The Big Three

Sunday was a big day at our house. Luke celebrated his third birthday! He had been so excited thinking about it all week, even leaning out the front door one afternoon and yelling to the girl next door, "Remember Janie, my birthday's coming up!" Well, it finally came and he got to decorate the house with special flowers and new candles for the occasion, feeling very special knowing all the hubbub was over him. My parents, sister Michele, and family friend Galen all came on Saturday, saying overnight and through Sunday's birthday lunch, cake and presents. My Mamaw, Uncle Harmon, and Aunt Beverly joined us on Sunday for the festivities. We remembered our time in Italy, eating Luke's favorite: lasagna bolognese. And for his big surprise, he had a snowman birthday cake, thanks to lots of help from Michele and Galen. He was so excited when he saw it he yelled, "It's Snowy the Frostman!"

Luke happily received birthday cards, calls from all of Ben's family and many of our friends, and lots of gifts to open then and all this week as they arrived in the mail after the MLK holiday. In the lead up to this big birthday, we experienced some of the real changes of what it means to be three. Within one week, Luke started using the potty pretty reliably and sleeping in his big-boy bed! It's a trifecta of milestones, and he couldn't be prouder of himself. If he keeps going at this rate, he'll be growing a mustache, dating, and driving a real car by the summer!

The Big 30

We celebrated Ben’s 30th birthday yesterday, remembering the experiences three decades afforded and welcoming all the new ones to come. Unfortunately, he had to work, but we tried to make it festive all the same. Luke stayed home from school to help me make him a red velvet cake and to meet Ben for lunch during work. Luke spilled the beans that we got balloons and flowers for the occasion, but I think Ben liked them all the same. In the evening, we went out to a concert at the Tennessee Theater by the Youth Symphony Orchestra and then came home to a late dinner and of course, the cake. Luke was eager to help his Daddy blow out his big 3-0 candles… and to sample the sweets. And so to Ben, I hope you had a great 30th birthday. Here’s to 30 more and then some! Luke and I can’t wait to see what those years will hold.

The Big Five

Ben and I just celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary on October 2. We made our pilgrimage drive by the field where we were married, and it looks just the same. It was a big weekend to celebrate all around with three birthdays thrown in the mix: my Grandpa Allen on the 2nd, my best friend back home Melissa on the 4th, and my Mamaw on the 5th. It was also the annual Fall Festival at the J.C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. I always looked forward to going each year when I was growing up in Murphy and still like to make it back for it whenever I can. Going to Murphy for the weekend gave us a bevy of babysitters so Ben and I went out for dinner Friday night. Saturday the family went to the Folk School, and Sunday, we celebrated Mamaw’s birthday early over lunch before heading back to TN. Luke visited with his all three of his greatgrandparents on my side of the family, his Aunt Lydia, and his Uncle Morris and Aunt Glenda. It’s nice that so many relatives are there for Luke and us to see over just a weekend. Fall Festival always turns into a reunion of sorts as well; this year I introduced Ben and Luke to my beloved childhood art teacher, Betsy, and ran into our childhood neighbors and playmates, sisters Holly and Lacy Strawn. I hadn’t seen them in many years, and it was wonderful to see them as women now back to visit with their own husbands. Holly and her husband were due to celebrate their fifth anniversary the next weekend, too, since we were married just a week apart. The traditional gift for the fifth anniversary is wood, signifying strength and the established roots of the marriage. The modern gift is silverware, but I interpreted it as silver to wear and made Ben a silver ring that was displayed on a piece of driftwood from our honeymoon in a wooden memory box. The box was easy to assemble compared to the ring, but I wanted to try to get it all done this year. I have been saving all the mementos of our honeymoon to Northern California for five years, even lugging them to Italy and back. Finally, all the papers were made into a travelogue, hand-bound book and the stones, driftwood and evergreen boughs were displayed in specimen boxes, all in one large shadowbox. I enjoyed the silversmithing and will continue to experiment with more metalworking in the future. It is wonderfully tactile and I really enjoyed working with the jeweler’s saw; the surface of the ring is saw textured - lots of tiny cuts in random patterns on the top. Ben has worn it every day since I gave it to him and says it is very comfortable. We're both happy with my first experiment in silver and look forward to more pieces in the future!

A Week of Birthday

This year I was very fortunate to see several of my relatives on my birthday. My sister Michele came over for a visit the night before and then on August 8, my cousin Rob and his bride-to-be, Crystal, had a nice wedding shower near Asheville, NC. Ben, Luke, and I drove over that morning from Knoxville and met up with my Aunt Beverly and Uncle Harmon and my mother and Mamaw in from Murphy. I met Crystal’s wonderful family for the first time and got to enjoy seeing Luke play with her two little nieces. The adults had a great time and the couple received many lovely gifts for their home, but I think the little ones had the most fun of all. I didn’t think Luke was going to want to leave. After the shower, Luke went home with his Nanny and Mamaw for a week of 'cation (vacation) in Murphy. Ben and I had the evening alone in Asheville and took in the sights and dining downtown. We tried two places, Sante and Bouchon, and both were delicious. I think I enjoyed all the gallery space the most, though. The old Woolworth’s department store has been reopened as an art and craft gallery which you can spend hours just browsing through; the soda fountain was still open, too, so you can go for a shake or a coffee while you ‘re there.

Luke relaxing on 'cation

On Sunday, Ben and I headed back to Knoxville while Luke visited with all the relatives back in Murphy. We missed him here, but I think he was having too much fun seeing new people and playing with his cousin that he probably didn’t miss us too much at all. He had the undivided attention of his Aunt Chele, Nanny, and Papa, not to mention the aunts, uncles, and great grands who live in the area, too. In one respect I squandered my week alone at home in the days because I don’t think I accomplished anything significant but I’m going to declare dabbling with your hobbies and relaxing is a triumph if you are a stay-at-home mother.

We had originally planned for Luke to go to my parents for a couple nights because Ben gave me concert tickets for my birthday. So the following Friday night with Luke still away, he and I went down to World’s Fair Park and took in the last night of the The Big Surprise Tour with Old Crow Medicine Show, Dave Rawling and Gilian Welch, Justine Towns Earle, and the Felice Brothers. It was a completely different crowd than we typically see in Knoxville, so it was to see some more diversity and enjoy a nice night out listening to the music. We both hoped for more stage time for Gilian Welch, but I wasn’t disappointed in the show at all. Old Crow did a great job as did all the other acts. I’d go see any of them again. So I guess overall, I celebrated my birthday for one week straight and would recommend you all think about trying that out for yourself sometime. Every so many years, one day just isn’t enough.

Baby Boom

Last week we had great news from some of our best friends from Italy: healthy, bouncing baby boys! Our friends, Laura and Karl Schlegel, welcomed Parker William on the 31st and our old neighbors from downstairs, Ben, Denise, and Isabella Hadden, were surprised with an earlybird Jeremiah James. Both baby boys are adorable, with heads full of dark hair. We are so happy for both families and can't wait to watch their sons grow.

We had to see Jeremiah James in pictures since the family has relocated to the States, but he and his now "big" sister, Isabella, and mom and dad all looked wonderful. It was great to see them on such a happy occasion.

Since Laura and Karl are here with us in Italy, we've gotten to visit in person and hold their precious little guy. Luke was keenly interested in the "bobba" and wanted to touch is perfect little face. As cute as he is, no one could blame him!

Luke's First Birthday!

Luke's biggest day of all finally arrived on January 17, 2008---
his very first birthday! Whether he knew it or not, it was no ordinary day to Ben and me and all our good friends and family. We appreciate all the cards, phone calls, and emails wishing him a happy birthday. Thanks for remembering him and us on this red-letter day.

We threw Luke an Elmo birthday party for a few of our friends here in Italy. Many of them have known Luke from the beginning, while others are more newly arrived, making his acquaintance in the past few months. Either way, they have all been good to play with him and always ask how he is doing. It was bittersweet to celebrate this day without our family and friends back in the US, but we are thankful for our friends here who cared enough to come celebrate Luke with us.

With bluegrass playing in the background and thinking of home in the South, we served good Southern food for the party. On the menu: pulled pork barbecue, coleslaw, potato salad, hushpuppies, corn on the cob, chips and dip, and of course, sweet tea to wash it all down. I made a white cake with coconut cream cheese frosting for his very first birthday cake. The adults all liked it, but Luke wasn't too interested in it after all. We had all hoped for the big cake smashing and noshing to follow singing "Happy Birthday," but alas, he was either too tired or just didn't like the taste of it. We'll try again next year! Luke's special Tickle-me-Elmo doll served as entertainment for baby and grown folks alike.

Luke received many wonderful gifts, including great books, a teddy bear, a piggy bank, clothes and shoes, a wooden name train, and generous savings bonds. None of his gifts were more special, though, than the handwritten letters from family back home. Ben and I cherish them now as Luke will when he is older.

Ben and I are awed and humbled everyday by the gift we have been given in Luke. Can't wait to share more of him with all of you back home before his 2nd birthday rolls around. Here's wishing Luke another great year and new adventures ahead in 2008!