knee deep in birthday season

January brings cold weather, a chance to put away the Christmas decorations...and pull OUT the birthday wrapping paper!  This family doesn't stop at New Year's, we keep rolling with
January 3 - Faith's birthday
January 7 - Lisa's birthday
January 17 - Noah's birthday

I'm not even counting Lisa's dad and sister-in-law  - they are January babies, too.  So as you can imagine, the month feels like one party after another.  Perhaps this is how we will make it through the sub-zero weather that has landed on Orono, Maine?

The view from our back porch

I asked for a low-profile birthday this year, and it was lovely.  We went out to dinner at Woodman's  and I enjoyed a Lemon Drop, a beer and the best hamburger a girl could ask for.  Auntie Lisa created this amazing Strawberry Lemon cake that was the perfect way for me to end the day.  Here we are (Eli is tons of cute, but check out Noah's face.  That is priceless)
My family couldn't help but shower me with gifts AND I got an ambush party at work, too.

Truth be told, we haven't been able to properly celebrate Lisa's birthday.  This is tragic and wrong, because she is the one who orchestrates most of OUR birthday celebrations.  We were able to slip her some flowers and homemade cards, but she's got a little pile of presents at our house still waiting for her.

She's making plans for Noah's kid party (will post pics later) that happens on Saturday.  You will notice that there is a Star Wars theme!  Noah just can't get enough of Star Wars these days.

Last night, we went to Governor's for Noah's traditional "On my actual birthday DAY" birthday and along with friend shrimps and pie, Noah got balloons and a big to-do.  Nice having friends (thank you Robert Jackson!) on staff.

And at school?  Oh, just like any other day.

Except sharing homemade chocolate chip cookies with all his friends and teaches.

Wearing the birthday crown.

Having a crowd of high school students from China sing "Happy Birthday" in Chinese.

Hand delivered bacon pizza from Pat's (thank you Auntie) at lunchtime.

Auntie Lisa, Owen and Noah on the first day of school

And a few more updates in pictures:

Another example of Noah's artwork.  He loves going to Art lessons every Monday with Valerie Wallace

Noah and Eli working at the kitchen table

Noah and Lisa outside of Penobscot Theater's performance of Annie

And perhaps the best for last?  Eli has been requesting to sit on the potty to pee!  Here he is in action.

Nice to be back and communicating with all of you, my friends.  Up next: report from the weekend birthday parties (yup, parties) and a look back at Christmas.