And the last of the year. As I said, we have to modify our approach to 'our half of the year', since our daughter-in-law and our granddaughter both have May birthdays. But we typically end the big celebrations with our oldest, and last of the calendar. After all, by my age birthdays aren't what they used to be, and for my mom (in January), every birthday is a celebration, albeit one in the middle of our Christmastide festivities.
With divergent schedules and obligations, the boys moving on and getting older, and the changes in family dynamics and obligations, we obviously don't do everything we used to. But goodness knows we still try. Sometimes it's still a few old traditions, even if not everyone is available. With planning, luck and some scheduling elbow-grease, we can get together.
This year, owing to this year, it was confined to mostly the gang coming over with their daughter and picking out pumpkins (one day), and carving them (the next week). Some of us did manage to get up to my old stomping grounds and get some fresh pressed cider (nothing better).
We had a fine birthday dinner for our oldest, at his request. We went to a 'Der Dutchman' (I call it McAmish), which is a chain restaurant based on those Amish eating houses that are plentiful in the northwestern parts of the state. In those, if you've not experienced them, the popular approach is called 'Family Style.' That is, they bring out platters of meats and sides and breads and such and you help yourself, as they replenish the empty platters until everyone is full. Or, in this case, they have a buffet option, which is more economical for our size family. It's not easy getting out with my mom at this point, but with effort and teamwork it's still possible.
Then our oldest asked to break from the current pastime of World in Flames and dive into the old Flames of War game. We dusted off those old containers of miniatures. Really. They were dusty, it's been so long. We then spent some time setting things up. We haven't played yet, again owing to time and such. But when we can and everyone is in proper place, then we'll have a go at it, and I may unpack that and how we tie it into that larger, hobby game of World in Flames.
Otherwise, it's been a season. Things have been more sedated, but then we notice that seems to be the trend. I can't imagine why there are so few Halloween decorations this year. The economy is as strong as ever, thus says the American news media. Why people aren't spending more on Halloween decor is, therefore, beyond me. But we seem hardly alone in playing it simple. We'll see. That will be for a later post. For now, the birthday.
(Tom New Poster)
ReplyDeleteThe lil' critter certainly knows when she's being photographed. Happy Halloween, sweetie!
Kudos to you for doing WAY more fun festivities than we did this year, LOL. My kids have asked me to do all the things and put up all the decorations, but with impending baby and various sicknesses in the house since early September, I just reminded them I am quite limited and they have to be happy with simple this year. And they are fine, really. I actually found myself rejoicing a bit that today is Halloween as I'm sick of all the horror decor some people have had up since Labor Day.
ReplyDeleteBirthdays are a wonderful excuse to do all the things though! I'm glad you're passing on such fun traditions, and those pics with great-grandma AND baby in them will be treasures forever!