Our Autumn Birthdays

Lucy and Anthony each have fall birthdays. Hers is in late October and his is in early November. It adds even more to our autumn festivities. They each requested a chocolate fudge cake I make. Lucy wanted a mocha frosting (my own recipe); Anthony a vanilla one (also my own recipe). 

Lucy had a friend over so her cake was a bit bigger. She loves unicorns so that had to be on her cake.

I'm not the world's best cake decorator and am self-taught. I do what I can and I do enjoy it.

Sprinkles and candles add to every cake.

Hers was three layers.

I could not get Anthony's full name on his cake, so we went with Ant, which is what Toby and I call him. He recently decided that he likes llamas - a lot. He brought me a plastic llama from his toys to put on his cake. 

He was insistent that the frosting be blue and that the Happy Birthday candles be used. He initially thought I was writing out Happy Birthday in icing and he came over to tell me that I was to use the candles.

He was a bit under the weather today, but he enjoyed a day off from school to recover and play quietly with his new toys. He had initially requested that we take him out to Wildwood, one of our favorite neighborhood eateries. He actually chose that over going to Medieval Times. He said he wanted to be able to come home faster and play with his new toys. He likes excitement, but he's clear about when he wants to be home. However, earlier today he came over to me and requested "takeout" as he was just not feeling up to going out at all. It turned out just fine. He's rallying this evening, but poor Toby is not. 'Tis the season. Sigh.

Toby and I are so grateful for our children and so proud of each of them. They are all in such different stages of life right now that it keeps us busy. It is interesting watching and guiding them as they work to become who they are intended to be. Parenthood is an awesome responsibility and a never-ending one at that. But it is filled with far more reward than difficulty. (When I hear people speak cynically or negatively about parenthood and children, it makes me sad. For them. What an empty life.) Toby and I have worked very hard and very much as a team. I am grateful to him as well. Family is everything but it begins first with a solid, committed marriage. We have that and it is no accident, nor it is luck. We have worked very hard to have that as well. 

So Happy Birthdays to our Lucy and Anthony! As we say in Orthodoxy, "Many years!"

Thanks for reading!