Happy 37th Birthday Princess

I woke Sunday morning much in the same manner that I did on Saturday - early, and by the hand of wee ones. Today was different only because it was Sunday and because it was Mindy’s birthday. Also similar was the weather. The sky was once again crystal clear and the temperature was chilly. But we were both more awake than we were the day prior. At least today the kids didn’t force us out of bed until 8am or so. I was up first and got the kids together with their early required food selections. Mindy’s pantry in sinful! One could stuff themselves for days on end with nothing but sugary carbohydrates! All three of us, me, Bella, and Jacob began doing our calisthenics. They seem to like doing the crunches, specifically. There not so good at the push-ups and found the weights too heavy. Thank goodness! Back in the kitchen we all began to graze. Bella and Jacob had warmed cinnamon bread from Saturday. I nuked a few of the teeny cream horns leftover from Friday night’s party. Mindy and I had coffee (no surprise), and Jacob & Bella had chocolate and white milk, respectively. We shared each others company for about an hour prior to the household getting ready for a morning at church and with Mindy’s family. Again, it was Mindy’s birthday and there was a family gathering planned for later in the afternoon. I helped ready the children to a lesser extent than usual but still helped some. While waiting, I surfed the internet to find the user guide for her satellite receiver so that I could reprogram the universal remote to operate the television too. After replacing the batteries it seems to have lost its memory. After much ado, I finally found the information I sought and was successful in reprogramming the remote. Good thing! I was getting irritated with it. In the end, I won!!! By10am or so everyone was ready to leave. Mindy looked especially pretty today. Again, it’s her birthday. After helping load the car, I was headed for home. Mindy and kids were headed to church. We would hook back up later in the day. At home I walked Ykraps as soon as I got home. And instead of napping I readied for a run a little earlier than the day before. I didn’t want that feeling of lethargy that often accompanies a late weekend run. The sun was still ripe and while the temperature was a bit chilly the sun was warm making for a pleasant Sunday run. Unlike yesterday, I kept the mileage to four. I was back at home by 11:45am. Once I was settled back in at home, I started to make myself some eggs, but opted instead for a bowl or two of cocoa puffs – carb addiction! It was near noon and I had a four hour block of time to do with what I pleased. I decided that I’d prefer nothing more than some relaxing reading time. I gathered up my book, The Field, then settled into my reading chair where I disappeared for the next couple of hours. During that time frame I drifted in an out of a nappy state. In between, of course, I read several pages. It felt really good. Mindy stopped by on her way to her mothers just after I woke from one of my many short naps. I was busted! In my hand was my BB gun as I slung menacing BB’s towards those pesky ‘rats with wings’ that shit all over my yard this time of year. I really don’t like them at all. Mindy didn’t stay long. I hugged her and wished her a happy birthday again. She needed to get back to her mother’s to get her kids and to pick-up her mother. We were planning to meet at Minelli’s north at 4:30pm for dinner. The prevailing purpose was to celebrate her birthday as well as her older brother and sister’s. All three were born within three days of one another – different years, of course. After she left I did a bit more reading then showered and dressed. That block of free time went so damn fast! Before heading to Minelli’s I took Ykraps on his evening walk so that I could relax at Mindy’s later in the evening without worrying of Ykrap’s bladder! I was at Minelli’s before anyone else. But it wasn’t long before everyone else arrived. There were thirteen of us all totaled. Mindy’s mother lovingly footed the bill. After dinner we all headed to her mother’s house for dessert – birthday cake. Jacob and Bella chose to ride with me. It was a noisy ride to say the least! They antagonized each other with the small stuffed animals that Jacob won in one of those crab-claw machines. There were three different cakes to be enjoyed. Mindy’s “cake’ was actually a pie – Butterscotch pie. Her brother Craig had his favorite – Boston cream pie, which is made like a cake. And lastly, Jody, Mindy’s older sister, had a Cheesecake factory cheesecake. Mindy’s was the only one that dawned birthday candles – 37 to be exact. After singing happy birthday to all three she attempted to extinguish the candles. She wasn’t successful – at least in one breath. I had never had butter scotch pie before so I was anxious to try it. Gloria cut me a piece that was really the size of two. Sinful! But was I through? Nope! I couldn’t resist the cheesecake setting at the end of the table. I had her mother cut me a small slice of that too. It was yummy! It was closing in on 6:45pm. Mindy’s kids were cranky and tired. I n fact, Bella was requesting a nap. Mindy denied her request fearing she wouldn’t sleep once home. Instead, she thought we should head home. We did. As he often does, Jacob requested to ride with me, but as I loaded him, he changed his mind and opted instead to ride with his mother. After arriving at Mindy’s, she quickly readied the kids for bed. Because they were so tired they proceeded without even a bedtime story. That doesn’t happen too often. I think it’s a first! We spent the next hour or so on the sofa talking and dozing. I left at 9:30pm so that I could be home in bed at a reasonable hour. Despite her earlier request, Mindy was exhausted and needed her sleep. Can you say - calling card!