Friday night, after a long day of birthday travels and adventure, I tucked Silas into bed. I whispered to him that on this day, seven years ago, at about this time, I was snuggled in bed with him so glad that he had been born. Looking back at the blog post announcing his birth, and then clicking on the suggested posts below, I just found myself clicking to birth announcement posts for some of my other babies and feeling all teary and emotional. That’s what birthdays do to mamas, I suppose. And while those early days were precious with each of them, I can’t say that I would go back. Each evening, Jonny and I sit up with our teenage boys after the younger kids are in bed. We talk and laugh and love being together. I love being with them right in this moment. I suspect that I will look back on those late night chats with the same fondness, while treasuring the present as well.
So here we are, Silas is seven years old! Still my baby (always), but growing up so quickly. And once again, he asked that we drive to Yorktown for the day to hunt for crabs. Armed with nets, buckets, and a cooler full of food we headed out for a long, full day. Everyone had a wonderful time, though we didn’t make it back until around 8 p.m. a little tired and exhausted, with dinner and cake still ahead of us. We attempted to make it home at a more reasonable time, but it seems that our life never goes just as planned. As we were pulling out of the parking lot in Yorktown, a young man asked us for a jump. We were happy to help him. (I don’t talk about my car woes here, because who wants to hear about that? But we drive older vehicles and in the past year or so I’ve had to ask strangers for a jump more than a half dozen times. It’s been the story of my life.) Well, it ended up that his battery couldn’t hold a charge for more than a few minutes, so we sat on the side of the road charging his battery for twenty minutes at a time, three times! During that time, extroverted Jonny learned his life story (so typical of him) while I sat in the van with the kids and knit. Eventually, local friends of his came to help out and we were able to get back on the road. Always and adventure! Reminded me a little of this time.
It was nearly ten p.m. by the time we finished dinner, and no one really wanted birthday cake (including Silas) at that point, but I reminded Silas of the chocolate “7” candle he had asked for at the grocery store, and he changed his mind. We powered through cake and got everyone into bed. What a birthday!
In the days since, I have been sort of a mad scientist in my dye kitchen, making all sorts of colorful yarn with natural dyes and having a great time. I’ll share more next soon! Now I need to crack down and get to work finishing Mabel’s birthday gifts. I can hardly believe that my baby is turning two in just a few weeks!
p.s. Larkspur and Beatrix are wearing these sun hats, though sadly, it doesn’t look like the that color is available anymore. And Beatrix’s bathing suit is from Hanna Andersson. I’m mentioning that because she and Larkspur both have that suit this year, and it’s great!
Jean Marie says
I love seeing your pictures – seeing these was extra special, as I (mostly) grew up in Gloucester County as my dad was a prof & researcher at VIMS for many years. I now live in SW Virginia, and only get down to Gloucester a few times a year when I visit my mom.
(The allium flower in a couple of the pictures should have given it away – I went to school in Williamsburg for 7 years, and traveled the parkway every school day…).
The yarn is lovely, too!
Sarah Johnson says
Seeing the photos, I was thinking that you were in the Rappahannock River, then I read the blog. You weren’t too far from me. I couldn’t quite figure out if you were on the Yorktown side or the Gloucester Point side. I don’t live far from the Coleman Bridge. I love living in the Historic Triangle.
Lana says
What a wonderful day! I love that dolly got to go swimming, too. Those teenage years are so fleeting and then they have their own lives so enjoy!
Eighteen months ago we had a dead battery in a parking lot and a kind man jumped us with a jump starter battery pack and having never seen this amazing thing we now own one. We always carry it when we go out of town and have had many opportunities to help others with it, too. Here is the link for the one we have-https://smile.amazon.com/STANLEY-J509-Jump-Starter-Instant/dp/B003ZYS8UW/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527952289&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=jumpstart+battery+pack+stanley
Clémence says
That’s a great birthday! And birth stories, how yes!!
karen says
Happy birthday to your Silas! I just mentioned on my blog today how I’d like to do more day trips and picnics and being outside in nature and sleep in my own bed at night. We have lovely memories of doing state park trips with the kids for a hike and an explore at the creek (salamanders).
I assure you, you will feel nostalgic over the teen times too. I loved the teen years 🙂
Marilyn says
The children look so happy and contented during the outing. Wishing Silas a year of fun,happiness and blessings.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SILAS
Marilyn
Marion says
Love the photo of Mabel eating her sandwich. The bathing suit in Beatrix is quite lovely.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SILAS Have a blessed year.
Marion
Joan says
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SILAS. Love the picture of the children in the water. They look so happy.
Joan
M. Walker says
The birthday photos warmed my heart, as your pictures always do. The drop-down with headings, however, covers at least half of each photo on my laptop, so I’m able only to see part of each picture at a time, and must scroll to see the rest of it.
Is there some setting I can use to see each photo complete? The problem could well be my lack of tech expertise.
Blessings to you and your lovely family.
Ginny says
I’m so sorry! I’m not sure why that is happening on your laptop. When I view it on my laptop, as I scroll down, the header is no longer visible. Is this always a problem for you?
M. Walker says
Yes, it happens each time I read your blog. If I didn’t like it so much, I wouldn’t wonder about the header!
Please don’t worry; it’s doubtless something with my settings. Enjoy your summer.
Michele says
Happy birthday Silas! And WHAT?? You are dying speckly, multicolored yarn??? LOVE IT!!
God bless you,
Michele
Ginny says
It’s kinda crazy! I have been experimenting with this for a long time, and am finally figuring out a system that allows me to create skeins with multiple colors and speckles using my natural dyes!!!
Katie says
Love the swimming babydoll picture! My kids like to do birthday day trips too. Crabbing looks fun, much more so than fishing.
Mary Haseltine says
How is he 7 already?!? That was so kind of you to help that man out and take so long doing it even though I’m sure it made your day so much harder! What an example to your kids!