The good thing about turning 41 is that I’ve got that whole awkward 40 thing over with. I’m not 40. Who cares whether I was 40 or I have not yet been 40; I’m not 40 now. Probably my birthdays should start working backwards from now on. Or they’ll just be birthdays, without any particular number associated with them.
I’m sure it’s very gauche to post on your actual birthday, thus guilting your readers into posting birthday wishes, but here we are. It’s quiet and I feel like posting, so post I shall. You don’t have to comment, I promise. (I will be making a list.)
One should always have birthdays at the weekend. And this has been a particularly good one to have a birthday on because entertainments have been laid on without my having to lift a finger, organizationally. (OK, I had to provide two different pot-luck dishes, but that was fine.) On Friday we had a block party, which is always great for letting the kids run wild with others in the neighbourhood while the adults stand around chatting and, um, supervising. (I brought sweet potato mini muffins and pasta sort-of-salad with semi-sundried tomatoes.)
Yesterday we went to a friend’s party on the bay, where there are kayaks to try out and paddling pools to sit in and bouncy houses to jump in and food and drink to help yourself to and friends to chat to while you take turns being the parent in the water. (I brought broccoli slaw .) It was hot but not too hot, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the shady trees, and it was just idyllic.
Catching up on some z’s on the way to the party.
You can see what a terrible time we were having.
Awful. We just had to grin and bear it.
Sadly, all that excitement has taken its toll on Mabel, who is now a banshee in 5-year-old form, picking fights with everyone. By the time I finally carted her off to bed last night she was yelling that nobody else in the world except her was allowed have a birthday, ever, and she is even now, this moment, hanging out of my arm asking me if she can get a present for my birthday. Even though they both had ice cream earlier. Sigh.
Today was more low key, with our usual Sunday morning trip to the farmers market for pastries and iced coffee (adult beverage only), and then a jaunt to Silver Spring where I had 40 minutes to myself to wander round the shops. I ogled beautiful handbags (I have very good taste in handbags; the ones I fall in love with are invariably $150 even in the discount store) and bought myself presents of expensive perfume and Urban Decay eyeshadow. Then we had low-stakes lunch in the noodle shop (pad thai for me) and the aforementioned ice cream for them.
Now I have made a peach cobbler for desert, there’s wine in the fridge, and I’m sure some sort of dinner will assemble itself. It’s been a good day. And I can still hope that Mabel will fall asleep early tonight.
Gulp, there’s a list? Happy Birthday!
Sounds like a wonderful birthday weekend. I should have thought to add “and your children will go to bed early.” to my list of wishes for your birthday this morning, so consider it added.
Happy birthday to yoooooouuuuuuuuu
Sounds like my kind of delicious and lovely weekend; hope you have a year of them ahead!
Happy Birthday. It sounds like as brilliant a weekend as it could be. Age is but a number. I love your little one trying to hijack your day.
Happy Birthday! Sounds like a wonderful day, except for banshee of course – we have two of our very own who follow us to all the birthday parties
Happy birthday! Sounds like a great time.,
Right. Looks like I’m heading up the belated list so….happy birthday x
Oh, it all sounds so awful, you are a martyr!!! So, so gauche but Happy Birthday anyway!
Thank you for the kind wishes, everyone. (You are on the list. Don’t worry; it’s a good list.)