Tonight, we celebrated the birthdays of our only son (6 on the 14th) and the queen (1 on the 18th). Both sets of grandparents, 3 uncles, 3 aunts (one recently adopted), 4 cousins (one not quite born yet--but soon) filled our guest list and our home. Having lived away from my hometown for nearly a decade, there are times, even now having been back for 5 years, when such an informal, uneventful event fills me with happiness.
I grew up this way--surrounded by a large, loving network of aunties and uncles and grandparents and cousins. The kind of growing up where it was no surprise to look out at a school play or game and see a smattering of random family members, to run into a relative at the grocery store, to attend family events where it takes 3-6 grown women 3 days to prepare enough food for. When our first two little ducks were born, we lived 3 hours away and birthdays were a quiet affair (at least until we could get home on the weekend to celebrate properly). This morning, I cooked 5 pounds of sloppy joes, made 4 dips, made a Sam's Club run and stocked up on chips, beer and wine.
Tonight, our carefully swept and vacuumed floor is littered with crushed potato chips, shreds of wrapping paper, and nerf bullets. The queen's hair is crusted with frosting. My kitchen table is covered with 2 new lego creations, a baby book, and darling homemade hairbows. I'm sipping one last glass of wine while the kids watch Disney channel in their jammies.
I'm exactly where I've always wanted to be. I'm not sophisticated or rich, famous or important. But, thanks to the good Lord, a good man, and a lot of good luck, I'm surrounded by love. Happy Birthday little ducks. My cup overflows.
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