The birthday

It's official.

I reigned in my motherly emotions just fine and managed to enjoy Amber's day without getting weepy or depressed. Jay and Rose woke me up at 5 something AM yesterday morning to say happy birthday to me. They were so excited about the double birthday, I couldn't be upset at the early wakeup. Thankfully they left Amber alone and she slept in till 7:30am and then opened her presents after breakfast. Jeff was at work so we saved one present for Amber to open after dinner when Daddy was home. Jay and Rose were so enthusiastic and excited about Amber's gifts, they basically opened them for her. At least she liked playing with the wrapping paper and gift bags. I spent all morning defending Amber and trying to let her play with her own gifts. She loved them once she finally got her hands on them.

Jay gave Amber a wheely cart full of abc blocks. Rose gave her a darling set of Little People: Sleeping Beauty and the three fairies. Jeff and I gave her a Little People carriage and Jeep. That's a funny story--I was looking for some sort of vehicle for Amber to use with the little people Rose was giving her, and an Amazon seller had this cute horse and carriage. It was used and the description said it came with a jeep too. Well, the whole bundle was only$9 so I figured it was worthwhile. The carriage and jeep ended up being enormous! So Amber had piles of giant presents! Ha, one year old Jay and one year old Rose got one present each. Spoil the last baby, right? Ha, with used toys!

I took up the challenge to get a picture of Amber next to her new blocks spelling out her name. I have a similar picture of one year old Jay, and since Amber got ABC blocks too, I figured it was my photographic duty to replicate the picture.

one year old Jay

My birthday presents: last winter I found my dream jacket on sale and bought it. It's been waiting in my drawer for my birthday for 10 months! It was ahhhmazing to finally get it out and wear it at last. The weather obligingly cooled off for my birthday so I actually could wear my present. This thing is rated to -5 degrees, light as a feather (5 oz), and packs down into its own pocket. Go Eddie Bauer! I actually got myself another birthday present too--I've had my eye on these cool blocks called Citi Blocks for years and last month they went on super sale on Amazon, so I got a bunch and saved them for my birthday. Rose and I were mesmerized by building with them--they can be balanced and stacked in astoundingly complex configurations. Jeff gave me the crown jewel to our Harry Potter audio book collection: book #4. We have all six of the other Harry Potter books on CD, but for some reason we never got book 4. Now our collection is complete and we can listen to Jim Dale in his element, recounting the dramatic Triwizard Tournament. Yes!

My birthday "present" from my kids: I corralled them into the backyard and made them pose for a few sibling pictures to warm my mommy-heart in later years. Those gems need a post of their own.

 My sweet jacket and the Citi blocks.

Birthday dinner was mac and cheese of course, and everyone inhaled their mac--good thing I made a double batch! It was a veritable VAT of mac. We had peas on the side--Amber's favorite veggie. Then it was cake time--pumpkin roll! There's no dramatic cake failure story to go along with this birthday--I'm well practiced at making pumpkin rolls. After the first time my sister and I tried making one 7 or 8 years ago and dropped the entire cake onto the floor, I learned my lesson and now making it is a breeze. I made the pumpkin roll the day before and while I was at it I made some extra batter for 6 little cupcakes too. The kids got cupcakes and the parents got pumpkin roll. Cream cheese frosting for the win!

perfect pumpkin roll on a tiny plate.

birthday mac and peas.

Rose blew out Amber's candle before Amber really had a chance to do much with it (typical). Amber ate almost her whole cupcake, frosting part first. After that mess was cleaned up Amber opened her last present (the carriage) and Jeff gave me my last present (HP 4).We all played with Amber's presents till bedtime. Happy birthday!

We have a one year old.

(and a 29 year old)