The big 3-3...

On my birthday morning, I woke up to the sun shining, and thought...It's my BIRTHDAY!!!

Growing up, I was the rare bird who had her birthday in the late winter.  Three siblings were summer babies, and two right at Christmas.  So, my day was always a special day.  A reason to celebrate after the holidays!

Through my adult years, there have been years of parties, and extravagant trips, and restaurant tours.  And there have been years spent in the PICU with Max, and a year I was terribly sick with strep and two ear infections.

This year, Steve offered up many ideas of fun, but, I just had one request.  I wanted to do what I wanted to, when I wanted to do it, with whom I wanted to.  Basically, I just wanted to have a day all about me.

Well, like always, he pulled through and made it a wonderful birthday.

I got out of bed to find him gone, but he left a note.


And indeed, Max's medicine was made, and his food was ready to feed him.


And the kettle was warm.


Oh, and this little spread.


And a gift.


GLASS BLOWING!!!!!!!

While I was getting Max ready to eat, my mom called.  She wanted me to open the gift from her, so I got it torn open and found this.


Very soft, and very cozy!!

Steve and George got home as I was getting around and we got out for lunch at the park.  Then went into a couple of shops I've been wanting to check out.

And then got ready for my sis and family to come over for birthday dinner, of bbq chicken, okra, and squash, and potatoes, and chocolate cake.

Addie met me at the door as I was getting back from the grocery store and squealed "Happy BIRTHDAAAAY!!!!".  That was a GREAT greeting!

She made a card for me and wanted me to look at it right away!



Ang asked her to tell me all about it, so she said, "This is your hair, and this is your face, and these is your eyebrows, and this is your purse, and this is your....bottom.".

After I stopped laughing, Ang explained that when she asked Addie why she had drawn a bottom on her picture she said, because people have bottoms!  Fair enough!

They also picked these flowers out.


No, it's not a mirror image.  Yes, I did get the exact same flowers from Steve and Ang.  Also, Ang and I were wearing the same outfit again.  We need to coordinate that better I think.

All in all, it was a great birthday.  I heard from my family and friends.  Got to talk to my dad and brothers on Facetime.  Got a hug from my niece who draws pictures for me.  Max was a trooper and had a fun day.  And Steve, once again, treated me like a Queen.

Two for Tea...

It's my birthday weekend.  I try to squeeze out as much celebrating of my special "day" as I can, and Steve is kind to oblige.

Today, my friend and fellow supermom, Rebecca, shares my love for the fancy and fine tea traditions.  The last time Max was in the hospital, she told me she wanted to take me to tea at the Brown Palace in Downtown Denver.



We set up the date for today,  and as a bonus, got to celebrate for my birthday.

I got to dress up, something I never get to do.  In fact, before I got my dress on, I had spent all morning in grungy sweats and leggings so as to not mess up my skirt!  It certainly felt like I was about to live an alternative life for a couple of hours once I got dressed and the transformation from house-mom, to afternoon tea attendee, occurred!

Steve wanted to get my picture outside, but goodness-gracious it was windy!


(I think I look like my dad in this photo...just the face, not the dress.)

The tea was so lovely!  I ordered black currant tea...my favorite!  Then they brought out the selections of sandwiches and scones and cakes.  Rebecca was good to point out which order we ate what!








They even brought out a little birthday treat...chocolate and raspberry mousse.






The violinist played Happy Birthday to you.  Along with other very pretty music.

It was so much fun!  And I enjoyed getting to know my friend more, something that is sometimes hard to do in monthly meetings with a large group of supermoms.




After tea, we got up and walked around the hotel a bit.  It is a grande "palace".  I loved imagining the Victorian era ladies walking around with their fine clothes and hats!



I've already been planning out who else I can take!  It was such a beautiful experience.  I'm thankful for kind friends who find the little things in life we can enjoy together!

Dreams...

I was in the house I lived in when she died.  I was walking out of the kitchen, carrying the cake she so often made; chocolate layers with white frosting, covered in coconut.

I turned the corner, and I saw her sitting in a rocking chair.  She had a denim jumpsuit on, her silver hair curled and sprayed into her perfect "do".  Her eyes shown with purple frosty eyeshadow as she smiled and said, "Happy Birthday Deana Marie!".

I dropped the cake and gasped, "Grandmama!!"... I started towards her, to hug her, and noticed she was crocheting something.  I said, "Wait, just wait right there!".

I ran up the stairs to get Max.  I knew she would be so proud to see him.  To see how big he had gotten, but I stopped in the guest room to tell my mom and sister, she was there.  She's come back for a visit, for my birthday.  I grabbed Max, and my sister grabbed my niece who never got to meet her Great- Grandmama.

As we walked to the living-room, my mom said, " I asked her to come for a visit for your birthday.".  I was smiling and laughing, so excited to get to spend some time with her before she had to go again.  When I got to the living-room where she had been, she was gone.  With the perfect birthday cake in her place.

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I woke up so disappointed.  My first thought, I should have given her a hug.  Grandmama hasn't visited me in my dreams in such a long while.  I was excited to see her.  And this is only the second time she had something to say to me.  

Whether it's my subconscious, an angel, a ghost, or being crazy, I don't care.  Whatever it is, it still moves me deeply when she comes for a visit.  And splits open the part of my heart where I keep her, and makes me miss her so much more.

Cousins sleep-over...

Growing up, slumber parties with the cousins were my favorite type.   I had 9 cousins on my dad's side of the family, and 8 on my moms...plus second and third cousins which we always just called our cousins.

Having sleepovers with family was just more natural than with friends for me.  There was no "learning" the new people, your family was just family - they already knew you.  You could eat familiar food, sleep with familiar bedding, watch movies you liked...because Uncle/Aunt and Grandparent houses were just another extension of your own house.

This weekend, I got to hold our first cousins sleepover with my niece Addie.  Although she's spent plenty of nights at our house, it's always been with her parents.  This was the first time that she was over by herself.



We had a lot of fun together.  We did decorations, which are her version of coloring, glueing and cutting. We watched shows that she and Max liked.  We listened to Princess songs and sang and danced.  We played games.  We ate her favorite basketti, and of course, Auntie had a cookie or two for her.

Max likes having her around to watch and get excited over her energy.  I think right now, he mostly likes how much she makes the dogs bark!  She is so great with her cousin Max.  Right now, as she's potty training, she is intrigued with Max being in diapers.  We always explain to her that because Max can't walk to the toilet, it isn't an accident when he has a diaper to change.  He will always have diapers to change.  Then, of course, she wants to help.  So, she helps by washing his arms and hands while I am changing his diaper.  She told me this weekend that when she is big like me, she can change his diaper, but when she is littler than Max she will clean his hands.

She still likes to sit in Max's wheelchair when he's not in it, and this time she decided she'd like to eat her lunch and watch a movie like Max does.


We played lots of games.  Games she sees all the grown-ups playing and has her own idea of how they're played.  So, I let her just set them up and tell me how we play them.  These are pretty complex games, but she and I had a fun time playing them her way.







When it was time for sleep, I expected to go upstairs with her and sleep in the guest room.  Once we got up there and put her pajamas on, she insisted that we were supposed to be sleeping in my bed.  We got it worked out that Steve would sleep with Max, and I would sleep with her. It kind of worked, and by morning, we were all snuggled up together.  All except for Steve, who preferred the floor to sharing with any kicking kids.





All in all, it was a good first cousins slumber party.  Although, next time I'll have to plan to have more basketti...she ate it all the first meal, and then that was all she wanted for the rest of the weekend!

A Picture A Day - Day 07

Day 01 – A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

Day 02 – A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.

Day 03 – A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Day 04 – A picture of your night.
Day 05 – A picture of your favorite memory.

Day 06 - A picture of a person you’d love to trade places with for a day.

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Day 07 – A picture of your most treasured item.


"Most Treasured"...not sure that I have a thing that is the most treasured item in my life, because I don't hold things very dearly.  But, I do love the fact that I have these items.  They hold sweet memories, of my Grandmas and their kitchens.  When the holidays come around, especially, I pull these items out and can go back to their hot kitchens, watching them whip up all of my favorites.  





My Granny's cake pan, My Grandmama's (was her mom's - my Nanny) sauce pan (which I'm pretty sure is the bottom to a pressure cooker), Grandmama's chicken that holds salt .  A hand stitched tea towel from my Grandma, and my Nanny's apron.  




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Day 08 – A picture that makes you laugh.
Day 09 – A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Day 10 – A picture of the person you do the craziest things with.
Day 11 – A picture of something you hate.
Day 12 – A picture of something you love.
Day 13 – A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 14 – A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
Day 15 – A picture of something you want to do before you die.
Day 16 – A picture of someone who inspires you.
Day 17 – A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
Day 18 – A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 19 – A picture of you when you were little.
Day 20 – A picture of somewhere you’d love to travel.
Day 21 – A picture of something you wish you could forget.
Day 22 – A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Day 23 – A picture of your favorite book.
Day 24 – A picture of something you wish you could change.
Day 25 – A picture of your day.
Day 26 – A picture of something that means a lot to you.
Day 27 – A picture of yourself and a family member.
Day 28 – A picture of something you’re afraid of.
Day 29 – A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30 – A picture of someone you miss.