This is our second year combining the girls’ birthday celebrations. I’m still trying to figure out what were doing with birthdays and how to make them both memorable and doable as a family. Last year I had the idea to combine Langston and Theodore’s birthdays and Penelope and Priscilla’s. It worked out well, and everyone got their own cake which was exciting. This year I started by splitting them all apart again, and the little people have spoken and vetoed that– turns out they all prefer celebrating in pairs. I am going with it! So, we already had Penny’s birthday celebration planned and added in Priscilla’s. Ah, having a sisters birthday celebration in the middle of summer is just so, so fun.
These two have such a sweet bond. I often hear people express concern about larger age gaps, but there are five years between these two and they are so tight. Having the opportunity to watch their bond and relationship grow feels immensely special to me– as someone who always longed for a sister. I pray they are always close and dear friends.
New this year were some birthday crowns I decided to sew. This Liberty of London print my mom brought back from the UK. I am saving as much as I can for it, I think I have just enough for a dress for Penny. I’d love to at one point embroider the girls’ names and year along the ties. These crowns are so easy to make. I do think next time I’ll swap batting for interfacing, or try another (thicker) interfacing. Langston and Theodore have already requested their crowns. I am finding that I am truly enjoying and appreciating sewing these days. Matching sister dresses in flowing pink linen are from Mama Owl.
A few weeks ago while planning our celebration, I stumbled upon a whimsical cake covered in candies and cookies. I thought to myself, I bet Priscilla would love that and it would be easy to make. I baked up two mini, double layer funfetti cakes and frosted with vanilla buttercream. Decorating it was fun, and the girls seem happy with them and that’s all that matters. I usually bake my cake a few days ahead of time, freeze it, then take it out and do a crumb layer of frosting the day before, and then on our party day take it out and finish frosting and decorating. A baking friend taught me this trick and it has made homemade cakes that much easier. The only hard part is remembering to begin baking three to four days in advance.
Seth smoked an entire brisket that was delicious and we served it with coleslaw, a green salad my mom made, pasta salad (also from mom, thank you!), and homemade brioche buns (managed my pre-mass time just right to get these done before church, whew). We opted to celebrate with grandparents only this year. We love big, lush parties, but this year I knew energy wise it would be best to keep our party more intimate, no one seemed to mind. I am so drawn to creating memories and traditions that are rooted in sweet and simple things. Grandparents are really special and our kids are so fortunate to live relatively close to all of them.
Saturday morning my dad took the girls and I on a special trip to Minneapolis. My old city self would be rolling her eyes at that sentence, but I love that we have cultivated such a simple life here in Stillwater that a trip to the city feels glam. Cilla was screaming as the city skyline appeared, haha. She tells us she wants to live in New York City or Minneapolis when she grows up. We stopped by Wild Rumpus to pick up a few birthday books for the girls and then popped two doors down to Tilia for bunch. The food was delicious, divine really. It was such a sentimental, happy outing. We’re already dreaming of one to do with the boys. And truly it was fun to just drive through the city, working our way around construction and old haunts. Some of my earliest memories are going to the Linden Hills farmers market with dad. We passed what was the old coop and it still had a mural that said farmer’s market. I could probably write another entry or series on how these city excursions feel now that I have this totally other life out here– and how much things have changed or feel the same. It was a very special day I won’t soon forget.
I’m looking forward to what year two and seven bring for these marvelous, beautiful, delightful daughters of mine. These are such blessings, truly the gift of being their mother is indescribable to me. I love them (and am exhausted by them!). We’re all tired and ready for a slow week ahead.
