Happy 11th Birthday Bren

Dearest Brenna -

Mom and Dad can't believe that we have an 11-year old. Cliche yes, but it seems like just yesterday that a 9 lb, 7 oz "cone head" was pulled kicking and screaming from a weary second year medical student who became a new mother. I imagine that it's obvious to you now why we celebrate Mother's Day every year. I chose a picture of you with R.E. Dad's Mom to mark your day.

Just to be clear and honest. You are by far my favorite "tween" and I couldn't be anymore proud of you or your accomplishments if you were my child. Oh wait, you ARE my child....it's so very obvious. You, like your Dad have that quirkiness gene that Mom MD doesn't. We enjoy singing out loud, but unlike dear old Dad who tends to sing alone and is clearly tone deaf, you actually can carry a tune & have the ability to brighten our day with your music ....a talent inherited from your late Grandpa Paul, a gifted musician and fantastic human being.

As I begin to close this birthday message, I wanted to mention that I can't begin to understand how the addition of the triplets jolted and turned your world upside down. Just know that they so admire you, like Mom & Dad do.

Happy 11th Birthday, Fuzzy B.

Love (R.E.) Dad

Wordless Wednesday (Strawberry Festival)

Random Tuesday

What a surprise that I'm cramming two posts within twenty-four hours after averaging a new post about every four to five days the previous couple months. As my late Grandma Edie used to say after I made a good word score while playing her in a game of 'Scrabble', "what are you celebrating?" I honestly do not know. Maybe, it's Bren's upcoming "Weekend Birthday Extravaganza" or the triplet's graduation from preschool. Perhaps, it's simply due to the arrival of Spring in Northern California.

The family had a fantastic Mother's Day, not just because we attended our first Strawberry Festival, but for quality time spent together. My Mom wrote me a powerful heartfelt note via e-mail yesterday telling me how much spending the day with our family meant to her. My Mom & I spent the better part of the afternoon outside on the patio talking politics while watching the triplets splash around in their "froggie" pool. Meanwhile, Mom MD had the opportunity to continue reading the latest "Twilight" series book and bake cupcakes with Bren.

Onto another topic, I wanted to mention that I've recently made the decision to stop worrying so much about what other people do or say as it's really not my business. If they chose to smoke, waste water, go to the casinos or overeat, then they are certainly free to do so. My concern lies with the well-being of my immediate family and judging from the pile of laundry this morning, there are quite a few of us living under this roof.

On a much lighter note, Bren just can't let go of our experience at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom last summer when she & I allowed a young fella to guess our ages. To Bren's horror, he had her pegged perfectly at "ten", but I was "twenty-seven" which if you know my actual age is just a couple years off!

AGAIN, last night at dinner Bren was talking about her 'young' father when Vivi asked "Daddy how old are you?" I just smiled and said "twenty-seven of course" because I'm starting to get used to the idea that maybe I could pass for my twenties in a dark enough room. Right away Vivi said "Oh my God!" Yes, I suppose to a four-year old, even twenty-seven is ancient.