After we read Sandra Boynton’s Birthday Monsters to Ellie for the 15th time on June 8th, Ellie cuddled for a moment and told us how great her birthday was. She said she felt special all day which is exactly what I wish for each year.
Brent woke up early on her birthday to get her a Pink Drink from Starbucks while I made buttermilk pancakes for breakfast. I hung a poster on our porch to make sure the whole neighborhood knew it was a special day and inside I hung up her Homemade Pennant Banner as I do every year. It was festive as Taylor Swift played loudly from the kitchen.
Later we packed a picnic to eat at the beach where we played paddle ball and busted out the body boards. We drank Arnold Palmers in the comfort of our new beach equipment and took loads of pictures of Ellie being Ellie. When we got home the kids put the hose on the trampoline and spent the next hours flipping and laughing.
Dinner was Ellie’s favorite sushi. We opened presents and ate cake as the sun set. Grandparents and Great-grandparents called with birthday wishes and we presented the last, most special present – a video of all her favorite people wishing her a happy birthday! She cried and I cried feeling so grateful for all the love that flooded into our living room for this beautiful young woman. Watch it here:
After watching the Princess Bride as a family, we made our way into our bed for the reading of the Birthday Monsters. I went to bed full of love and gratitude for the abundance and safety in my daughter’s life. She and Liam crashed in the basement after staying up way too late which is the perfect way to end a perfect day.
Happy Birthday to Ellie! It sounds and looks like it was a perfect day in every way in spite of Covid-19!
The far-away in Ohio 1st cousin of your Grammie Celeste.
~Libbie (aka: Marlette to long ago family)