The view from my window on my birthday. Lovely!
We just wrapped up birthday season at our house. Five birthdays within a month.
There were some huge highlights to my big day.
The weather was lovely for winter. I love Oregon's temperate winter weather since I hate being cold. It was sunny with black skies. Those stereotypes about the grey skies, even when it's sunny are true. And sorry-but I love that.
First thing when I woke up and came downstairs, Sam said he needed to tell me something. I expected birthday greetings, or something like that. Instead he whispered, "I have an idea for our last hiding spot for our elf. Tonight I think you should hide him in the basket of ornaments on the black table." Now this was particularly funny because the ONLY reason we have "elf on the shelf" is because of Sam. Noah hasn't believed in Santa or any sort of elf for years. And while Andrew loved looking for the elf every morning, he was barely two and certainly doesn't "get it." As far as I knew, Sam was our only "believer." Apparently we have no believers and I have no idea how/when that happened. And furthermore, I am so curious about why he whispered. Did he think Noah believes?
Another joy was asking the kids pick out some costumes for our nativity later that with cousins. Noah came into my room to tell me something and was wearing an old Captain Jack Sparrow costume he loved when he was 4 (seven years ago) -- reincarnated as a shepherd. He may be a tween in all it's glory, but he still is creative and a little boy, I love that about him.
Every year for Mother's Day and my birthday I tell the kids I want "peace and quiet." They aren't super good at giving that particular gift because... HAVE YOU MET MY KIDS?! But then I ran across this quote on Brene Brown's facebook page and I thought it was beautiful. I know I can control the level of peace in my life. And so I enjoyed peace from within that day. And it was super nice.
