ss_blog_claim=e85cc228c82f64ff5904fc83c13c7c70

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Birthdays Hinder Blogging

Husband celebrated his birthday on Saturday and I got mildly busy in preparation for that. Of course, I already got him that book (which I think he has already gotten tired of. I bet he doesn't even know where it is right now, lol), but he got it too early. I wanted him to get something on his actual birthday too. Now, we are on a tight budget in anticipation of Marguerite's dedication and first birthday party, which is rather big-ish (small, actually, compared to the standards here in the Philippines, and, really, with lots of DIY). Normally, I prefer celebrations to be small and more intimate (here, 100 guests is, in fact, intimate) gatherings rather than big, splashy bashes. I was forced to turn the party into this size because it's also our way of thanking those who have been so sweet and generous to my daughter. For example, our church has always been so excited about Marguerite. The members threw a shower for the baby and visited at the hospital and at home when i gave birth. Now they're always making a fuss, wanting to play with Marguerite, trying to make her laugh or let them carry her. The kids put her picture in their Friendster accounts and leave cute comments in Marguerite's totsite guestbook... Unfortunately, I can't make the party any bigger. The venue has a limited capacity and I really don't want that big of a party. It won't be a children's one anyway. It's really more about us celebrating Marguerite's first year and dedication with our friends. Most of our guests would be adults. The day after that, I'll be in charge of the Sunday School snack so I'll try to make that a little bit special, sort of like a little party for Marguerite with the church children.
Going back to Husband's birthday. He got home Friday night, a little bit past midnight. When he entered the house, he was already on his cell phone thanking somebody for his/her birthday greeting, so somebody beat me to being the first well-wisher. No biggie, really. Since I was on a budget, I really couldn't whip up something more special than a box I had put together earlier that day. It held some of the little things he has always liked such as Ferrero Rocher chocolates, a big bag of Lay's Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (now cooked in 100% pure sunflower oil, which makes it... still junkfood? Hey, it says 0% Trans Fat on the bag though), a jar of Feta cheese in oil (for his imaginary salads, lol), a bottle of wine (just some cheap Chardonnay, so we'd at least have wine. Anyway, not like the store (I had left Marguerite with my Mom for an hour, while I zipped to the nearest supermarket) had champagne. Or Snickers and a few other things I had wanted to add, but couldn't find. Probably a good thing because there were moments when I forgot I was supposed to be pinching pennies), choco fudge petite cake, and a new pair of boxer shorts (because I'm notorious for giving underwear as a gift - only to family... and close girl friends, lol). I tucked in a letter I had written as well (I'm a chronic letter-writer. I also happen to have impulsively bought a ridiculously expensive Griffin and Sabine stationery set that I later swore to use only for special people. Husband now has a collection of letters written on G&S paper.). So I presented him with the box and ruined the moment by saying, "I'll take a picture for my blog." I put a birthday candle on the little cake (He got a regular sized one from my Mom during lunch), lit it and had him pose. Marguerite missed the turning of the day, but was, in fact the first to greet her Daddy when he woke up in the morning (She was actually the one who woke him up). She tapped his shoulder and signed "Happy Birthday". She would only go as far as "happy" herself. I had to help her with the rest of the sign. We're still working on it until now. Later, we had dinner at my inlaws. MIL had cooked up a sea food feast for her youngest (all Husband's faves. I'm afraid he's got a pretty serious love affair with bad cholesterol.). Afterwards, he drove Marguerite and myself home and then went out again to (wholesome-ly, I trust) gallivant with his buddies.
I really hope it was a good day for Husband. Most of our efforts have been focused on Marguerite's birthday that I wanted to just pause and make sure to do something special, albeit small, for him.



Birthday Boy


4 comments:

rinna said...

snickers is sooooo hard to find in the Philippines!
When we were there we soooo wanted to make a Snicker bar salad for my family but we couldn't find any. Maski sa Rustans... :(

spinninglovelydays said...

that's funny:) snickers has become a rare commodity in the phils, lol...

tin said...

I didn't know that Mark's fave Lay's flavor is also Salt & Vinegar...

About the bday dinner, niloloko namin si mama last night that Mike's jealous coz she didn't prepare anything for his bday, whereas it was a feast for Mark...hehe...

spinninglovelydays said...

tin - :)

rinna - dh said, he gets his snickers stash from select (as in the shell station, lol)