For Valentine’s Day Tom finally finished making my long-awaited shelves for the linen closet. Finally, I can move all the linens out of our bedroom closet, alleviating the daily avalanche that occurs whenever I attempt to retrieve a sweater.
I can think of few things much more romantic.
I swear, I think the Middlest is moving toward some sort of gallery show entitled “Video Game Retrospective in Multiple Media.”
First there was Pac Man, Dig Dug, more Dig Dug, Pooka, and then back to Pac Man.
Now he’s using modeling clay to create characters from his favorite games. (I forgot to document the Plants vs. Zombies creations before they got destroyed…bad mother!) But here is the Ice Flower from Mario. It probably should have spent a little less time on the kitchen counter based on the number of crumbs and coffee grounds that have become part of this work. I’m also thinking one of the leaves has been knocked around.
Really, I would stink as a curator, but I’m trying my best, little man.
Lots of running, jumping, and playing. Tired kids in bed early. Can we do one of these every Saturday?
One of the many secrets no one tells you when you have children is how much birthday cake you will be involved with.
You’d think it would be one cake per year, but that would be wrong. Because there’s the cake on their actual birthday. And then the cake on the day of their party. And then, because these things never line up on the same day, you need to make cupcakes for school. That’s three cake related items. I don’t care if you’re baking or buying, that’s just exhausting.
Here is the cake for the birthday party. After all these girlie cakes, I’m ready for a topic that’s a little less, well, PINK.
On a side note, if you ever think about strategically placing edible silver stars on the sides of a cake, stop right now. About ten stars into placing them on the sides of the top tier, I knew I had just signed up for an hour of tedious work. It took me about 15 seconds to sprinkle them on the top of the cake, which was just as effective and didn’t leave me with a big cramp in my hand.
For those of you who have been around for a long time, you might remember that same cake from here. Can you believe I saved those parts for four years? Now up for grabs—any takers?
Anyway, yay! It got the four-year-old stamp of approval.
I’m closing in on 40, but that seems nowhere near as monumental a milestone as this one. Today you turned four, and with that big, solid number, we’ve closed the door on our baby years. We’re a family that has three KIDS. While I love that we’re here, I do feel the inevitable tug of sentimentality.
But in those four years you have done amazing things. I remember early on thinking that you were an old soul, and good grief, that has proven true. You know exactly who you are and what you need, and you’re more than happy to let the rest of us know.
Without me even asking, you informed me that for your birthday you would like a cinnamon cake with strawberries (the fruit) and Strawberry Shortcake (the character). This seemed such a strange flavor combination to me that I warned everyone as I served cake that it might not jive. But you know what? It was really good. I should have trusted that you’d call a winner.
You had school today, and then we went out to lunch. You insisted we sit on the same side of the booth. We ordered a side of black olives, and you ate every one. You punctuate nearly every sentence with, “Well, actually…” I was so enjoying your expressions as you talked that I took out my camera and snapped a few, just to capture how you are in this slice of time.
After lunch we went to get some party supplies, but on the way home you fell asleep. This is unlike you these days, as it’s been ages since you’ve taken a nap. You slept through the pick-up at school and our arrival home.
After I got Neko and Shep settled, I finally just sat down with you, and let you sleep on my chest, right in the spot where I sat for so many hours when we brought you home from the hospital. I really should have been fixing dinner, but instead we sat together. You slept and I watched you. For nearly an hour I sat there, and I took in every moment.
Those moments? I am grateful for every one.
Happy birthday, baby.
My friend, Kate D., always takes a picture of their kids the day before their birthday, on the last day they’ll be a certain age. I love this idea, but somehow, in the midst of birthday preparations, I always forget.
Fortunately, Chris snapped this pic of Ellery while I was out shopping for last-minute items.
Will someone please tell me how that little tiny baby is somehow navigating the house like a big kid these days?
While the rest of us were busy watching the Super Bowl, Shep was over by the Lego.
He was there for quite a long time.
When I walked by to get a drink, I realized he had been hard at work. He had carefully been constructing letters out of Lego. It spells “Pac Man gets gold.” Below the sentence is Pac Man, with several gold bricks on his head.
I love this kid.
