Happy Birthday, Happy Max

It was with great excitement that we celebrated Max's 4th birthday.  Remembering the rainy morning, 4 years ago that he was born, all 9 lbs 8 ozs of him, born in a birthing tub in our bedroom while I listened to Nancy Griffith, was a treat for me.  I hope all of my children will have as peaceful a birth with at least one of their children. 

Max had been looking forward to his birthday for a long time, not really with expectations of anything in particular, but aware that a big day was coming up and wondering how many more days.  Madeline and Ella were out of school for spring break, so it made his birthday celebration that much more fun.  Since Max requests German Pancakes and to do 3 floor puzzles the last thing before he goes to sleep every night, I figured we would start with German pancakes and strawberries for breakfast.  Naturally, it was a hit.  

For lunch, we headed to McDonald's for Happy Meals- an annual occasion in our family.  Last time was for Ella's birthday when she turned 6.  Now that I am fully aware that an occasional Happy Meal won't turn a child astray, I can relax at McDonald's, but I did stop at Panera for a sandwich/salad for me beforehand.  The McDonald's play area was just renovated and all the kids had a wonderful time there.

When we got home, I made a strawberry cake, as per request, wrapped presents, and cooked hotdogs and hamburgers for dinner.  Max loved and savored every part of his birthday, an admirable quality, and we all enjoyed the day with him.

Max opening presents with Ella, the official present overseer.

The next morning, Max asked me how many more days before his birthday, and then cried when Madeline and Ella told him his birthday was last.  He continues to tell me daily what he wants to do for his next birthday (Pokemon cake, Thomas train tracks, new lego set, etc).  He has savored every one of his birthday presents.  He loves to get out his crayons and coloring books at all times of the day.  He loves  when someone will build something with him from his new legos.  And, he loves to play with his roller and front loader with Sam and friends. 

The Height of Marital Bliss

A stroll through a peaceful Chinese garden in the heart of Chinatown

Several years ago I saw some couples riding tandem bikes, and told Ryan that I wanted to get a tandem bike to ride when we were older.  I romanticized that two wheeled, two seated bike- thinking those couples must have reached the height of marital bliss.  I thought they must be so unified in life that they naturally are unified riding the same bike.

Unlike the time Ryan and I canoed down a river when Madeline and Ella were little.  We were not naturally unified in our canoe strokes, and both of us attributed the discord to the other.

Ryan eyes the dried octopus outside a Chinese market

Our recent trip to Vancouver gave us a great opportunity.  A must see in Vancouver is Stanley park, and I decided it was the perfect time to try out a tandem and see whether we would like to buy one in the future for our bike rides.  The wise attendant suggested we practice braking, peddling, and turning in the parking lot before we headed to the roads and bike trails.  This was a good suggestion, as we discovered that still, several years after our canoe trip, we do things differently!  Perhaps because Ryan is right handed/footed, but he preferred stopping and starting on a different side than me.  Also, much to my chagrin, I discovered as we biked 7 miles that Ryan prefers to pedal consistently the whole time, whereas I prefer to pedal/coast, pedal/coast.  Ryan snagged the front seat before I got my wits about me, so he also had the better view(not that Ryan's backside isn't sweet to gaze at).  I decided a tandem bike was lovely to test our ability to work together (there was only one occasion when Ryan almost threw me from the bike as he braked seriously fast with no warning), but to me the height of marital bliss lies in riding beside each other, so you can ride how you like and still talk to each other at the same time.

The view from our hotel window

Much to my surprise, when I told a friend we rode a tandem bike, she snorted and said, "Hah, you know they calls those the divorce machines don't you".  I can now see why.

We loved the food in Vancouver, Ryan and I always enjoy trying new foods, and we weren't disappointed.  In Chinatown, we had a local refer us to a Dim Sum restaurant where no one spoke English.  We followed the lead of the other tables, managed to avoid the chicken feet, and while I'm not sure of everything we ate, we really enjoyed the food and the loud, family atmosphere.

Halfway through with our bike ride.  

We enjoyed sushi, Chinese and Indian food.  I also spent a lot of time reading "The Great Train Robbery", and enjoying the harmoniously clean, very quiet room that overlooked the harbor and the swimming pool.  The hot tub and sauna can't be over-rated either.

The famous totem poles in Stanley park, part of Vancouver's celebration of First Nations

Ryan's highlight in Vancouver was when I asked the concierge at our VERY NICE hotel if he knew of a nice massage parlor in Chinatown.  Nevermind that I was looking for a reputable, reasonable priced massage.  He looked at me with open curiosity, glanced at Ryan to see if perhaps he was the one who wanted to know, and stammered that he wasn't sure of any in Chinatown.  What followed was a painfully embarrassing conversation, as he thought I was looking for something lecherous, and I was trying to help him understand that I just wanted a cheap massage.  I walked away in humiliation, with Ryan beside me, and the concierge still confused.

A part of the primitive forest in Stanley Park.

We didn't talk to our children while we were gone for 5 days, we had no international access, and knew they were occupied with their Grandparents' Swapp.  They had as much fun at home as we had being away.
We were happy to come back home, to visit with Ed and Jayne for a couple of days before they left town.  Now I will have to seek some other symbol of marital bliss.  It might just be the times we look at each other over the dinner table squabbles and noise and wink, knowing in a few short hours, it will be quiet and we can sit in our rocking chairs and watch the sun set.