Brandon’s birthday fell on a Monday this year, so we planned for him to do some fun things over the weekend to celebrate. He did a long trail run in nearby Dupont Forest for most of the day on Saturday. Sunday he took Noah fishing on a nearby river for the day. I was happy for him to get out and have lots of time doing the things he loves outside. Monday we had a very full and busy day planned but I woke up that morning to a spinning world. Every once in a while I have vertigo and it hasn’t happened in a couple of years but it hit me that Monday. I was so bummed because not only did we have a full day of homeschool co-op and piano lessons, but it was also Brandon’s birthday. My mom came to help for the day as I couldn’t get out of bed/sit up without everything spinning. I didn’t think to take dramamine until a little later, and it did seem to help (though my mom picked up a “natural” kind which was just straight ginger root). Thank goodness for moms, right?! Anyway, in the early afternoon I managed to pull myself out of bed to try to make Brandon’s cheesecake as I knew it would have to sit for a few hours before serving. As I began to move around the vertigo slowly lifted. Usually it lasts for a few hours for me so this was a longer day of it, but I was just grateful it lifted. It’s amazing what a blessing normal functioning is!
The children were so happy to see me up and able to move around and Phoebe helped to make daddy’s birthday cake. He loves cherry pie but my kids don’t really like pie and Brandon isn’t really picky, so we made a cheesecake instead with my own cherry topping. For the topping I basically used a bag of frozen cherries, juice from half a lemon, about a 1/2 c. of honey, 1 c. water, and a couple teaspoons of arrowroot powder as a thickener. It was really delicious, even Phoebe liked it and she is my pickiest.
Philippa asked to decorate the table for daddy’s birthday which was very helpful as I felt still so brain-foggy. She did a lovely job. Brandon was truly surprised to see his hand knit sweater and I think it fits just right (though when I gave it to him I hadn’t had time to block it yet). The “children” gave him a jigsaw which he was very happy with. I have in mind an item or two he could make for me now that he has it. 🙂 Noah gave him a little notebook/journal he had kept with notes and drawings in it while they had been out fishing. Phoebe gave him a little woven item. All in all, I think he was quite spoiled this birthday which we well-deserves.
We had a little bit more snow this past weekend and so enjoyed it. I’m grateful for any wintry weather! I convinced Brandon to let me get a couple pictures of him in the sweater, which did take some convincing since he doesn’t love being in front of the camera. (He’s also wearing a hat I knit for him awhile ago.)
everything He gives 