Saturday was full of people, energy, and two grandsons turning a year older. Due to everyone’s travel/out-of-town schedules, the ten of us (the CLT10) hadn’t had a get-together in six weeks. That is way too long!
Here are the birthday boys. Grayson just turned seven, and Andrew will turn six soon.
(The following two photos are by Meagan.)
So funny that Sarah wore the birthday hat with the candles for the first time when she was six.
Meagan asked the boys what they wanted for their birthday lunch; one said pizza and the other said pancakes. And so that’s what we had! Meagan has a trick where she adds cottage cheese to the pancake batter, which tastes great and adds more protein. Win-win.
The younger generation took charge of expanding the table and arranging the tablecloth.
Sarah and Gage contributed fruit smoothies; Madison helped Gage prepare them and deliver them to the table. They were fabulous, topped as they were with a little squirt of whipped cream and passion fruit granola.
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We even had some selfie-taking going on with Madison grabbing a pic on grandma’s iPhone.
I overheard Madison say something that made me laugh. Meagan was in the kitchen cooking, and Nathan went in and kissed her. Madi said, “There are other people in here. Save it for later!”
She is blessed to be able to witness love expressed between her mom and dad–even though she pretends to be embarrassed.
Part of our party entertainment was having Steve taste yogurt with honey in it. (He HATES yogurt.)
I’ll let you guess his opinion.
And this is me tasting plain cottage cheese. Not a fan.
was when we brought in a jazz trio to do the birthday song. The only odd thing was that two of the musicians playing were the birthday guests. I love how Grayson timed his horn slide right along with Steve at the end.
He’s working on raising money for a scooter, so Steve hired him to do some jobs.
I had to laugh during Saturday night dinner with Noah because he made “the big mistake” of saying to Steve, “I don’t understand the whole thing about first cousins and second cousins and first cousins once removed.”
Our family has always kidded Steve that if anyone asks that question, they should watch out because he loves to answer it! He even got out a Post-it to make his explanation clearer. Noah listened intently and learned a little something in the process.
Yesterday afternoon, they went down to the basement and worked on the initial stages of drilling four holes in each of fifty spindles. (Which will be used for our deck.) I don’t quite understand it all, but it was something about setting up a template so the holes could be drilled in the same location on every spindle, and doing counter-sinking and using a reaming tool. (I’m not quite sure why they haven’t invited me and my vast wisdom to help.)
And then it was time for a bass lesson before going home.
Another generation of Smiths making music in the basement. Love it!
I had a poignant moment before everyone arrived on Saturday.
I was sitting at the dining room table writing cards to both of the boys. As I finished the first one and signed my name, “Grandma Smith,” I just stopped and stared at it for a long moment. Forty-five years ago, I sat as a 17-year-old in that same room and ate dinner with Steve’s family for the first time.
And now the decades have brought me back to the very same spot, getting ready to welcome my four kids and four grands. I have transitioned from teenage girl to Grandma Smith and am so grateful for the beloved people the years have given me.
What about you?
Was there a favorite birthday from your past that particularly stands out to you? What made it special?
Do you put cottage cheese in different food for added protein?
Is there a skill you were taught as a child/teen that you still use today?
If someone asked you to explain second cousins once removed, would you be able to do it? I sure can’t.
Oh that birthday song was just great!!😊
Those two boys are adorable!
I don’t get the cousins once or twice removed. At all!! If someone tells me that so-and-so is a cousin once removed, I will just believe them rather than try to understand the connection. Lol
I have never added cottage cheese to other foods. We love to just eat it ‘as is’.
LeeAnne,
Yes, I think you have arrived at the best plan for the cousins once/twice removed conundrum. Just nod sagely as though you understand and go on with your day. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the birthday song; those little boys sure had a grand time with it!
Yah, those cousins once removed, is it better if they are twice removed? Have heard of chicken and waffles – now we have a new one – pancakes and pizza! Yes!!!! I do like yogurt (not Greek) and do like cottage cheese with peaches. I usually use cottage cheese with the other cheeses in my lazagna. What precious grandkids. In my mind, I am about 45, but in truth I am about twice that age and am a great – grandma. We are so blessed and the Lord has kept me safe for many years, – when I should have drowned, or been burned badly or hit by a cab (running across the street on a red light). When you’re little you think nothing can hurt you (well, a spanking from dad). Thank you Jesus.
Sharyn,
It was inspiring reading the list of all the things you have survived in your life and you’re still here, still alive, and a great-grandma! What a wonderful testimony.
Yes, cottage cheese in lasagna is definitely a good thing–about the only place I love it at this point in my life. I guess you already know Steve’s feelings about yogurt but I eat it every morning on oatmeal and love it!
I grew up in a cottage cheese loving family. It was always in the fridge and now I am eating it again on a regular basis. I make it my main dish for lunch by adding a diced fresh peach or blueberries. It’s also delicious with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and some red wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar. It’s also very trendy now and the influencers are using it to make everything.
I love the pictures of Steve and Noah. Noah seems to really enjoy his time with Steve and learning so much from him. Great memories being made.
Hope,
Okay, you lost me when you mentioned cottage cheese and vinegar in the same sentence. I just can’t quite imagine that so will have to take your word for it that it’s good! You’re right about cottage cheese becoming trendy right now; I seem to see variations of ways to use it everywhere. Maybe I’ll get up the courage to try it again.
Steve and Noah are definitely making some good memories; so nice to have the grands living close by!
Steve? Paging Steve! Can you join us in the comment section? My 7 year old son recently asked the same question about cousins and second cousins and cousins removed and I said, “Um I don’t get it either. Let’s just call them all cousins.” 😅
Your explanation is needed. In fact, maybe you should write a guest post and include a photo of your Post-Its!
Ellen,
Ha. Love it. “Steve? Paging Steve!” 🙂
I’ll have to tell him that his presence is being called for in the comments section.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever understand it all but he seems to have a pretty good grip. Maybe he can do a guest appearance in the next Thing Post!
Let’s see…I’m not a fan of cottage cheese (I think it’s mostly a texture thing)…I get lost after first cousin, so I’d love to have the 2nd cousin and the once removed explained to me!…I don’t have a specific birthday memory but growing up my Grandma Mary would always make my favorite – fried oysters! Cousins (not first) lived near the Cheasapeake Bay and would bring a gallon of oysters home and she would crush saltine crackers for the breading and fry them in her electric skillet and serve them with Heinz Hot Ketchup. From about 5-6 until around 12 I would “eat my age” in fried oysters. I can still smell & taste them in my mind and I’ve NEVER found any restaraunt that tastes quite as good. I’m glad you had a wonderful gathering of the CLT10 and hope you have a wonderful week!
Sue Ellen,
Yep, the texture got to me, too.
I’ve never heard the phrase “eat my age.” How fascinating! I’ve never had a fried oyster but your Grandma Mary’s recipe sounds wonderful. I had a steamed oyster once and that was enough. 🙂
I’d also never heard of hot ketchup and just looked it up to see if it was still available. Looks like something my family would love; thanks for the tip.
In my opinion, both texture and taste are MUCH better fried!
Sue Ellen,
Yes, I agree. No more steamed oysters for me!
Happy birthday!!! Those boys are adorable!
I eat cottage cheese every day (1/2 cup). I’ve always loved it!
I have a chart that I use to determine “removedness” of cousins! It has come in handy many times. 🙂
Click to access family-relationship-chart.pdf
Stefanie,
I just saw your comment a minute ago; how fun that you were in Charlotte!
I must be incredibly dense but I just looked at your chart for several minutes and still don’t understand it. I’ll show it to Steve; maybe he can explain it to me. Thanks for sending it along.
Happy birthday to those two beautiful grandsons of yours. How lovely to get to celebrate with them.
I don’t put cottage cheese in anything because I’ve never even tasted cottage cheese because it looks like it wouldn’t taste good. Lol
I could give as perfect an explanation as Steve on first cousins and second cousins, and yes, you need a piece of paper to explain it. I learned it in my anthropology class in college, and it’s probably the only thing I remember. Well, actually, I remember learning that matriarchal societies, from way back when, were amazing. They were kinder to each other.
A skill I learned as a child that I still use today is how to space and hang pictures on a wall. Most people hang them too high. Ha! 🙂
Lesley,
I love your reasoning about cottage cheese; that’s how I feel about some foods, too. The only reason I even tried it was that Madi was standing there eating it with great relish and I thought that if she liked it that much, I surely would, too. Not so much!
I’m impressed that you understand the mysterious first and second cousin conundrum! A very helpful thing to learn in anthropology.
Not sure I’ve ever known anyone who officially knows how to space and hang photos; a gift!
I find cottage cheese becomes much more bearable if you add accessories. I like going the sweet route with a nice jam on top, but my dad did savory and used to love adding chopped up veggies like carrots and cucumbers and celery, salt, pepper and a dash of hot sauce.
Ellen,
Your dad was quite the adventurous sort with all that stuff he added. I can’t quite imagine what the final product would taste like.
I think I have heard of people whipping cottage cheese a little to get rid of the lumps. That would make it a little more palatable to me. I could picture putting some jam on it if was non-lumpy.