Share Our Lives 2025 is a monthly link-up to share aspects of our daily lives with each other. This month we're talking about how we celebrate birthdays. Our birthdays, to be clear. At least that's how I am reading the prompt!
My birthday is a couple days after Christmas, so there have been a lot of times over the years when it's been kind of lost in the chaos of the holidays. When I was a kid, my birthday was obviously during the school break between Christmas and New Year's, so I didn't have school friends over for a birthday party. Maybe one time I did. When I was a teen there were a couple of times we had a youth activity during the Christmas break that became a birthday celebration as well and that was fun. But most years, I got gifts from my family, and my mom would make me a cake and often the dinner that I requested. It was low key but all our family birthdays were, and I was okay with it.
As a mom, I carried on the tradition of making whatever the birthday kid requested (I mean, within reason) for dinner on their big day. There was cake or another dessert if they preferred, and some years we would have simple birthday parties if that's what they wanted. But on MY birthday, the family took me out for dinner to the restaurant of my choice. That is still the tradition, and the holiday timing of my birthday is finally working in my favor, since there's a strong likelihood of all or most of the family members being around.
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| With my granddaughter at my 2024 birthday dinner |
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| Birthday 2024 |
Some of the more memorable birthday outings I remember were the couple of years we were in Ontario for the holidays, and I asked to go to Niagara Falls for my birthday. It's a really different experience seeing the falls in winter! One year I requested a trip to Franklin Park Conservatory when the whole family was celebrating Christmas together in Columbus. And I've requested some time at The Book Loft in Columbus on birthdays too. One year my husband surprised me with a trip to Longwood Gardens for my birthday!
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| Birthday trip to Franklin Park |
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| Lost in a good bookstore on my birthday |
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| A Christmas-y Longwood Gardens birthday trip |
When I turned 50, I enlisted the help of the family and essentially threw myself a birthday party, and made it sort of an "all the birthday party themes I wanted but never had" theme. I didn't go all out, but I just got a mismatched bunch of party decorations that were things I liked. My husband made barbecue and we had a big open house and it was so much fun.
Something else that happened most years when my mother-in-law was still alive was her insistence on getting a list of birthday gift ideas for everyone in the family, which she usually did right after Christmas. Well, except for one grandson, all the birthdays were more than six months away, so the wish lists were likely to change, so we always thought this was funny, but we tried to play along. She found it hard to believe that my wishlist was so simple. Every year I told her the same things: bubble bath (just not rose scented), coffee, Coffee Crisp (a Canadian chocolate bar), and if possible, a Tim Hortons ceramic coffee mug. I don't think I ever put anything else on the list, and every birthday I looked forward to the bubble bath I was sure to get, and a fresh supply of coffee and chocolate.
This post will be linked up with the Share Our Lives 2025 Link-up hosted by Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne, and Sarah.
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Longwood Gardens at Christmastime is one of my favorite things. I love it anytime, but Christmas especially. I grew up in the area so we went often when I was a kid. I enjoy my birthday...just ask my family : )
ReplyDeleteIt was absolutely gorgeous - one of my favorite birthday gifts! I've only been one other time (so far) and that was late summer. Wish we'd gone a couple more times when we lived just a bit closer. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteThis is such a fun look back on so many wonderful birthdays. I love all the pics of the places you have gone. Thanks for linking up with us.
ReplyDeleteI had fun calling up the memories - as I started writing I kept thinking of yet another fun Christmas outing. I have tended to prefer an experience and time with the family more than opening gifts. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteI would like to go on a birthday trip too.
ReplyDeleteJust an overnight birthday trip can be such a treat! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteAw, you have some real sweet birthday memories. We let the birthday girl or boy pick their meal and dessert too; luckily my birthday is in summer since my husband is great on the grill but would struggle to make much of anything I might request in winter.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I usually get to go to a restaurant for my birthday instead of tasking a family member with making a meal I request. Of course, I'd have a struggle deciding on what I wanted anyway! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteI would love to go to a gardens for my birthday. And I LOVE all the Canadian representation for your birthday (Tim Hortons and Coffee Crisps!).
ReplyDeleteIt helps that for many years we'd either be visiting family in Ontario over the holidays or they were coming to visit us - so I'd want the Tim Hortons mug and the Coffee Crisps (and Shreddies and FudgeeOs and other Canadian only treats) anyway! It's become quite the tradition. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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