The St. Patrick's Day Birthday Party!

We're big on traditions in our family.

Every year we celebrate Court's birthday over the St. Patrick's Day weekend 

because she was thisclose to being a St. Patrick's day baby!

Carrot cake has been her favorite since she was very little, so that's the birthday cake of choice each year (and this one was quite good, if I do say so myself!). The cake topper I use (almost) every year brings back sweet memories of her very first birthday!

My Nana's china is the star of every St. Patrick's day meal. I come from a long, proud, Irish heritage on my mom's side and our New England boiled dinner just couldn't be served on anything else!

Sunday was beautiful and sunny despite being quite chilly. But the kitchen, with the pots boiling and the oven going was hot, hot, hot, so I threw open the dining room window while I was cooking despite the cold temps.

The birthday crown rested atop the lamp shade until the birthday girl arrived.

It's the crown of honor for whoever's birthday we're celebrating. 

The birthday girl arrived and we all had a wonderful day together! 

Happy birthday, sweetie! May all your wishes come true!!!

Love, Mumsy

Did you ever know that you're my hero...

Happy birthday, Dad. You're always in my thoughts and prayers...

I love you very dearly, Donna Doo

The birthday girl...

Is it possible my baby turned 21 today??

It must be so because that's what the candles say!

Wasn't it just yesterday that she looked like the cake topper photos??

...and wore fancy red sunglasses at her birthday party?

Tonight we made a special trip into Boston to visit both girls and to celebrate Court's 21st birthday! Here are the girls at the lovely little Italian restaurant we dined at.

When we got back to Court's apartment after dinner, her roommates presented her with a bright pink birthday crown and had decorated the apartment, including Court's bed, with streamers!

And then it was time for the carrot cake (Courtney's favorite!)....

... which thankfully survived the car trip into Boston despite numerous potholes and flood detours! We were treated to an incredible day - sunny and in the mid 60's - heaven after all the gray, rainy days we've had lately!!!! Happy birthday, honey!!!

Love Mumsy

Happy B-day, honey!

We took advantage of everyone being home for the holiday weekend to celebrate Amanda's birthday...


...which meant it was Amanda's day to wear the CELEBRATE birthday crown, and CELEBRATE we did!


Since Amanda is an artist, I thought I'd get a little "artsy" with some of the photos I took that night (I think this was a "pastel chalk" conversion or some such thing... it seemed like a good idea at the time!! ha ha). She requested mock meat tacos for dinner since she's a vegetarian, and this year, rather than black forest cake, she requested a strawberry cake with vanilla 'funfetti' frosting.


I love this photo of Amanda peeking through the Christmas chandelier of tinsel wreaths, sparkly birds and stars. The little dining area, which had already been decorated for Christmas, looked very festive for her birthday celebration. (And yes, we did end up having Thanksgiving dinner under the Christmas chandelier! That was a first!)


Court found a perfect card for her! I'm sure Amanda will end up displaying it above her painting desk, along with all of her other neat postcards, photos, and cards.

So happy birthday, honey! It was so wonderful having you and Courtney home this weekend (even if it did go by way too fast!!!) ... I love you and I hope that all your birthday wishes come true!!!!

Love and hugs,
Mumsy


P.S. I've tried to personally respond to everyone who left a comment on Spotty's post, but in some cases I couldn't find a blog or e-mail in order to do so... For everyone who left such kind words, you have no idea how comforting your comments and e-mails were. It's clear that you are all animal lovers. So many of you shared the pain of your own losses, and my heart goes out to each and every one of you.... Again, thank you all so much...

A day to celebrate!

Dad, posing for his official "Celebrate" birthday crown portrait with the girls!


No amount of rain could stop us from celebrating dad's birthday today!


This wasn't just any rain....

It came down in BUCKETS... Non stop ... Almost all day!

This has been the rainiest summer I can ever remember, and today was the worst yet!

But I braved it because I had to run to the supermarket to pick up ingredients for a very special supper tonight - all dad's favorites for his birthday... sockeye salmon, mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, and dad's favorite zucchini, yellow squash, onion, & diced garlic tomato concoction! Supper was great...

...and then it was time for the cake (a variation of the Black Forest Cake I make for Amanda's birthday each year). I love this "cake topper" photo of my mom and dad. It was taken about 40 years ago in a little photo booth at Salisbury Beach in MA. It felt like Mom was right here celebrating with us tonight.

"Happy birthday, to you..." (we're singing to dad at this point.. he's anxiously waiting to blow out his candles and make a wish...)

May all your wishes come true, Dad.. I love you.

Donna

Let them eat cake!

Court came home from college this weekend to celebrate her birthday and St. Patrick's Day...

(click any photos to enlarge)

Because she was born on March 18th, we've always celebrated the two together....


I bought this crown last year and I think it is going to be worn by everyone for their official birthday portraits from this point on... My dad and hubby got fair warning that when their birthdays roll around they, too, will be donning the "Celebrate" crown!


Courtney requests carrot cake each year for her birthday, and since I am not known for my baking (or cooking) skills, my cakes are just 'doctored up' box mixes...

So far, so good... I remember when Courtney was about nine years old, she invited several school friends to her birthday party. Everything went great until the cake was served and one of the girls asked what kind it was... I wish I had a picture of all those little faces when Court proudly annunced it was carrot cake! No one would even try it!

This year's cake turned out sooooo good! I added raisins and walnuts to the mix (Court nixed the coconut and crushed pineapple I had planned to add)... This cake is probably the reason I had my first gain (1.2 lbs.) on the scale this week since starting my diet. (If I'd only stopped with one piece instead of helping myself to leftover cake all weekend long!!)

Court with her cake (right after blowing out the candles). Notice her bandaged hand/fingers? Over spring break she flew to New Orleans to visit a friend at Tulane University. During a bike ride to get snow cones, she ended up skidding on gravel and going over the handlebars. Thank God her only injuries were bruises, skinned knees & palms, and a couple of broken fingers. (Not that the broken fingers are a good thing, but when I think how much worse it could have been I'm grateful... very grateful)...

The official birthday portrait of the princess with her prince... (Court is also sporting dark locks as of last month. She doesn't change her hair color as much as she did a few years ago. Back then, I never knew what color she'd surprise us with!)

My two silly girls, once again hamming it up for the camera in their hats (Christmas deja vu). Amanda is actually wearing a peacock feathered headband which is very hard to see in this photo. So other than it being too short, it was a great weekend!

And I'd also like to thank everyone who left such heartfelt comments about our little Gizzy Girl... You are all so kind - and such wonderful animal lovers!!!

Wishing you all a beautiful week!

Donna

My baby.....

...is twenty years old today!

(click any photos to enlarge)

"May blessings fall upon you wherever life's journey takes you."


Where did the years go, between this photo....


...and this one? It just doesn't seem possible that all those years have already flown by....


Wasn't your first birthday just yesterday???


And wasn't it just yesterday that you were running to me for comfort when you were afraid?

You only missed being a St. Patty's baby by 5+ hours! But you'll always be our "Wee Falorey Man" (the song you sang regularly, much to the delight of all your Irish relatives!!)

You always loved to make people laugh. Nana would call you her "little comedian"...

... to which you'd reply, "I am not a comidgion." But you soooooo are a comidgion!!!

You're also a true Pisces, my little water baby...

You loved our trips to the Cape....

... and made some acquaintances that you'll never forget!!

Here you are in March of 1994 with the love of your life, your handsome Spotty (a wee lad of 7 months when this photo was taken)... He was your boy then...

... and he's your boy now... Just look at you two, all grown up....

I am so looking forward to this weekend when you'll be home from college to celebrate your birthday!!! Save room for all of your favorites - a corned beef and cabbage dinner with carrot 'birthday' cake for dessert!! Till then...

Happy Birthday, honey!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Mumsy

A time to celebrate...

Happy 23rd birthday, Amanda!!


(click photos to enlarge)

This is last year's cake, but as you know, I'll be making you the same kind this year! (It's Amanda's favorite and the one she asks me to make for all her birthdays - super easy and soooo good! Recipe at end of post)...


Just look at those chubby cheeks on you at 12 weeks old! You were the sweetest baby! (Was it really 23 years ago?)


And you were always the 'bestest' big sister...

I love how you are so gentle and loving with animals! Here you are with your sweet little Sooshi, your BIG surprise for Christmas, 1990. Just look at the two of you - love at first sight... (Several weeks before Christmas Amanda had "wished upon a star" that Santa would bring her a real dog. Since her dad & I had been thinking of getting a dog anyhow, we figured we'd look, and if it was meant to be, we'd find one... We were so fortunate to be able to adopt this little guy, who was 2 years old, in such a short amount of time - he was an absolute sweetheart of a dog!)

And just look at you and your Tiger on the very first night we adopted her. I remember going in to check on you before I went to bed, and this is what I saw. Of course I immediately ran to get the camera so I could capture this precious moment forever!

Well, here it is 15 years later and not much has changed! Tiger still sleeps right next to you each and every night. (And she is soooo happy you're home from college!)

I love your sensitive nature and the way you care about all God's creatures. Ms. Giz and Mr. O'Malley's lives were made so much better because of all the love you showered on them... Every pound dog should be so fortunate to find someone like you...

We always have so much fun on our little excursions! Here you are in Amherst at the cemetery where Emily Dickinson is buried. Remember how muddy it was and how you ruined your shoes because of it that day? And look - you still smiled!

(Central Park, New York City)

So Happy Birthday honey!! Enjoy your special day... We are so proud of you!!

Love, Mumsy

Black Forest Cake

1 chocolate or devil's food cake mix

1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling

4 oz cream cheese

2 tsp lemon juice

1 can Creamy Vanilla frosting

CAKE: Bake two 8" round cake layers according to directions. When cool, split each one into two thin layers. FROSTING: Beat softened cream cheese and lemon juice until smooth. Fold in vanilla frosting. Spread frosting and cherry pie filling between each layer and on top of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.