.  I remind her that she has to keep her grades up for it  will effect her placement in high school.  I cheer for her cheer to keep her busy and fit.  To find her passion. She is navigating her path and I'm trying to steer the boat.  At 14 she is bold, fierce, smart, stylish, trendy, cosmopolitan, funny, tenacious.  All those traits I want to embrace and yet am constantly bracing myself to not get bowled over by their strength.  To come up ready to weather the storm and smile with her.

Happy Birthday Dear Emily!

Happy Birthday to Nate

Hope you have a great day!  Full of adventure and beauty!

We're thinking about you on your birthday.  Sending birthday cheer from the west coast to the
 east coast.

 Hope you enjoy your cake with this much enthusiasm!

Here's looking at you kid!

Simply Celebrate

On the morning of Eli's birthday party he got a letter from his big brother across the country.  A long letter with some bark from the native trees and a local rock.  He sat and carefully read that letter.  When asked if I could read it he quickly replied, "No.  It's for ten year old boys."  He added the "boys" to ensure that I wouldn't say that I've been ten before and therefore am authorized to read it.    Also, there was a big box with a super cool, new Lego set.  Can't beat that.  Well, maybe having
  him here would be that.  He did get to talk to him on the phone and as he did he walked around the house kicking a ball.

When I asked Eli what he wanted to do for his birthday he kept answering the same thing, "Hang out with my friends".  I would ask if he wanted to go to the beach, have a fire, go skating or mini-golfing.  Nope.  Just hang out with friends.  So that's what it was.  There was a lot of laughing, tag, running and wrestling.  One of his presents was a big, big box and in the box was another box and another and so on.  All wrapped.  Then in the smallest box was a brick and next to the brick was a beautiful gold envelope and in the envelope was a special season's pass to the local amusement park.  We laughed and laughed.  A rousing game of night tag was followed by sugarless mixed berry pie.  Just as requested.  It was surely delicious! 

Happy Birthday to Eli

Happy Birthday dear Eli!  Eli celebrated his birthday at school and then got to go to the skate park to celebrate another friend's birthday but was also fun for him.  Wow! My youngest is a decade.  Seems like just yesterday we were exclaiming because he was five and could hold out a whole hand to show his age.  Now it's two whole hands.  He's already celebrated with his aunt, uncle, cousin and brother who all visited on the weekend.  Wow! A lot has been packed into that decade to produce this kind, compassionate being.    In his new yellow shirt he is talking to Grandma and Grandpa.  I love to watch Eli on the phone.  He puts it on speaker phone.   He's pretty subdued while talking to Grandparents.  While talking to Ian he was wearing his blue bathrobe and spinning around in the kitchen.   Among some of his gifts was a potato gun which seemed just right for a 10 year old and the book Rascal, which I hope we read together.   Look at the glow from all those candles!

Surely Sweetness

Eli wanted to make his own sugar cookies to bring in to his class for his birthday.  I offered to help him but once again he was determined to do it himself.  "No, Mom.  I don't need your help.  I can do it myself.  I learned from my mistake." So he measured and stirred.  I had a meeting that night and when I came in the door there he was again.  Pan on the floor cutting out cookies.  Circles this time, from a canning lid.  The first batch was plain white.  I reminded him of the vibrant colored sprinkles we have.  So then he generously adorned the rest of the cookies.  The class loved them!