That's 39-year-old me. And Cooper. Oh, yes! I forgot to write a post here . . . we got a puppy! That should be a post all its own. But, later.
Not many big plans on my actual birthday. Pretty low-key because, you know, mom life. :) Cooper and I hung out all day. I went on a nice morning walk. I grabbed some Cafe Rio takeout for lunch. And enjoyed text and phone calls and visits from sweet friends and family.
I have to say the highlight of my day was opening gifts from the kids. Scott told me a little about shopping with the boys so I was in eager anticipation to discover the results. I have enjoyed a long history of interesting gifts from the boys. When they were little the gifts were incredibly sweet and thoughtful and full of love. As they have gotten older, though, . . . I often wonder if they know anything about me. Really, the level (lack) of attention is quite astonishing. And laughable! I still tease Conner about the epic last-minute birthday card he wrote for me one year. It was a single piece of computer paper, folded in half, and inside he wrote in pencil "Happy birthday mom". The lack of effort was comical!
So it sounds like Scott gave the boys a pep talk in preparation for the shopping trip. "Guys. For the next 45 years of your life, you're going to need to come up with thoughtful gifts for the important women in your life. Let's start now! Think about what your mom likes and what she enjoys doing and try to come up with a thoughtful gift. And I'm just going to follow you around while you think this through."
I have to say, they did a pretty decent job! Interesting. But decent. I cannot complain at all. And the cards! They checked off all of my requirements -- longer than 3 words, and showed they had put a sliver of thought into it.
That being said, Conner did save his card-making for the last minute once again. In fact, we had gathered in the family room with my gifts but had to sit there and wait while Conner ran into the kitchen to both WRAP his gift and write his birthday note. No card this year . . . he wrote a note directly ON the gift. Which is almost as good as the plain sheet of computer paper! I unwrapped the gift very carefully so that I could preserve this goodness:
The gift: Exploding Kittens
His observation: Mom likes to play card games with us
The note:
Dear Mom,
I know I'm terrible with presents, cards and birthdays in general, but I'm trying to learn. I'm learning because I love you and I want to show you how much I do.
Love, Conner Brown
Love that! Love that he acknowledges his weaknesses, but the desire to do better is what totally wins me over. Good job, Conner!
The gift: Apple Cider concentrate
His observation: "because you like that kind of thing" ..... just wait for the note!
The note:
Dear Mom,
Thank you for HAVING FUN WITH US, and TEACHING US HOW TO WORK CORRECTLY, and who could forget that you PUT UP WITH US NOT PUTTING DISHES IN THE DISHWASHER, OR DOING ONLY HALF OF A JOB.
Thank you for being a fantastic mom, Payton
Here's some cider to make in the winter because you like that kind of thing.
I seriously had tears in my eyes, I was laughing so hard! There are so. many. things. in this note that are just amazing. The phrases in all caps, "teaching us to work correctly", putting up with them doing "half of a job", and "because you like that kind of thing" . . . . . hahahahaha! This note is true and honest and I love it!
Now, Anna . . . she knows how to choose thoughtful gifts. It is second nature for her! In honor of our new puppy that I picked out and spend all day long with, she created a portrait of Cooper. Isn't it great?!
She made it in Adobe Illustrator on the iPad (she has big dreams/wishes of getting her own iPad and the fancy illustrator pen -- right now she has to put up with my mediocre tools). But it looks amazing! She printed it out on nice paper and mounted it to an easel for displaying. What a talented girl!
Scott gave me a gift certificate for two photo facial (lime light) treatments which was high at the top of my list, so I'm super excited about that! Sun spots, be gone! And, it will help me cross something off my 40 before 40 list!
hydrangeas from Scott because he knows I love them and (he may not know) they remind me of my mom
Here's a bit of truth:
This year my birthday felt heavy. Leading up to the day I tried my best not to think about it (hence, no birthday plans). You see, last year I spent my birthday holding my dying mother's hand while watching her sleep. And sleep. Wondering if we would ever get to talk again.
So yes. That has changed the feeling of the day for me. At least for this year. I don't know that it will be this way going forward forever. You know how much I love celebrating my birthday! And I want to be back in that celebratory place. She would want me to celebrate -- but for right now there are heavy things connected with this day.
This year I am missing her cheerful birthday phone call and a birthday package filled with fun & beautiful things perfectly curated just for me. But really, I just plain miss her.
Last September changed me. And it changed my world.
September has always been a time of new beginnings, which I enjoy . . . and now it will also be a time of remembrance.
