Sorry about that, birthdays and surprise, surprise, surprise, the week 50 Carr blog is in the books (Finally!).
Sorry
I had taken a bit of a break in writing my weekly blog over the last 2 weeks, but with still lots of stuff to say about the comings and goings of the Carrs, I finally felt the need to share this week. The result, three new blogs all posted the same day, a little longer then most, but I hope it paints a not bad catch-up picture, so thanks in advance for reading.
Birthdays
When we are kids, the anticipation of the annual arrival of the anniversary of our birth, is something that can take you trough months. For some, it may start a couple of days after your last birthday, but what has become clearer to me as I age, is that the anticipation is directly proportional to how old you are. Now don’t get me wrong, I like having my birthday, and like to celebrate, but unless it involves making reservations, I don’t pay too much attention to it before it happens. The wrinkle is always the children. They LOVE Mommy and Daddy’s birthdays and so for a long time leading up to the day, there are constant reminders. Look out, because the perpetual cycle is in motion and nearing its starting point, because this is the Nathalie’s birthday week.
Tree
I am no horticulturist and suppose you don’t need to be to simply enjoy the beauty in the living tree, but it is this week, every year that reminds me that. When we lived in our last house, we moved in around this time of year, and fell in love with the street when the boulevard was a wash with shades of pink in the form of blooming crab apple trees. I thought when we moved, if I wanted to enjoy the seasonal scenery, I would have to make a trip to our old street. Little did I know that our street shares the same landscaping? This week the street was beautiful and as a result, I am that much happier that we live were we do.
Surprise Party
Well I did it! I did it with the help of a bunch of people and a well-placed “fib” and some creative acting by my mother in law, I surprised Nathalie with a birthday party and so glad I did.
With no classes on Thursday and Friday, getting the supplies was simple enough, but I did forget to get decorations and some other little things. Thankfully, I had only to send three texts to three people (I had to spread the work around!) and it was all taken care of. Although the planning has been on going for 3 weeks or more, the main bulk of stuff in true Jim fashion was left to only two days before the party. Better that way in retrospect, as not to cause any suspicion with the birthday girl. I even had our get out of the house excuse planned but let Nathalie work out the details with my accomplice herself, so as not to make her think, “What’s he up to?”
The reason to get back to the house, however, was a big variable. I had several possible scenarios worked out in my head, and just did not know what plan to execute until almost an hour before we left for dinner. I went with an upset child after Julia seemed to be having a bad day anyway so it was plausible that she would need us to come back home. Minutes before we left I told Julia that there was a party and that she was going to be the reason we needed to come back home and that she may need to cry on command. She answered me by crying on the spot, and then smiling and asking, “Like that daddy?” What a pro!
Dinner was lovely, despite the less then stellar service, but kind of glad that we did not finish to fast because we did have a timeline to adhere to. Order dessert, excuse myself from the table and make the call from stall number two. “Ok, we are just having desert, call and tell her she has to come back home. By the time I get back to the table, the play is in motion with a very concerned Nathalie on the phone with her Mom. “I know she has been in a bad mood all day, and the crying is so unusual. Don’t worry, we are coming home” she say’s to her phone. Not a second thought! She took the bait hook, line and sinker.
A quick drive home (very quick, because the pilot seems to think he is at 10,000 feet?), and an almost run to the door, and a simple “SURPRISE!” and it was done! Thanks to all for coming, and thanks to all who helped, and especially thanks to Nathalie for being born!
In closing
It takes a strong, confident man to admit that I played a number of girl type games growing up. I could hopscotch, skip rope – both singles and doubles, and if there was such a thing as a world class “see see my playmate” player, I was it. Skills I had almost forgot about until this week, when Jordyn asked me to show her how to do it. They have all kinds of new fangled hand/clap games it would seem and I can’t do any of them, but when it comes to see see my playmate, I still kick butt! Time to look for a skipping rope and see if I still have all my pre-adolescent skills in tact!
Skipping into next week, thanks for reading and have a great and safe week.
Jim