I took the day off of work today. It's the first time I've had an unscheduled day off since our three week vacation to Denmark and Italy. The kids felt bad that I was on the road for my birthday, so Cyndi and I thought it would be nice to spend the day together and celebrate. So, we pretended that today was actually my birthday.
The kids were cute. Lily woke up first, came into our bedroom, woke me up with a shy, "Happy Birthday!" Lily insisted that I have breakfast in bed, and was already prepared with a notepad and pencil in hand, ready to take my order. I knew Cyndi and the kids had baked me a cake for later, so I didn't want to have them go to too much trouble for breakfast. My order was somewhat simple: cereal with sliced bananas, Egg Beaters with cheese, and a cup of coffee (cream and one Equal). Lily used shorthand on the paper. She showed me: C B E B C C C =). Cyndi got up to start my special breakfast and moments later, a sleepy Frederic hopped in the bed and repeated the same words I heard Lily announce, only louder. Lily had left the room to help Cyndi, but Frederic was content laying in bed with me. He wanted no part in the breakfast preparations.
It's hard to eat breakfast in bed without a tray. We had one from years ago, when Cyndi had eye surgery and was basically confined to bed for 16 weeks. But through the years, the tray was shuffled from one house to the next, from one bedroom to the next, used as a play item for the kids, etc. Thrown away and never replaced. You never think of those things until you need them.
Cyndi, however, is inventive. She wrapped a towel around our Thanksgiving "Turkey Plate," placed my bowl of cereal and bananas (Special K with Strawberries), eggs, and coffee as it would look on our old tray, and served me in bed. Lily was thoroughly ecstatic (Frederic was hungry!), and thus began the day to celebrate the day I missed.
After breakfast, I was led on a game of "hot and cold" to search for birthday presents I insisted I didn't need/want. The gifts were perfect. A bag of Tootsie Rolls, a box of Milk "Dads," gum, and an NBA shirt (not an NBA team...a gray zipper shirt that says "NBA" on it). Nothing fancy, but things I like.
The day, for the most part, was mostly unplanned. Cyndi and Lily had a dentist appointment (Lily is one front tooth less), and Frederic and I had a game of Mario Super Sluggers on our schedule. Of course, he kicked my butt (21-1), but revenge was mine when I won the game of Life ($1.6M to Frederic's $1.4M to Cyndi's $750K). I must say, for an 8 year-old, Frederic played the game of life with confidence and maturity. I was very impressed.
The only other things on our plate were going to the movies to see "Bedtime Stories" (very enjoyable!), but not until I heard the family sing Happy Birthday and we got to eat cake and ice cream.
Forget store-bought cake. I'll take one that my family makes for me any time. Again, nothing fancy, but made exactly how I like it: chocolate with chocolate frosting. This time, Cyndi got a Coconut Pecan frosting too and she spread it in between layers. The kids decorated the cake with Reese's Peanut Butter Chips and we topped each piece with Bryers Oreo Cookies and Cream Ice Cream. The frosting was so good, I had to get the extra from the fridge and spoon out more.
This day definitely made-up for being out of town on my actual birthday. I was excited for the day and happy I got to spend it with my family. It's nice that they insisted because I would have preferred ignoring it since it past.
I wouldn't, however, give any of it back. Especially the second piece of cake I didn't necessarily need, but certainly wanted later, after the kids went to bed. A second piece of cake is something everyone should have. Especially on your do-over birthday.
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