It’s a busy (and expensive!) month for us.
I also always take a few days off around this time each year so that I can have a little staycation for my birthday, take Caleb out for his, and throw his party.
My mini staycation this year ran from Thursday, the 17th through Tuesday, the 22nd and it was glorious… and busy… and filled with cake. Lots and lots of leftover cake.
My birthday celebrations kicked off the night before my birthday. At the library, we all have an evening that we work, and mine is Wednesday. My birthday fell on a Thursday this year, and my Wednesday night crew had a little celebration for me at work.
Not only did I walk in to signs, balloons, and banners all over the place at work (many exclaiming that I was now 30!), the girls also got me a delicious cannoli cake from one of my favorite bakeries, and a birthday crown which they wrote “30” on. They sent me home with the leftovers, and Caleb enjoyed it over the next couple of days (as did I!).
We allow cake for breakfast in this house during Birthday Week Extravaganza, you know.
The next day was my actual birthday and my first day off. Ahh. Time to relax… and start prep for Caleb’s birthday party the following night. I dropped him off to school in the morning and ran some errands with my mom. We picked up the key for the lodge we rented for Caleb’s party, ran to Abbott’s to pick up frozen custard for his party, then went to get him at school. We made a quick stop at Target where I buy Holden’s formula because a snowstorm was coming over the weekend and I was afraid we’d run out, then we went to do our weekly grocery shop at Aldi which was packed because of panicked people. Sigh.
Later that evening, Jerry and I packed up the kids and we headed to one of our favorite restaurants for my birthday dinner with my parents: Bella Pasta. Though the kids were whinier than usual, the food was delicious as always. My parents also went and picked up my cake at the bakery next door and it was — hands down — the best cake I have ever had. It was a brownie/cookie dough monstrosity. Cookie dough was squished in between layers of brownies. It was topped with frosting, more dough, M&M cookies, Oreos, and sprinkles. The cake was massive so I cut up the leftovers and froze it. Jerry and I may have finished that off yesterday (though it was MOSTLY me). Oops.
I got some beautiful new decor from Jerry and my parents for my birthday. I picked it all out, so I wasn’t surprised, but I was very pleased! I got a Valentine’s Day banner and handmade mouse from my parents, and some primitive plates and grungy decor from Jerry. I also demanded he get me a card so that I would have at least one small surprise, and he did good: an adorable card covered with dogs, and a sweet message inside.
Anyway, Jerry couldn’t get the day off due to a work meeting, so my mom did a lot of running around with me (thank you!). We made stops at a number of stores to get last minute items, and also picked up his amazing cake (from the cannoli cake place!). Like last year, we got him a cookie / brownie cake, but it was KFC themed, and the baker made chicken wings out of rice crispies… can you say amazing?
As always, it was very hectic and stressful for Jerry and me as the hosts of the party. We gobbled down some food, barely sat, and corralled Caleb to open his presents. Not only did we have KFC and cake, we also had an ice cream sundae bar that my mom wanted to do for him since he loves his frozen custard. We had lots of toppings for everyone to choose from… yum.
Luckily, the party wound down around 8:00 and a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders. Caleb had a blast and got some really nice gifts. I also got some really sweet gifts (and homemade cookies!) from my friends Catie and Christine… so sweet of them to think of me. Now that the party was over, I could finally relax for the rest of my staycation!
Saturday the big snow storm rolled in. I had an oil change scheduled, and got home from that just in the nick of time. After that, I didn’t leave the house until Tuesday, even canceling book club on Monday. We got over 18 inches of snow, I think. Yikes.
After I got my car back, the rest of the day was a lazy one spent around the house. Jerry and I watched Ocean’s 8 that night. I thought it was pretty good and had such a great cast.
Sunday was another super lazy day. I read a lot (Dear Evan Hansen for book club… so good) and watched two movies: Slender Man which was terrible, and Slumber Party Massacre which was also terrible but in that fun, campy, 80s horror movie way. Caleb had fun all day running around playing with his new toys from his party. Jerry and I exclaimed a few times that he’d been so well behaved all weekend. Perhaps it’s a 4 year old thing?
Monday was another day at home. I read, watched TV, attempted to nap. Jerry braved the cold to go to Wegmans because Caleb needed a birthday treat for school the next day.
Tuesday was Caleb’s big day… his 4th birthday! I got him all ready for school and went outside to brush off the car for the first time since the storm rolled in. We were getting ready to head out when we received a text that school was canceled for the day due to a heating issue. Sheesh! Luckily, Caleb didn’t care.
Since Caleb would have been getting out of school at 12, Jerry took a half day and left work at 12 so we could celebrate the big birthday boy. We headed to Chuck E Cheese with my mom and met up with my nephew and sister in law. We got pizza, a warm cookie cake, and watched the kids play and have a blast. Whenever Chuck E came out, I was shocked to see that Caleb would follow him and do the dance moves with him… my shy, timid boy! I loved seeing that!
After that, I had to run some errands, which included picking up a couple of doll chairs I found on Marketplace (I collect primitive dolls). When I got home, we gave Caleb his presents: a Little Live Pets Dream Puppy, some felt money (he loves to play store and goes: “Welcome to my store, Mommy. How can I help you?”), and a vintage Little People doll house (he loves doll houses). He was so excited about each and every gift, which is what is so fun about that age. He said the puppy was his favorite, but I think it was actually his doctor set that he got from my aunt. He’s been playing doctor for days and checking my heartbeat and giving me shots. Haha.
Now my little staycation is over and I’m back to work! Today is Jerry’s birthday, but he wanted to celebrate tomorrow instead since it’ll be Friday. I’m having a little pizza party for him at home with my parents and brother’s family too. Instead of a cake, Jerry requested I make his favorite snickerdoodle bars, and we already stocked up on our new favorite ice cream It should be a fun night. I still wanted to acknowledge his actual birthday today though, so I think we’re going out to dinner after work. I also gave him his gifts this morning: a space heater for work, an Adidas sweatshirt he wanted, and a Bluray of From Dusk Till Dawn. As you know, we love horror and are trying to grow our collection. This movie is a classic and one of his favorites.
It’s been a week of fun festivities, and way too many sweets and cake. On the plus side, I’ve been working out on our new treadmill nearly every day though, so it’s been ALMOST guilt free.
Almost.
I’m ready to celebrate Jerry tomorrow, then wrap up our Birthday Week Extravaganza for the year! Is it lucky or sad for Holden that his birthday is in September? I think lucky, but who knows.
Until next January!
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