Two Birthday Parties in one Day

You might think by the title of this post that I had a rough day, as far as eating is concerned.

But I am happy to bring a good report.

My Great Aunt's daughters arranged a party for her 80th birthday, to be celebrated today. I knew that a good number of my extended family would be there - people I seldom see anymore except at funerals, so I made the effort to be there for an hour before going to my son's home to celebrate his 27th birthday. (Which was actually yesterday)

The food at Auntie's party was beautiful! A fruit boquet too pretty to eat dominated the food table. Trays of finger sandwiches, cheeses, fruit pieces, and vegetable pieces led to two huge cakes - one Black Forest and one Carrot. The Black Forest was kind of calling to me, but I kept myself busy talking to various rellies so that I could not hear it. I also poured myself a glass of water so my hands were full. After the first couple times of ignoring the cake calls, I didn't even think of it again! Yay!

Then, the best thing......My sister, whom I have not seen since January, and who is herself obese, asked me "How did you lose all your weight?" Not "Have you lost weight?" But "How did you lose ALL your weight?" This is the first time someone who has not seen me in awhile and has had no idea that I was making an effort has commented. It felt so good! Especially since I knew that it would cost her plenty to compliment me.....we are... let's say "not close". Her obese daughter (my niece) also complimented me on my weight loss.

I felt pretty good leaving that place, I'll tell you!

Here is a photo of my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson with my 80 year old Great Aunt. Doesn't she look great for 80?

Next stop, my son and daughter-in-law's home. My second son turned 27 yesterday so the family gathered today to celebrate. All my kids were there as well as my Sister-in-law and her husband, my nephews, and my niece. My DIL served spaghetti and meat sauce and had everyone else bring a salad of some sort. I brought fresh veggies and low cal dressing as dip. By the time supper was served, I was very hungry since I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

I filled my plate with veggies, fresh spinach with DIL's homemade dressing, and a spoon of coleslaw. Then I did it again (minus the coleslaw this time) so that I wasn't feeling exceptionally hungry by the time I got to the spaghetti. I did not measure, but I took what I figured was pretty close to 1 cup of pasta and added one scoop of the meat sauce. I was completely satisfied and felt good about what I ate.

I always enjoy being around my kids - they are a fun group and my hubby's sister and her family are very close to us, so they are as much a part of us as we are. (make sense?)

My boys may be adults, but they are still boys. This is the birthday boy (no hat, no hair) and his younger brother entertaining themselves. At least, the fighting is more controlled and all in fun now. :)

It was a lovely, warm, sunny day here in the "frozen north", BTW.

It was fun to watch the two babies learning to play together....I took a couple photos of them but they didn't work out very well. Here is a photo of the second half of the "twin cousins". If you start singing "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" He starts to laugh and clap. That is what he is doing here.

This is my crazy middle child, being silly and somehow getting his nephew to make the same face at the same time.....


My 7 year old granddaughter is so proud of finally losing her tooth. It has been wiggly forever - she would not pull it or let anyone else pull it, she just waited until it was so loose it literally fell out. LOL. She's hoping the other one falls out before Christmas.

And of course, we need a photo of the birthday boy.....my second son.....my artist....father of my hand-clapping grandson.

So, now that you've seen some of my family, back to the main challenge of birthday parties.....the cake.

DIL made the family's favorite chocolate cake (my mother's recipie....SO moist, chocolatey and rich....the best) and at my son's request, topped it with whipped cream and cherry pie filling. This is a dessert to die for (almost). I was asked if I was having any and before I could answer, all 3 of my DsIL said "Oh you have to have just a little piece, Mom". I actually decided to have a small bit (I would serve myself, though, after seeing the size of the servings that were being passed around) The whipped cream wasn't real cream - it was Dream Whip (0 fat), in deference of my pregnant DIL who has gallstones - that would take some calories away (not to mention taste). So, having decided, I began carrying plates of cake, Dream Whip, cherries AND ice cream to the 17 people in the family room. I figured if I went up and down the stairs several times that would offset what I was about to do.

But you know what? By the time everyone had been served, I no longer even wanted any cake. Is that cool, or what?

So, I survived two parties and two chocolate cakes without feeling deprived and without doing something that would sabatoge my efforts of the past week.

A good start to this next week, I'd say.