We had a belated birthday celebration for Dennis tonight. It was belated because we've been up to our ears in just everything for the past few weeks.
We prepared barbecued teriyaki chicken and beef sticks, cucumber namasu (pickles), rice and a giant salad. My sister-in-law, Nancy brought over wonderful deviled eggs and my nephew's wife brought a scrumptious potato salad. Everything was wonderful!
What REALLY tickled Art and me tonight was when Mom brought out the Alaska album from her room that we'd prepared for her and excitedly began regaling her grandsons and granddaughter-in-law with stories of everything about her trip that she could now recall clearly. Art and I kept secretly smiling at each other to see Mom happily laughing and talking a mile a minute about every detail of the trip.
What did she find most amazing and wonderful, you ask? Would you believe the salmon at the end of their lives in the Skagway river? She also loved the giant scallops she had in McKinley Lodge and tasting escargot for the first time on board the Diamond Princess. And of course, she loved seeing Mt. McKinley without cloud cover!
Art and I are just so pleased that she's loving her album so much! After everybody left, she carried the album back to her room as though it was a precious object.
We bought Dennis a Dream Cake. Our parents used to buy it for us for every one of our birthdays. The birthday person always got to take the first, biggest, best chocolate swirl off the cake before it was cut. Dennis upheld the tradition.
One of the highlights of the evening was when Dennis and Nancy's son, Shawn called from the mainland to wish his dad a happy birthday! I know he wished he could have been with us tonight.
OK... now to get ready for our trip to Chicago.
We prepared barbecued teriyaki chicken and beef sticks, cucumber namasu (pickles), rice and a giant salad. My sister-in-law, Nancy brought over wonderful deviled eggs and my nephew's wife brought a scrumptious potato salad. Everything was wonderful!
What did she find most amazing and wonderful, you ask? Would you believe the salmon at the end of their lives in the Skagway river? She also loved the giant scallops she had in McKinley Lodge and tasting escargot for the first time on board the Diamond Princess. And of course, she loved seeing Mt. McKinley without cloud cover!
Art and I are just so pleased that she's loving her album so much! After everybody left, she carried the album back to her room as though it was a precious object.
We bought Dennis a Dream Cake. Our parents used to buy it for us for every one of our birthdays. The birthday person always got to take the first, biggest, best chocolate swirl off the cake before it was cut. Dennis upheld the tradition.
OK... now to get ready for our trip to Chicago.
Happy unbirthday, Dennis.
ReplyDeleteThe album IS a precious object.
You could have had no better proof of how special the album is to your mother:-)
ReplyDeletewhat a touching post, I can now picture your mum with that photo book.You know your mum is really becoming quite dear to me,, I love reading about her in your stories.You are off again? Wow you are a travelling mama for sure!Beautiful cake by the way,, what a lovely tradition.
ReplyDeleteYou are off to Chicago? Don't you ever REST, Kay? I do hope it goes as smoothly as your last adventure. Didn't you just get back from a trip to the Grand Canyon before Alaska?
ReplyDeletePrecious family memories. I love the way you treasure them. Happy trails.
ReplyDeleteToday I post of trees. Trees - our four sisters .
Cheers from Perth!
what an achievement-worth all your diligent labors for the scrapbook! have a fun trip home to chicago!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your brother, Kay. Isn't going to Chicago a bit like "going home"?
ReplyDeleteL.
Very wonderful celebration!
ReplyDeleteAnd now you're off again!! Good for you!!
It looks like a wonderful family party, with Dennis upholding the family tradition of the chocolate swirl, and your mom showing off her album. I'll bet that makes up for all the time you put into it because it really reawakens her memories!
ReplyDeleteFabulous, Kay, I'm so happy for you.
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DENNIS!!!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I thought "ticked off" had a negative connotation - He ticked me off (He made me angry)?
Could be wrong, but I heard that expression a lot in New York City back in the 1970s.
I think you meant to say: We were tickled... (Not ticked).
"What really tickLed Art and me..."
ReplyDeleteI'm having trouble not trying to eat that dream cake off of my monitor! Love the tradition.
ReplyDeleteIt just has to restore your energy to see all you have been doing being appreciated so much. You have a loving family who knows how special you are.
And now to get ready to go see KC!
I'm with Linda -- trying to get that dream cake off my monitor and into my mouth!! So glad Dennis had such a Happy Birthday! Best wishes to him! You do have such a wonderful and loving family and you do such delightful things for them -- such as the photo albums. It's also always good to know that your efforts are appreciated and yours obviously are!! Wonderful, Kay! Have a great trip to Chicago and if you see Peggy, will you please give her a BIG hug from me? Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Djan: Yes, we do have an insane schedule for this second half of the year. In should quiet down once we get back though... hopefully.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Yes, you're right. It is definitely like going home. I think we'll always feel like we've got two homes.
Gigi: Yes, yes! I did mean tickLed! This is what happens when you post at 11:00 at night. Thank you for catching that!!! I've made the correction.
Sylvia: We do plan to see Peg, Sylvia and I'll definitely give her a hug for you.
Happy Birthday to Dennis, such a touching post! What a priceless gift to your mom that album is.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Dennis. This is a beautiful post, Kay. And, a wonderful tribute to your brother. Mom is so precious, love her feelings about the album. Thanks for sharing the birthday with us.
ReplyDeleteI hope you (all) have a great weekend.
Happy Birthday To Dennis .
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your sweet family with us!
ReplyDeleteBTW, had dinner with Drum Major last night & coffee this morning :-)
Warm Aloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
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I am reading your posts backwards so it bought tears to my eyes to read about your mother and her album. Look at that smile on her face, she is exceptionally happy. What a wonderful gift it is for her. She will pour over that album for a long time to come. I know my father loved photos as well and always wanted me to print them out for him to look at. Enjoy your trip to Chicago!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday to your brother Kay!
ReplyDelete