It all started nine years ago...*

Yesterday ,was Gabriel's birthday. I cannot believe he is nine years old.



It was snowing quite a bit yesterday, just as it was on that morning nine years ago, when we first saw his little face. He wanted to open his presents at 10:00 AM exactly, which is the time he was born. I thought that was kind of adorable.



(Lana asked me what time SHE was born and it made me sad to have to tell her I didn't know.)



We had a party for 8 of his buddies at a Lazer Tag place, and last night my parents invited everybody over for dinner, for a Happy Birthday Gabe, A~, and J~ (two of his cousins who also have had birthdays in the past couple of weeks, and a Bon Voyage for my aunt and uncle, who are returning to Africa next Saturday. (My uncle is a missionary doctor).

It was loud and chaotic (it always is loud and chaotic at my parent's house when we descend on the house we grew up in, and last night only four of the six of us siblings were there.) (My other two brothers live several hours away, so we don't see them as much.) (Incidentally, my mother has a piece of advice for those of you raising large families. She says that there will come a time, fairly soon into your children's adulthood, when you realize it is not physically possible to fit all of your children and their families around a single table. Don't feel bad or guilty about the fact that having your entire family over for dinner means that you have to spread dinner over three rooms and several tables.) (My mom is top notch when it comes to making something delicious to feed 35 people. She more trouble finding recipes for 2, now that she and my step-dad are on their own. I think that's kind of funny.)

Well, I am having all of my in-laws over in a few hours for lunch, for Gabe's birthday, so I need to get busy on the cake.


LM




*Paula Cole, I Believe In Love