Pretty Darn Perfect Birthday...2022

If this had been "normal" times, pre-pandemic, I would have invited a couple kids over for pizza, snacks and a movie, etc. The teen years are weird for birthdays...but it can still be a time of friends and a party.

HOWEVER, we are in year Three of Covid...AND Willow and the rest of the family were in isolation for the past two weeks with Covid...so, one could assume that her birthday would have been low key, and possibly kinda crappy.  Especially since, originally we had planned to go to a gaming convention on Friday/Saturday this past weekend (we had to cancel our plans/reservations due to the aforesaid covid issues).

BUT--the weekend of her birthday ended up being perfect.  Perfect weather-wise, perfect for the activities we could do...every thing went without a hitch.

She had a type of cake she wanted (green tea...who knew that it would actually taste pretty good?!), I took her shopping for K-Pop stuff...and the one thing she has been wanting to do for "over a year"...go and eat Dim Sum...we were actually all well enough to do and do it safely.  The cap of the day was eating cake and watching Ponyo, one of her favorite movies.  

I am so happy that we were able to give her such a great weekend!  What a way to start Fourteen!

Green Tea cake from the HMart.

Came with its own candles.

I had no idea that there were strawberries inside.

Picking out Dim Sum.

That is chicken foot on her plate...which she loved.

Yum, Dim Sum!

Sweet Bun!

Another year, another Teenager Birthday! Fourteen

Now we get into those years that start to blur and then before you know it, they are in college...

In the fall, she will be going to High School.  HIGH SCHOOL!!!

I had a hard time when she started Kindergarten, as I knew she was my last child.  As Michael grew, I could always say to myself: "But I still have my baby girl!"  HA!  Apparently, all children grow up!  

So...Fourteen.  Thirteen was a strange, hard, year.  Willow had to have knee surgery, and cope with going back to in-person school...she still has issues with school work and being in school...

Then...two weeks ago, she got COVID-19 (as did the rest of the family---except me...so far...).

COVID girl feeling better....

That has meant that the past couple of weeks have been strange indeed in our house, as we have isolated.  Now, today, we are all well enough to venture out for what Willow wants for her Birthday---DIM SUM!

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I hope this year comes with less drama and more happiness for my daughter.  The many times she surprises me with her knowledge, maturity, naivety, humor, and empathy.  The times she asks for "five more minutes" every morning and how she still hugs me and wants to hang out with me.  She is an interesting person to get to know and I am looking forward to her growing into an even more brilliant human being.  I guess she will always be my "baby girl" in my heart...but I have to make room for the woman she is becoming.

All I know for sure...its been an awesome 14 years!

Cooking Class!

Willow and I went to a cooking class last Sunday--we made ramen noodle bowls.

This wasn't really to learn how to cook, so to speak, but more to get some time together, making something Willow loves...and maybe learning a little skills too...

Making Bao (steamed buns)

Pork (bacon) that we marinated in the bag...they will go into the steamed buns...

Searing some chicken thighs.

Regular ole' Ramen...

And, we got to eat it!

Pickling veggies in the jar.

Yum!

YUM!

And left overs for dad and Michael (one of which could have come, but did not).