Happy 21st Birthday Jenna Marie!

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday dear Jenna,

Happy Birthday to You!

I drove up to Toledo yesterday to switch cars and help our oldest celebrate a milestone! Jenna, Lauren and myself went to a neighborhood Italian restaurant that we use to love when we lived in Toledo.  It had been 9 years since I had been there, but oh so good, just like I remembered. I wanted to do something special, so Natalie and I prepared 21 gifts for her on Sunday.  That included a trip to the dollar store and then a bunch of prep work.  I hand painted a wine glass with her name and age on it and then created a personal champagne label complete with Reserve 1989 and her picture on the label.

We sat there for over 2 hours opening and reminiscing. She ordered her first glass of wine and had the best fettucine alfredo and Mostacalli in a very long time!  It was just a great evening.  I made her wear her birthday crown that I personalized with 21 on the top. I have to turn the clock back though and relive a few other birthdays.  Like her 4rth.  She was "into" Sally Smith dancing videos and everyone had to wear red shoes to her party....including Great Grandma.

 

 And her 6th where she all of sudden seemed very grown up for her age.

  And her 13th where I started the tradition of putting a baby picture on her cake and then invited her friends over to enjoy! 

 Flash forward to 18th, where I was still was able to surprise her with just a few friends at our house complete 

with 2 huge pink and green flamingo ice cream cakes! Tradition is a big part of birthdays in our family!  When I was litttle, I had a tall candle that we burned every birthday.  Every one of our kids has their own same candle that is burned on their birthday, burning the last number/year away. If you look at the first picture, you can see I even brought the candle to the restaurant.  Hmmm..that tradition is now over.  The base of the candle is now hers. Wow, I just still can't believe it! 21!!

So, tonight she had another party.  She was going to a favorite Mexican restaurant with about 20 friends and then out after that to do some additional celebrating! 

So, another year, another birthday, and another memory for Mom.