(no subject)

Brad took the girls shopping a couple of days ago for my birthday. I wasn't sure how I felt about this. I liked the last few years where they made me something, usually drew me a picture or something. But Mari especially was not satisfied with that this year. If someone could have helped her make me something other than a crayon drawing, I think we could have satisfied her, but daddy has no clue and no one else was around to help. She was asking to "buy" something for me. So Brad took them all three shopping and I got three very sweet, personal gifts last night. Mari bought me a book. She picked it out entirely by herself based on the picture on the cover, a pretty girl in a 19th Century dress. Lots of lace. A parasol. Right up Mari's alley. Brad, of course, made sure it was something I might actually read and enjoy. It is a silly little romance, but harmless. She was so proud of herself. Zoe bought me a ring. Costume jewelry, but she has good taste in colors. It has "crystals" and "pretty rocks" in it and that just thrilled her to the marrow of her bones. Zoe and her rocks. I can actually wear this ring and I like it. It will go with just about everything I own. Luci bought me a bag of Hersey's kisses. She understood they were "kisses" and chocolate and was so excited she couldn't stand still.

I don't think I can really put into words how sweet it was to open those gifts that the girls were SO insanely excited about giving me, watching their faces, their squeals and hugs and "do you like it, mommy?"'s. To feel all the love in that room. Birthdays lose their luster in early adulthood, I think. Lose the excitement and wonder you feel as a kid about having a special day like that. For the last 10 years or so my birthdays have been little different from any other day. Yesterday was the first birthday since I was a kid that held some of the magic of childhood. That was the best gift of all.

How is it possible that I lived before they were here?

(no subject)

My sister is going to have a boy! Yay! I love little nephews. I have two so far, and I have three nieces. We needed to even the score on my side of the family. With my three girls and my two nieces on that side, the boys are sadly outnumbered. I wonder what they will name him? My BIL, who is a Greek Orthodox Priest of Mexican heritage, picks some seriously weird names. I think my sister has had a calming influence and they have Gabriel David and Nina Pilar so far. Both very Orthodox, Latino, and pronounceable by the rest of our family. Naming Nina was interesting and tense for awhile (Theodosia was in there at one point. I can't even remember some of the others. They were virtually un-prounceable for some of the family.) I'm sure this one will be no different. Let the naming games begin!