Party Planners
Posted by Robyn Lee in Party Planners on Friday, July 11, 2008
9 Cheers for Brigid
Occasion:Brigid turns 9
Party Planner:Brigid’s mom Jane
Place:Our Illinois home
Theme:Cheerleading!
Guests:“We invited about 12 girls (including our four) and one very good-natured boy who helped run the concession stand, applied the football tattoos, and came wearing his sports jersey so that we could cheer for him at the appropriate time.”
Activities:“When the girls arrived,... READ MORE
Precious Cargo
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Friday, August 22, 2008
Dan’s father stopped by this morning with bags of presents for the kids. Stephen just had a birthday and I long ago gave up on trying to convince Grandpa that bringing a present for every one of our kids on every birthday is unnecessary. He likes to do it. He wants to do it. And this Santa-like tradition of his has earned him celebrity status around here.
“Grandpa’s here! Grandpa’s here!” even little... READ MORE
Black Forest Birthday Cake
Posted by Danielle Bean in Food on Sunday, August 24, 2008
Though Stephen’s birthday was a few days ago, we had our family party today.
Last week, Stephen had a small pre-celebration of his birthday at my mother’s house. There, she treated him to a Black Forest Cake.
It was a hit.
Though for months he has been planning to have a chocolate-vanilla marble cake for birthday party, yesterday he told me he changed his mind. Instead, he wanted some more of... READ MORE
Mary’s Birthday
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Monday, September 08, 2008
It’s Our Lady’s birthday. Are you baking cupcakes today?
You don’t have to have a sugar high to celebrate, if you don’t want to. Blue is Mary’s color, so blueberry pancakes or muffins or blueberries on oatmeal might be just the thing this morning.
Family Prayer to Maria Bambina (Baby Mary)
Maria, given us by God, in the sweetness of the face of a child, look upon this family that is your very own and in your motherliness, grant perennial youth to our hearts. May there arise in us a renewed commitment in our vocation to follow Jesus and may our charity be more joyful from this day. Teach us that love can stand with steadfastness at the foot of the cross. Amen.
Dear Danny
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Wednesday, September 10, 2008
How can you be two? How can this be? It makes no sense and I won’t allow it.
Don’t you dare go getting all grown up on me with fancy ideas about independence and living your own life. Like it or not, sweetie pants, around these parts, you are still the baby.
You’re our baby. Our sweet little love.
Something I especially enjoy about having you when there are older kids in the house is that we... READ MORE
Simply Cake
Posted by Danielle Bean in Food on Saturday, September 13, 2008
It seems I’ve been doing a lot of baking these days what with all the birthday-ing going on around my house. Whose idea was it to have all these kids in the late summer anyway?
For birthday cakes, I usually use a cake mix and focus my energies on decorating the cake to the birthday child’s specifications. Ambrose’s recent birthday, for example, brought an “eagle clutching a fish” request. That’s... READ MORE
Happy Birthday Mom!
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Just me on Saturday, September 20, 2008
Here in the place where we gather to share about faith and family, I need to take a moment to recognize the person who has single-handedly taught me most of what I know on both topics.
Today, my mom celebrates her birthday. Although the distance between us keeps me from hugging her in person today, I want to send out lots of cyber hugs and love to my role model, mentor and best friend. I’ve been truly blessed by a life filled with fun, memories, faith and much more shared by this generous soul.
Happy birthday Mom - you’re the best!
Fourteen is Funny
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Family on Thursday, October 02, 2008
Fourteen is a funny age - you’re a teenage for real, but frequently still act like a kid. These are some of the things I’ve observed about fourteen year old around my house the past few days:
Fourteen year olds may be crying one moment and laughing hysterically the next, leaving their mom to scratch her head and wonder how to react
Fourteen year olds are constantly hungry, but also are loving... READ MORE
The Blessing of Two
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Today is Camilla’s second birthday.
We talked it up so much that by bedtime last night, she was already asking, “When birthday coming over?”
I think she’s not perfectly clear on the concept.
Fortunately, this doesn’t inhibit her enjoyment of the day itself. I blew up balloons for her to play with and she got to have donut holes for breakfast. I gave her a lollipop when she finished lunch,... READ MORE
Golden Boy
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Today is my oldest son’s birthday, and as he is turning twelve on November 12th, it is his Golden Birthday.
Happy Birthday, Ethan!
Do you celebrate Golden Birthdays? This has always been a big deal in my family, though I celebrated mine when I was five and I don’t really remember it much. Growing up, I always felt a little sad for my dad. He celebrated his Golden Birthday exactly one year after... READ MORE

