February 10, 2008 | Mama Smith

the birthday festivities

It was a gorgeous day for celebrating the lives of these two little kiddos. The adorable birthday girl, Ella, with her glowing mom.

And the bleary, wonky-eyed Levi who was forced to join the party instead of napping it away.

The french doors were swung open. The porch was overflowing with laughing adults and chocolate faced children.

Between the beer…

...and chocolate…

...all parties involved seemed to be satisfied.

Brighton is trying to sneak a pre-celebration lick of the amazing mondo cupcakes that Emily made for the birthday kids. They were insane!

And Ella’s caught trying to sneak a sip of brew, “There’s been some confusion. It really is my 21st birthday, I swear! I just have a young looking face…”

As always, being surround by our friends and family, we’re reminded yet again of why we love our new home so much.

Previously, on Friday afternoon, Brighton and Levi were giddy after the mailman delivered Levi’s birthday present from Mimi, Hi-Ya, and Nana.

They were mezmorized zooming around the little wooden cars and people for hours. Ahh, now that is secretly an early birthday present for ME! Peace and quiet and a cup of uninterrupted coffee while the boys play happily together.

Tomorrow starts my second week of work at the gym. I didn’t realize just how much I would love it. For anyone else, it might possibly bore their brains out. For a mom of two young boys, it is pure luxury. Waking up before the house is stirring. Making friends with the elderly lap swimmers and training triathletes. Two hours in a still, calming pool. Maybe I’ll begin hating it in a few weeks, but for now, being apart of a world outside of the home for a few hours each morning is bliss. The boys barely know I’m gone and my day is able to start with calm instead of chaos.

Getting to know non-mommies is a plus as well. Some times we all just need a different perspective on life, which can be hard to achieve week after week of circuiting from home, to the store, to the park, and back for me. I’ve enjoyed forgetting I have kids for a few hours a day and talking about upcoming races, swimming, politics, and various other non-diaper, non-eating-habits, non-Thomas-Train conversations. Then getting back home and diving into the lives of my two boys I actually really did miss. I have been enjoying them more with these little breaks and having more to offer motherhood because of it.