Like most weeks, the past seven days have been a whirlwind, packed with bus cancellations, skiing, dancing, climbing, sickness, skating and everyday life in between.  On top of the regular tasks, chores, events and lessons, something else has been brewing and building that certainly deserved more attention and care than anything else. It has been talked about, built-up and anticipated for months!  Even last year, when talking about the things we anticipated it hit the top of the list, at times surpassing Disney and even Christmas.  I’m speaking, of course, about my daughter’s birthday party.

I genuinely enjoy celebrating and planning my kid’s birthdays, in part because I’m never quite sure what they are going to want to do.  They spend many months considering just exactly what kind of party they want to throw – we’ve done parades, gym visits, the movies, sleepovers, pinatas, scavenger hunts, you name it!  This year, my youngest was keen on a tea party here at the house, alongside a suite of games and play that you may expect from an 8-year old’s celebration.  And while the party itself was certainly fun and an all out success (Alison and I do pride ourselves on our party-planning/throwing/hosting abilities), the thing that perhaps gave me some slight concern, was my daughter’s hopes and expectation for her dad to deliver a very specific type of cake.  An expectation that I admit I set myself up for years ago.

I seem to recall that, years ago, I had more time in my life.  I don’t recall the running around, everyone went to bed earlier, and while they required attention to stay alive, they didn’t ask so many questions or require as much involved and interactive play as they seem to now.  None of that’s a complaint; I make it quite well-known that I love spending time with my children.  What it does mean, however, is that I don’t have the same time to make elaborate cakes that I once used to, which means I need to get creative with how I do it – spacing the process out over the course of two weeks, doing my best ot keep everything hidden from prying eyes.  Again, I’m not complaining – this whole cake thing is my own fault when, years ago, I put the ball in their court to challenge me in designing a cake to match whatever their imaginations could come up with.  It used to be straight-forward, but since they’ve started watching Is It Cake, those requests have gotten more challenging.  Last year my daughter wanted me to make a cake that looked like chicken balls (which I pulled off and even managed to fool her into thinking they were real), and this year my she was so excited for me to create a cake the looked like a hamburger, or a taco, or a plate of spaghetti.  Sigh.   I’ll skip to the end and say that, while I feel I did a pretty good job, I didn’t manage to fool her again.  (Sorry, I completely failed to take pictures…)

Busy week, successful party, and cake decorating aside, I had one more task assigned to me this week, which was handed down by my oldest to come up with a poem for this weeks blog post.  I typically enjoy these assignments, and I won’t say that time was unenjoyable, but I will admit that I didn’t quite have the brain space I would usually like to set side for it.  That said, a deal is a deal and so I have done my best to keep my word:

What words to use I do not know,

To share the thoughts I wish to show.

I’ll type and see what ends up here,

And hope that they will find their flow.

My youngest child, another year,

You’ve grown and it has come quite clear,

The type of person you’ve become,

Is of the type that I revere.

You’re sweet and caring, gentle, kind,

You have a thoughtful frame of mind.

Forever you have cared for others,

Helping those who fall behind.

Your laugh, your smile, they fill my heart,

Traits you had right from the start.

You bring to me the greatest joy,

Even at times when we’re apart.

Today you’re eight, a mind-blowing thought,

I’ll reflect, today, of things I forgot,

Of all the times we’ve spent together,

And all the lessons to me you’ve taught.

I’m proud of you, for who you are,

Stay true to yourself and you’ll go far.

You’re bold, courageous, brave and daring,

You’re right on track to catch a star.

Today is the start of another great year,

And I found the words that I want to share here,

There’s only one thing I can think that needs saying,

To my wonderful Audrey, I love you, my dear.

And so with a busy week now in the rearview mirror, I’m going to spend today enjoying some peaceful downtime.  I hope you can all manage to do the same.