1-2-3

Today is my birthday. I have always loved my birthday. Not only does it give me something to look forward to during January, the most depressing month of the year, but I have also always loved that the date is 1-2-3.

Growing up, every year my family would wake me up by singing Happy Birthday. I would hear them gathering in my room (a family of eight kids doesn't gather anywhere quietly) but I would pretend to stay asleep until the familiar song filled my room. Once they had sung, I knew my birthday had officially begun and I loved having a day that was solely dedicated to things I liked. My mom let me choose my favorite food for dinner and she always ordered me a fancy cake with my name and lots of flowers from Mrs. Backer's Pastry shop.

My sixteenth birthday was especially magical. (No, much to my shock and dismay, I didn't wake up to find a convertible with a big red bow parked in the driveway - I'm still waiting for that to happen.) There were however, two significant events that took place that day: my first Diet Coke and my first date.

Growing up my mom wouldn't let us drink caffeine at all. She would always tell us that if we chose, we could start drinking caffeinated soda when we were sixteen. So, for my sixteenth birthday, she and my grandma, Lulu, took me out to lunch at the University Park Hotel and bought me my first Diet Coke with lemon - thus beginning one of the most enduring love affairs of my life. Diet Coke and Me. Thanks Mom.

Coming from a family who couldn't drink Diet Coke until age sixteen, you better believe that I couldn't date until I was sixteen - not even high school dances. So imagine how thrilled I was when Junior Prom fell on my actual sixteenth birthday and I got asked to go by my junior high crush. As I got dressed for the dance - putting on my new Laura Ashley floral dress with puffed sleeves and a big bow in back and my pastel pink pumps (it was 1988 after all) - I knew that even the most romantic John Hughes movie could not compete with the reality that was my life. It was better than Molly Ringwald. It was magic.

Another memorable birthday occurred ten years ago. On that birthday, the love of my life took me to the Lincoln Memorial and in front of the reflecting pool, got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said "yes" and I threw my arms around him - thus beginning another enduring love affair of my life. Andrew and Me. Besides the day of my actual birth, that was the most life-changing birthday I've had and I am so grateful that ten years ago today - and everyday since, Andrew chose me and I chose him.

So that brings us to today. Andrew is at work today and I am home. I woke up this morning with a kiss from my husband as he headed out the door and to a kitchen decorated with bright balloons for my birthday (our family tradition). My kids all wished me a Happy Birthday and gave me birthday kisses but since then I have fixed a sack lunch, gotten four kids dressed, changed three diapers, taken Abby to school, done two loads of laundry, taken a shower, and cleaned the kitchen. Tonight we are going out to dinner as a family and there are two presents for me to open. It's not quite the magic of my birthday as a child and lacks the drama of a John Hughes film, but it's still my birthday and I love it.

Letting Go

So, Peter turned six months old last week - and I have a confession to make: he still sleeps in a bassinet right next to my bed - the same bassinet he slept in the day he came home from the hospital. His head almost touches the top of the bed, and his toes nearly touch the bottom and he has no space to role over, but I am not quite ready to let him go.


I have always had a tough time letting my kids move on to the next phase of life - especially when they are babies. I remember when Abby was about a week old, my mom said something like: "It's amazing to see how she grows everyday." With that I burst into tears and couldn't stand to think how fleeting the days with my baby were. "She is growing too fast", I wailed.

I still have a hard time getting rid of clothes that my kids have outgrown. Every season when we pack up the clothes that are too small, I feel a pang of nostalgia, reflecting on the memories that were created in those clothes and the fact that my babies won't be babies forever.

In any case, I assumed as I had more children it would get easier to let my babies grow up - but I was wrong. I realize now even more than I did with Abby, how quickly these days go by and I try even harder to hold on to these little ones.

So, the other night as I was lying in bed, thinking that it was probably time to move Peter out of the bassinet and out of my room, I lost all resolve as I heard his gentle breathing as he slept peacefully and the darling sound of him sucking his binky. I guess I'll keep him around just a little longer. I'm not quite ready to send him out into the harsh world of sharing a room with his brother.

Christmas Highlights

We had a great Christmas season and it's hard to believe it's over! I didn't do a very good job documenting the small moments of the Season, but here are some highlights:

Notice Andrew's pride and joy: the huge tree in our backyard Andrew climbed and spent four hours stringing lights in. It can be seen from all over the neighborhood.

-We went to bed on Christmas Eve with snow falling gently and woke up to a White Christmas. It was perfect!

-Attended the live Nativity in Bonneville Glen, starring Macy and Ryan.
-Took Abby to Ballet West's production of the Nutcracker.

-We took the kids to the Candlelight Christmas at Pioneer Village. It was a huge hit with everyone but Peter.

-Had a fun book exchange and late-night chatting with the neighborhood book group.

-Attended Abby and Isaac's respective school programs. Abby's class did a fantastic "Feliz Navidad" replete with maracas and Isaac made a stunning soldier as his class sang "Santa's Toyshop."

-Most nights we ate dinner by candlelight as we watched our German Nativity Pyramid go around and around.


-We took the kids to see the lights on Temple Square.


-Ate dinner, made ornaments and sang carols with the Christophersons.
-Went caroling with some neighbors to the homes of other neighbors. Topped off the night with some hot chocolate and fun conversation.

-Went caroling with Andrew's family after dinner at Hire's.
-Christmas party with friends in Midway.

-Had Andrew's family to our house for dinner on the 23rd. Chatted until after midnight.
-Had my family over for brunch on Christmas morning. Served yummy French Toast Casserole with fresh fruit, whipped cream and maple syrup. YUM!

-Read a Christmas book with my kids every night curled up by the Christmas tree, .
-Watched the kids perform the Nativity twice - once with Andrew's family and once with my family. 

Joseph and Mary in the first Nativity production.

Henry, the flamboyant but sweet angel with a chocolate stained shirt in the first Nativity.

Abby and Isaac again as Mary and Joseph, Henry as a subdued shepherd. 

Peter's helmet created a nice halo effect as he portrayed Baby Jesus.

-We talked to my brother Peter who is serving a mission in Chile.

-Ate crab legs and Christmas salad in my parents beautiful new kitchen on Christmas Eve.
-Took Abby and Isaac to see "Enchanted" with my mom and sister. Abby gave it two enthusiastic thumbs-up. Isaac gave it a fairly indifferent thumbs-down.
-Celebrated New Years with good friends, fun conversation and some pretty decent Chinese food.

Henry, moments after waking on Christmas morning - sitting on the train table with chocolate already running down his chin.

-Had a wonderful Christmas morning with our kids thrilled with their Christmas gifts. All the stress of holiday shopping, is totally worth it for those amazing few hours.

Peter taking a long winters nap.

Now, the low lights:

-Took the kids Christmas shopping for each other on a crazy Monday night at Target. Abby was the only one who grasped the concept of shopping for others. Isaac and Henry spent most of the night choosing toys for themselves and whining when we didn't buy them.
-I had hernia surgery two days after Christmas. It wasn't terrible - but it wasn't great either. Surgery isn't usually considered "holiday fun."
-The day after my surgery Abby, Isaac and Peter were all sick with a stomach virus. Two words: Projectile vomit. (Eventually, we all had a touch of the virus. Henry was the only one who didn't get sick and I believe it's because he chewed and swallowed so much gum on Christmas, he now has steel-belted lining in his stomach.)

All in all, it was an amazing month and a wonderful Christmas and there's a part of me that is sad that's it over. I get very nostalgic when I think how precious these Christmases are when my kids are young and believing and our house is full of all kinds of magic for one full month.