Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was Shawn's birthday. And now that Brayden is 3, he really "gets" birthday parties. So I decided to plan our own little family party. We put up a sign, got balloons (which Brayden insisted were HIS balloons) and party hats and baked and decorated a cake. It was so much fun planning this with Brayden! He picked out a Thomas the Tank Engine card for Shawn all by himself. We went to Publix together and he picked out the balloons, cake and icing... Chocolate and Chocolate--no big surprise there! And, of course, it was COVERED in sprinkles!

It was really fun to have it be just the three of us. I was reading Jaime's blog the other day and her hubby, Jason, just celebrated his birthday last week. It was cute because we had both planned a small, immediate family only gathering, and I totally agree with her--it was the best! I love to gather with friends and family and have big parties with lots of food. But sometimes it's just nice to keep it small and simple. So that's what we chose this year. I made Shawn sausage biscuits and cinnamon apples for dinner (his fav!) and chocolate cake for dessert. As much fun as we have with big celebrations, the small ones are some you'll hold dearest to your heart. It reminds me of the song on my website, These are the Days by Van Morrison.

These are the days of the endless summer
These are the days, the time is now
There is no past, there's only future
There's only here, there's only now

Oh your smiling face, your gracious presence
The fires of spring are kindling bright
Oh the radiant heart and the song of glory
Crying freedom in the night

These are the days by the sparkling river
His timely grace and our treasured find
This is the love of the one magician
Turned the water into wine

These are days of the endless dancing and the
Long walks on the summer night
These are the days of the true romancing
When I'm holding you oh, so tight

These are the days by the sparkling river
His timely grace and our treasured find
This is the love of the one great magician
Turned water into wine

These are the days now that we must savour
And we must enjoy as we can
These are the days that will last forever
You've got to hold them in your heart.