Fabulous Fourteen!

Happy Birthday, Little Squid! May all your math classes be sensible!

Sweet Sixteen

Need I say more?

Happy Birthday, Mike!

I have now known Mike for more than half of my life (and his).

That's a pretty long time to know someone.

To care for someone.

To Love someone.

***

To a wonderful father ...


... husband ...
and friend ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

One More Year

As I sit here and try to compose an appropriate birthday post, I find myself at a loss for words. Instead, tears of happiness and joy cloud my eyes as I try to write down just what about my son makes him so very special to me.

Is it how he always knows when I need a hug?

Or how much he infuriates his dad -- for making the same mistakes that Mike did at that age?

Is it how he constantly takes me by surprise with his talents and his interests?

Or how he is so very like my dad.

Maybe it is because he is so much like his sister, and yet so very, very different.

Or that he is just himself. Our Monster. Our Little Squid.

Happy Birthday, Little Squid.

May you have many, many more!

Clueless

I had no clue. Fourteen years ago, when I held her in my arms for the first time, I had absolutely no clue of what was to come.

Of the smiles she would cause,

Of the tears -- of joy,

Of the laughter,

Of the pride.

It's true what teens say, adults are clueless!

Happy Birthday Batya!

Real Birthday Post

Mom didn't think she needed a birthday post, but I insisted, so here it is.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

And no, you are not old and/or decrepit.
You can be a bit crazy at times, but we still love you. Happy Birthday!

Love, Squidette and Little Squid

Happy Thanksgiving and a Pre-B'day Post

There is oh so much to be thankful for this year but as always, it comes down to the most important things in my life, my family and friends. So to all of you I give a heartfelt "THANKS" and Happy Thanksgiving.

(And my husband would like you all to know that our turkey fryer is autographed by the makers -- Max and Fill.)

And now on to a Pre-Birthday Post (to apparently be followed by a B'day post from Squidette).

For as long as I can remember (and for a few years prior to that) my older sister's birthday has been the day after mine. Given the dates, it is inevitable that most Thanksgiving celebrations include birthday cake (or birthday pie). While we are not together this year, I'd like to share my wishes for my sister with all of my readers.

Marni, you've always been there for me. Through the rough and the easy, through the happy and the sad.

May your day be one of smiles and laughs and happiness!

All of our love!

Happy Birthday!!!

Tipping the Balance

When Mike was about to celebrate his twenty-first birthday, he stated, unequivocally that the probability of him remaining "under 20" was far greater then the probability of him being older then 21.

Well the birthday came and went and, indeed, he was older then 20. He continued to maintain his stance on this, well ... until right now.

Here we are, a scant 20 years later and the balance is about to tip the other way. Having just asked him about this, I can honestly say that he is no longer in denial.

I have to tell you, this insistence on taking a stance and sticking to it is one of the traits that (now) endears him to me.

Long time readers know just how much I love my husband. Just thinking about him brings a tear to my eye and a smile to my face. Even when I'm irked with him.

On his birthday we will "celebrate" by riding the Tour de Bronx.

So, if you happen to come across a large group of bikers tomorrow (in the Bronx, of course) shout out a Happy Birthday to Papa Squid. And say hi to the rest of us!

And the Youngest Gets Older

Yes, another sappy birthday post. An open letter to my son on his birthday.

Dear Little Squid,

From the moment you entered our lives you filled our days with joy and laughter. From proclaiming "there must be squid around here somewhere," to losing the mitten from the hand holding your lunch box, to all your sweet, heartfelt hugs ... You are loving and kind and talented and oh, so smart.

Along with your sister, you make this family whole.
May this year bring you sunshine and happiness!

Happy Birthday, Little Squid!

(and Happy Birthday, Cousin Squid (pictured above in the arms of Little Squid))

Blog Vacation

We interrupt this blog vacation to bring you this.

We Squid would also like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Lil' Bro, Josh. It's a little belated but I did call ... Josh, from all of us here in the Squid home, may this year be as wonderful as the last and may your new home suit you and Jaye to a T. Love you!

We now resume this blog vacation.

Thirteen years ago I held a sweet, smiling baby in my arms ...

That baby has morphed into ...

A funloving seven year old ...
A curious eight year old ...
A creative nine year old...
A best friend 10 year old ...

A moody, eleven year old ...


A joy to be with twelve year old ...
A poised, intelligent, sweet, smart, slightly obnoxious, Teenager.May I introduce to you, my newly minted teenager, Batya.

I love you, sweetie!

Birthday Redux

For your amazement

the cake that Squidette baked and decorated for her father.

And the meal that Little Squid made (with some assistance), also for his father.
"Wild" rice salad and stuffed portobello mushrooms. (Little Squid made the salad, including chopping all the ingredients and pushing the right buttons on the rice cooker. The mushrooms were purchased already prepared and just needed to be heated.)

Now, time to wake Squidette and hit the road to Rhinebeck!

No Longer Under 20

When Mike turned 20 he, jokingly, kept saying that he would, very likely, not turn 20. Why? Because for his entire life he had been "under 20" (a category in fencing competitions) and therefore the laws of probability were in his favor. As I could not really argue with that kind of logic, I didn't bother and let time do its thing. For the last 19 years, the odds were still in favor of him reverting to "under 20." Today, however, that all changes. There is still a possibility that he will turn 19 on Friday but, more likely, he will turn 40.I tell you , does this look like a 40 year old? Frankly, he is in better shape then he was back then. The hair is a bit grayer, the mornings a bit creakier but, as a general rule, not too bad. I think I'll keep him, hopefully for at least another 40.

Happy Birthday, Mike. I love you so very, very much!