Another Year

I was hanging on to 35 a little more than I had expected.



Although 36 is a nice, round, even number. The third cycle (12-year Chinese cycle) of life completed. I once again face the year of the Rabbit - the same zodiac sign I was born under, 3 cycles ago.



The day was celebrated in multiple days, multiple ways (thanks to my sweet family). It started with a journey to a new destination. The country roads and the green hills and the farm itself were all rejuvenating. Even the weather changed abruptly. Summer went away in a blink of an eye (it had been 97 degrees the day before), leaving us with a cooler, autumn chill in the air.



And so, a good camp-fire style cooking (in the backyard) was in order with a salad of our very own tomatoes and basil, and nothing more.



The sight of this ripening pumpkin (the only one we got out of so many plants!) was also a treat.



And these patties cooking on real charcoals... mine would be the lone portobello to the right.



The ladies even joined us.



And a 'hobo' pie was attempted in a new campfire cast iron pot.



Birthdays used to be about the fun and the excitement of adding one more to your previous age. Now it seems like it's more about self-reflection and an addition of grey hair on ones' head.



It's also about being thankful for what I have, and learning to live the moment.  Because at the end of the day, nothing else matters but what is happening right now. It did take almost three cycles of the Rabbit to knock that into my head.



And it may take many more cycles for me to finally live it. But at least, I will give it a good try this time around.

Seventh Birthday

Hard to believe: our children are now seven years old! They wished each other a Happy Birthday upon awakening.  It's called being twins!

This pair of twins has changed life as we knew it, in the best ways possible.



In celebration, Jim and I each made them a cake.

Better yet, we had a cake-bake off!

The competition was fierce (not really), and fun.  We had several judges who tasted each cake and voted. I came out the winner (really?!), even though I really, honestly, think that my husband's cake was far superior. Anybody interested in the winning cake recipe? I made it up myself, you know.

I wonder if this is going to be come a new tradition? It could very well be, but what was more fun was to have our children be surrounded by loved ones on their special day. How appropriate that it is one day after Thanksgiving.

Needless to say, we are all thankful to have them in our family. Happy seventh birthday, Claire and Momo! We love you so.

The celebration continued

My blogging is getting a bit intertwined. Between Cool Columbus, and this one, and Twitter, and Facebook... Oy. I am not sure I can keep up with all of it! (Or should I say, I really don't need to do any of it!).

At any rate, I had a great day. A great welcome to the middle of the 30s.

The day started out with me being prohibited to come downstairs. So I returned to bed to finish my book (Trail of Crumbs) when I heard a pitty-patter and a knock on the door. The kids delivered breakfast to me, in bed, before telling me that I still could not come downstairs.

Eventually I was allowed to join them. The Birthday banner hung across the doorway, and a big bag of birthday goodies awaited my opening. Two candles sat in some old coffee ground and I blew on them after the birthday song was sung to me. It was like a Christmas morning with summer breeze passing in through the open windows.

The rest of the day was spent at (to us) a new coffee shop, a new metropark, our community pool (last day of the season!), and an awesome Japanese enclave complete with a market, a restaurant, a bakery, a bookstore. It was a splendid day!

Six and a half

Our annual tradition.

Hap__ Birth__ to ___.

Hap__ Birth__ to ___.

Hap__ Birth__ dear___ and____.

Hap__ Birth__ to ___!

Half Birthday. Half song. Half cake.

We enjoyed the half celebration with a wholesome meal. Thanks, Amy, for introducing this to us three years ago!

Another year

Greyhound Rock, peeking through the reeds

Wedding bouquet: my favorite thing about weddings...

Rock drawings made by my daughter: a birthday gift to me!

My birthday this year was extra special.

It began in bed, with a lovely home-made breakfast delivered by my children and husband. There was even a tiny bouquet of flowers from our garden, which I am sure was picked by little hands.

The middle part of the day was spent at Greyhound Rock: the site of our wedding, and arguably my favorite spot in Santa Cruz. The sky was brilliant blue, the water was even bluer (is that a word?), and we found a protected spot away from the cool breeze.

To end the day, we attended one of our friends' wedding! I loved seeing beautiful flowers everywhere, happy people all around, and the bride and groom commencing their lives together.

We left before the beautiful cake was cut (it was getting late!), but I am sure it was as sweet as the couple!

Happy wedding day Madeleine and Rhi! And thank you everyone for another happy birthday!

Teddy's Birthday Party

Around here, there are many birthdays.  Most of them belong to the stuffed animals, so loved that they must be given birthday parties almost weekly.

Sometimes I buy into it, and actually bake cupcakes, and join in the fun.  This was a couple of days ago, when Teddy Robinson turned three.  Claire made him a birthday crown, and blew the candles for him. 

And of course, the cupcakes were enjoyed by all!

Birthday Art

Claire's house

Momo's Ocean

The kids had their first official birthday party today. They will not turn five until Wednesday, but today was their day to celebrate with some of their school friends.

We chose to go to Blue Apple Studios to create some art before devouring in cupcakes! The kids had a great time, and all created masterpieces that I hope they will cherish for a long time!

Thanks, Cayce, for a great time!

Birthday-Addendum

Our tummies full.
Our children asleep.
What a lovely day it was.