Birthdays!

Next week both of my boys will be having their birthdays. How did hat happen? Jake will be five. Five!!! Noah will be two. Just crazy to think about that. When did I get old enough to be the mother of a kindergartener? (Though I’m one of the youngest moms I know around here, so at least there’s that.)

Anyway, we’re not doing a big party this year. We’re just having our immediate family over and celebrating low-key. We’re planning on doing a sandwich bar. We’re going to get some of my favorite Santa Fe chicken salad from Balducci’s, and then some other lunch meats. I’m thinking probably roast beef, sundried tomato and rosemary ham, and salami. I have yet to delegate dishes out to my mom and mother-in-law, but I know what I’ll be asking them to bring, so that’s easy. I’m probably going to make spinach-artichoke dip for an appetizer and then Jake requested these (non-alcoholic, obviously) pina colada slushes that he saw in one of my “Simple & Delicious” magazines. In that same issue he saw a chocolate-cherry ice cream pie and he requested I make that instead of a birthday cake. I showed the picture to Noah who yelled, “Mmm-mm! YUMMY!” while rubbing his tummy, so I think he’s okay with it too. It’s actually way easier than a cake so I’m happy about that!

I probably should start making my lists because time does tend to sneak up on me lately. Their birthdays unofficially signify the end of summer for me because after I gave birth to them, before I knew it, it was the end of September. You parents in the reading audience know how quickly those newborn days fly by. And with Jake going to school starting in September, I’m sure the time is just going to go even faster.