al’-pha-bet

The dreaded day has finally come and gone.

Today, we officially ended my 40th birthday celebration with lunch at Tony Roma’s. This caps almost a week’s length of festivities that heightened my spirits, as well as my waistline. There’s no doubt about it: diets and birthdays don’t mix.

But cellulite be damned. Indeed, one of my favorite things about turning 40 was my birthday cake (or should I say birthday cup-cake?), a spring-inspired arrangement of cupcake blossoms with dragonflies perched on top.

I just adore birthday cakes. For me, no celebration is complete without one. It was through the inspiration of this latest cake that I decided to create another blog, this time featuring the many beloved cakes that have graced family occasions past.

I hope you enjoy this one, which I have appropriately entitled PASTEL!

It was Lorenzo’s birthday yesterday. His 38th, to be exact. But as far as I was concerned, it was payback time.

I happen to be a little older than my husband. Nothing major, just a matter of fourteen and a half months. Since I celebrated my 39th birthday, however, last March, someone (and I won’t mention names) has been teasing me about my age and the whole "pushing 40" thing.

Of course it wasn’t long before my kids jumped on the bandwagon, making jokes about Mommy walking with cavemen and graduating from Prehistoric University. Ask them how old their Dad is, however, and the answer’s always the same. Twenty-seven. 

Yep. Daddy’s got ‘em trained well. Cheeky little things.

For the past few months, Mommy just grinned and bore it. After all, there was no going around it: He was 37, she was 39.

Until August 13th, when someone else’s birthday came one notch closer to the four-zero mark. And to commemorate this happiest of occasions, Mommy found the perfect cake online. A delicious chocolate prehistoric landscape dotted with a volcano,  a T-Rex and a triceratops, all blended together with vanilla custard filling and buttercream icing.

Consider it even.

Today is my seventh wedding anniversary.

Today also happens to be Harry Potter’s birthday. And today is the second wedding anniversary I have spent with my nose buried in a book with that familiar diamond Harlequin pattern.

Exactly two years ago, I was celebrating my fifth anniversary at the Crowne Plaza in Milpitas, learning about Horcruxes while my family frolicked in the pool. Later in the day, I would be in the car with my sleeping baby, reading under the sun’s fading light while the boys (my husband and sons) played in the beach at Santa Cruz. I would’ve even brought the tome along as we rode Thomas the Tank Engine at Roaring Camp Railroad, but alas, it was too big and unwieldy.

Yup, July 31 is special for me and The Boy Who Lived, who should have turned 17 a few hours ago at the stroke of midnight, which means he can now do magic without a Trace.

And since we’re on the subject, may I also mention that today also happens to be Neville Longbottom’s birthday. Yes, this Muggle was paying attention.

By now it should be obvious that this Muggle is eagerly devouring the last book in the Harry Potter series, wondering how much Neville Longbottom and their shared birthday plays into the most anticipated conclusion of all time. And yes, I think Snape is loyal.

So allow me to now take my leave, with a quick French lesson from one on my favorite characters, Fleur Delacour:

A is for adieu,
A is for anniversaire, and
A is for ‘Arry.

T is for Troy, who turned six just a week ago.

T is also for TB test for first grade, which led us to the pediatrician, where Troy had his 6-year check-up.  My baby grew an inch and a half and gained two pounds since March. He’s still a picky eater, but at least he’s growing!

And finally, T is for TIRED, which best describes Lorenzo and me, after seven days of nonstop action, from pool parties to drive-in movies to moving out.

And yes, I’m too tired to add any more.

Scrapbooking was always something I knew I would enjoy but just never got around to doing…until now.

The parents of Troy’s Kindergarten class have all gotten together to spring a Graduation surprise for their teacher, Mrs. King. This is Mrs. King’s first year in CVCA (Central Valley Christian Academy), and she has done an awesome job of it. In fact, the lady is so cool, I wish she had been around when I was in kindergarten! The other parents obviously feel the same way, and have undertaken to put together a scrapbook for their beloved teacher.

I took a picture of my page, which marks my official entry into the world of scrapbooking.

They should have a disclaimer for this stuff. It is seriously addictive!

After years of dreading gardening and avoiding grass, I have finally caved in and bought my first potted plant. Reanna and I were out one day when we heard tropical rainforest sounds coming out of this florist shop. Of course, we couldn’t resist taking a peek, and there we saw this squat, strange-looking plant, with big, glossy leaves. I was told it was a rubber plant. It was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.

I couldn’t wait to tell my husband about it, and sure enough, he got it for me. We brought it home, accessorized with a pretty white bow. I wanted to call it "Leon" (after Jean Reno’s plant in "The Professional"), but Lorenzo thought it was more of a girl plant, so I changed the spelling to "Lyon". After all, even I couldn’t imagine Jean Reno wearing a giant white hair bow.

Now that’s a disturbing thought.

Actually, C is also for Cabin, which might be more appropriate since we didn’t really spend Easter weekend "roughing it out" in the strictest sense of the word. Our church held a Family Fun Camp at Camp Wawona in Yosemite National Park, and I was pleasantly surprised at the amenities. Our cabin had its own bathroom, piped-in heating and hot water, and a refrigerator and stove (which we didn’t even have to use because meals were included). The Cafeteria at Wawona served up such a delicious hot buffet that made you forget everything was totally vegetarian! And after the meals came fellowship with friends, which was even more enjoyable.

Yes, I do have to say that our Easter weekend was simply divine.

When it’s this beautiful outside, the last thing I feel like doing is slaving in front of a hot stove, especially when it’s Spring Break.

Lucky for me, my local supermarket provided a solution: an instant picnic!

Nothing could be easier. Just go to the grocery store, 1) get a freshly-baked baguette or a packet of whole wheat pitas at the bakery section, 2) pick up some spinach dip, tuna salad or chicken salad at the deli counter, 3) choose some ripe strawberries or bananas from the produce aisle, and 4) round things up at the coolers for some ice-cold drinks.

Then head for a park somewhere, roll out the picnic mat, breathe in the clean fresh air and eat your simple, healthy food. 

Our last jaunt took us to Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, CA. After eating, the kids threw rocks in the lake while Lorenzo and I just lay down on the mat and watched the clouds go by.

Mmmm…it doesn’t get much better than this.

Got a delightful surprise today! My baby sister, Haya, called me at around 7 PM to greet me for my birthday. Good thing my family didn’t leave for the park for yet another picnic (more about that in another post). It was wonderful to hear her voice again. The last time I spoke with Haya was before her wedding last October. Now she’s busy with her residency. Haya’s husband, Jay Lizardo, is walking in his father’s plastic surgeon footsteps, so Haya, dutiful wife that she is, decided to become a dermatologist so they can work together.

We spoke (and laughed) for over an hour, as is our custom, until her phone card ran out. (Sigh!) I hope she comes to visit us soon.

I’m in desperate need of a facial!

Since my first birthday greeting came from a friend in Friendster, I’ve decided to celebrate my 39th birthday by resuscitating this blog.

So there.