A Most Serendipitous Birthday

If you have been patiently following this blog, you might notice that I am quite enthralled with the kismetian aspect of life.  I enjoy those 'chance occurences', those 'coincidental oddities', those 'only we could have this happen to' moments.

And this past birthday has proven, once again, that my little family certainly flies close together while we are miles apart.

Many years ago, my sisters and I would laugh, long distance, about how we managed to send our parents the same or very similar card for some important occasion.  We often sent each other the same cards for holidays.  Fun, family stuff.

But my little gang really did it this time.

 This past summer, during one of our rare visits as a group, Eldest/Administrator and Baby Girl and I, stumbled upon a most delightful booth at our local Farmer's Market.  Pam Voorhies  http://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LittleRedPorch has put together a 'little' business of making signs with all sorts of heartfelt, whimsical sayings on them, expertly combining colors and fonts to please the eye and to decorate your abode.   Needless to say, E/A, BG and I were smitten.  E/A found a sign perfect for her Hazel Jane's bedroom and I. Found. Mine.

Those that know me, know my love for my porch.  ALL of my porches from each stage of my married life.

  I plan each winter as to the layout of each year's porch, that important summer room. I have utilized the tiniest of screened in porches, rejoiced in a windowed in porch in my first married apartment and now glory in my broad eaved veranda that has been our seasonal perch for fifteen summers now.

Life slows down on the porch. 

 You are out there for only one reason: to relax.  There are no dishes to do on the porch.  There are no bathrooms to clean on the porch.  There are only cooling breezes, books and magazines to read and people to draw into this lovely.

 The conversations that have taken place on my porch, go deeper than most.  Secrets are shared, hearts are exposed and burdens are lifted.  Magical.  Spiritual.

At the time of the discovery of  Little Red Porch and it's goodness, I could not justify the expense for such a treat that I really didn't know where it would even go in my already overladen walls.  And E/A so wanted a sign as well.  I sighed, put my little covetousness on the shelf and went on my way.

But I kept thinking about the porch sign.

  Every week at Farmer's Market, I visited 'my' sign.  One week, I saw where she had come up with another one that stated, 'Life is Better on the Farm'.  PERFECT for BG's in laws.  I quickly messaged BG and her MIL and let them know that they had to get that sign toot sweet.  And they did.  And I was just the teensiest bit jealous at their good fortune.

Several times, I visited LRP's etsy and several times I was tempted.  But Hubby and I are on limited income these days since Retirement visited our home.  So I would acquiesce.

Then one day, I had a brilliant idea.  As you know, my family has a Code Word that is just for us.  LYSMICETY will show up on our notes, cards and banners. (http://sonowiknow.blogspot.com/2012/02/lysmicety.html ) Love You So Much I Can't Even Tell You is our slogan, our motto, our family solidarity.  I thought it was highly appropriate, for Christmas, to tell each of them and their families in solid, colorful, wood.  Something that will survive the years and remind them each of their importance in this family.  I could envision cousins being comforted in knowing that they belonged to each other as they visited each other's homes...

Quick as a bunny, I sent LRP and the lovely Pam a message and the process began.  I told her I was in no hurry as Christmas was many weeks away.

MEANWHILE,
 in lands far away, some Birthday Gift Planning was taking place, unbeknownst to me.

The time came when the signs were dry and ready to be picked up at Pam's Little Red Porch in a little town nearby.  I looked at my burgeoning schedule and tried to figure out how to pick up all of the signs in a timely manner.  (I do not drive and thus the arrangements.)

LRP contacted me that she was going to be headed my way and would I prefer to just meet her at the local MickyD's to make the exchange of goods and services.  I was gleeful at the ease of it and the prospect of viewing the ordered signs.

Halloween Night came with a chill, so Hubby and I decided to kindle the fireplace so that we could roast hot dogs for supper as we answered the door to the ghoulies and ghosties of Halloween.  We informed Youngest Son that this was commencing in the Big House and he could not resist a good inside weinie roast with the prospect of viewing costumed little ones at our door.

In the course of our fireside chat, I mentioned that I had an early morning meeting at McDonalds.  YS was very intrigued as to the reason: 1 Why  I would have an early morning meeting.  2.  That it would be at McDonalds.  I noticed that for a fireside chat, he was awfully interested in his cell phone, but in this day and age, it's not terribly unexpected.  I also couldn't help but notice that he asked me Three Times why I was going to McDonalds at 9am.

Being the kind of mother that I am, I replied to his queries, 'None of your business.'

When I refused to tell his nosy self, he responded to me (after much consulting to his cell screen, communicating with E/A, that I really needed to tell him since HE had a 9am meeting at McDonalds as well......

The roar of laughter that emitted from me was epic.
I could not believe the coincidence regarding the whole situation.
I could not believe that two orders headed to the same house without any pre planning, landed at the same early morning drop off by the same innocent artist who HAD NO IDEA THE TWO ORDERS WERE IN THE LEAST CONNECTED! 

What fun it was to pick up the orders and have a good giggle with Pam as to her unsuspecting complicity!
What fun to see my children ban together to get their poor mama the sign that she kept referring to and whining over!
What fun to see what the whole scenario means to us!
What fun to see O'Henry sacrificial giving in action!
What fun to now have my beloved sign on my wall and all the fun filled meaning that it has to me!

Thank you Pam at Little Red Porch for your talent and time!

Thank you, dear children, for making your mama's 60th memorable and sweet - you all are the best....

(ps.  Baby Girl's birthday card came in the mail today - compare it to E/A's...Similiar?  I think so....Love. It.)

Mimi Does Birthday Week

 I saw quite a bit of this little face this past week.  This little person was my constant shadow and bud while Mimi helped Eldest/Admin, and for this post to be known as Viv's Mom, nest for the New Baby.  While nest conjures up sticks and grass and mud, this nest involved lots of paint and fabric and sweat and strength.  And Fun.  Always Fun when it involves a Three Year Old.

 In the quest to acclimate Miss Viv to the reality that her world will soon be rocked by a sibling, Mimi and Viv's Mom found it important to involve Miss Viv on all levels of the process of moving her to the Big Sister Room and preparing Little Sister's New Room (formerly Miss Viv's Room).  This included introducing the little sprite to her  queen size bed in the New Room, formerly known as The Guest Room/Office.  As you can imagine, a move of this scale required much pre work from Viv's Mom.  Much sorting, storing, filing, and memory lane travel.  By the time I arrived last week, VM had done the foundational work so that the grunt work was ready for Mimi. Viv's Daddy had his own project, finishing the downstairs bathroom in time for the arrival of the Queen, otherwise known as the 32 week preborn.
Some serious redo was in the plan and this Mimi wasted no time getting to work.....

 We (Miss Viv and I) painted.  She had a small roller and a teeny paint brush to help with the cause.  After a grand total of ten minutes, she proclaimed it too hard and settled for watching me, playing around me and talking to me constantly about the most interesting of things.




We took breaks, sure.
We played outside on the most delightful of early spring days.
We went down the slide and uncovered some sand box toys from under the deck.
We went to gymnastics class where we galloped with the young mama's and kids and played on all the equipment.  Mimi refrained from doing her cartwheels for which she is known.  Sadly, the cartwheels went into retirement about 10 years ago after a realization that a hip broken could be more catastrophic than broken pride in the doing.  Nevertheless, Mimi managed to skip and hop and gallop in a careful way.
We pulled out some vintage Lite Brite and let her organize the pretty colored pegs and jars and lids in the best OCD way.
 

 We went to Whole Foods for lunch and supplies.
We sat there like a little lady while Mimi ate her weight in the best salad bar ever. Miss Viv, being all of three years old, managed to eat all her veggies and fruit so she could have some cornbread.  Very Good, Viv.


My little friend has a most wonderful imagination.
She managed to keep her little self very occupied while her Mimi and Mama were involved in our Nesting Projects.  We would hear her talking to her dolls, making 'coffee' for us, bring us 'cake' and other imaginary foods, to replenish our energy.  She kept herself occupied with her extensive library, bringing books to me in the middle of painting a wall and I figured the wall just needed to wait while I shared a story or two with this good little girl.....

  When the painting was finished and it was time to bring out Mimi's Sewing Machine, Miss Viv was eager to watch the whole process.  She got on the floor with me as I measured and cut.  She helped me take it to the table.  And she climbed up on my lap, very interested in this magical machine.  Miss Viv was appointed my pin remover and became very adept at it.  The tomato pin cushion, which my own little munchkins played with while I sewed for them years ago, once again, enchanted another generation of wannabe sewists.








Is there anything more entertaining than a conversation with a three year old?  Their explanations, questions, logic and manipulations are incredibly fun and guileless.  If the world followed the thinking a a three year old, there would be more hugging and more honesty in this world.  This jaded 58 year old certainly appreciated the time spent with this refreshing little three year old.  She kept me laughing and crying at the same time.


And then the Real Reason for the visit finally arrived:  Miss Viv's Third Birthday!


Her Mom (which is apparently what you call your mama when you turn three) and I worked very hard so that by the time Friday arrive,we could celebrate her day without interruption.  Her patient tolerance of our tasks and projects, made us all the more willing to clear the day for her. 
The day dawned clear and sunny following a very rainy day.
It was a good sign.


We proceeded into the day with a visit from Designing Friend, someone that knew VM from her days as a tiny baby well into the age that Viv was now celebrating.  She brought gifts too, so that was fun for all of us.


Next up, lunch at Chick fil a, a favorite haunt for Mimi and Viv.


Then off to Glendale to Bluebird Bakery http://bluebirdbakeryandcafe.com/ for the yummiest birthday cake ever.  Normally, Mimi would have made her cake but this year, it was more important to keep myself in the paint instead of the flour.  We all appreciated the detour.  Glendale has the tradition of having large squirrel sculptures located through out the city, often decorated by the owners of businesses nearby.  Bluebird Bakery has their squirrel painted a delightful bluebird blue.  And Vivie loved it.  Of course.


When we arrived home, Vivie found Papa at her house! He had taken off work to help us celebrate!  What a treat!

With Papa in tow, it was time to take a visit to the nearby Disney Store in the Kenwood Mall http://www.kenwoodtownecentre.com/.  Since Miss Viv  is now three, she has developed a passion for all things Toy Story and her very astute mama knew that a visit there would be the perfect thing to round out her day.  
And it was.
Entranced and focused, she entered and played out the perfect ad for the store.  A small girl following the trail of her favorite movie characters, hugging the stuffed animals and watching in awe the ginormous video screen that is placed near the check out.  Those Disney marketers certainly know what they are doing.
We all bit and promptly purchased her favorites but in a covert way.  While she was watching excerpts from Disney's best, her Mom and her Papa quietly set off to purchase her surprises.
When it came time to leave, this Mimi dreaded the time when she would have to release the toys that she had been hugging since we entered the Magic Store.  But true to her trooper form, as her mama told her to tell the toys good by and to put them back in their beds to visit another day, she did obediently, without one issue of protest, placing them back on the shelf.  This Mimi sighed in appreciation for the good discipline her mama places on her and the rules and regulations and abundance of patience that she exhibits with Dear Viv.  A warmly proud moment of all three of my little family; mama, daddy and little sweetie.  Sigh.

The day was so packed that we had to talk to Aunt Tarly in the car.  Viv loves her Aunt Tarly.

 We returned home to fetch her daddy so that he could accompany us to http://www.apontespizza.com/about_us.html Pizza Time at Apontes. The friendly people at Apontes even helped us celebrate by putting our pepperoni in the shape of a '3'.  Sweet.

 Surprise! Surprise!  After pizza time, we came home to find her auntie, grandma and three cousins from Georgia and Illinois, at her house, waiting to share her birthday cake.


As the day wound down and the Birthday Girl prepared for bed, her little head spinning with the events of the day and her mama and Mimi reflecting on the wonder of the day and the purpose for it, we were very thankful.....


Is one little girl worth all the planning, all the hoopla, all the time?


Yes.


They all are.

Enjoy your sweeties on their birthdays and everyday......

Queenies for a Day

 I'm a big birthday fan.  I believe that it is important to celebrate, in a big way, the creation that is you.  I believe that it is not a vain occupation, oh no.  I believe that it is a God Honoring thing to celebrate that your creation was very important to God in the huge, grand scheme of things.
I believe that if we are drawing breath, there is a purpose, an intentional purpose by our awesome Creator for your place on this sod.  And that, my friend, is something to celebrate.

 

So if I think that each one has merit and value in God's eyes, just imagine how silly I can get over my own dear grandgirls.














The days that they were introduced into this world was a big, big deal. 
 My life was changed beyond all reason and how their lives will affect this world is something so exciting to me that I get goosebumps just thinking of the possibilities.




Birthday Days are wonderful to a crafting Grammy.  There are birthday banners to make, birthday outfits to think about and now, the ever popular birthday crown to prepare for the noggin of the little girlies new year.




The tradition started with Miss Viv sharing her birthday week with her Unca Joco.  Unca Joco was very clear that on each year, he would prepare a Birthday chapeau, singling out the two of them from the lessers, birthday wise.  When the first birthday approached, I could see that Unca Joco might need some assistance to accomplish the goal of proper hattage for The Day


I cannot tell you how much fun I have making these crowns.
I love the feel of pearl cotton.
I love the vibrant colors.
I love the gaiety of them.
I love that they make me smile.






So, I thinks, if I get so much entertainment from such a simply made item, wouldn't everyone?  (Or at least a few more outside my inner circle)






As I traveled recently from hither and yon, my felt and my pearl cotton were nearby.  Nothing makes grandchildren miles go faster than making sweet little flowers and vines circling a tiny ring of felt destined to a small tike's head.






Soon, very soon, the Yet To Be Personalized Crowns shall adorn my Etsy site for your enjoyment as well.  I can embroider your most special Birthday Child's name on the front for you to make it a truly one of a kind gift that could last far into their twenties and beyond.  (Notice I said grandchild, because even though I have no male grandchildren, I hear that they are out there.  I intentionally made some crowns with not flowery like embellishment but kingly jewels and suns...)

If you are of the opinion that each life is to be celebrated big and would like to eschew the papery kind of birthday hats, then this crown's for you...




Celebrate each day as a gift.
But celebrate your little ones special day with crown made just for them......