Celebrating a birthday when you are a mother usually involves the children. Gone is the sleeping in, the pampering, the day to do whatever you please. Here is the toddler yelling, “I’M AWAKE!” at 6:00 a.m., just after you have opened your own eyes and imagined an hour or so with just yourself, the newspaper, and a cup of coffee.

Two years ago, the first time I turned 39 years old, my birthday was on a weekend. I decided that I wanted to take the girls to the local children’s museum. Lily was so excited; she ran from one activity to another and was in constant motion. The visiting exhibition that month was all about Clifford. Clifford was Lily’s favorite dog, and that was the main reason I decided it would be a fun birthday trip.

Lily was just a blur on our day at the museum!

Emmy was just six months old.

The next year, everyone in the house was sick except for me. We didn’t do much for that birthday.

This year, Ed had to go on a day-trip to Michigan for work, so it was just the girls and me. I wanted to take them somewhere special for lunch, and there was no way I was going to have a special birthday lunch at Micky D’s. Instead, I took them to a wonderful little place that has been open since 1951. They deliver your meal to your seat by an electric toy train. The food…is…heavenly! I ordered a Chicago style hot dog, complete with a pickle, neon relish and hot peppers, along onion rings and a Coke. Ooo, I was naughty but it tasted so good! And it was MY birthday, after all!

An authentic Chicago-style hot dog!
Lily tried to get her mouth around this scrumptious hamburger!

Riding in this train car is the icing on the cake for Emmy and Lily.

Birthdays with the girls are a wonderful reminder of what birthdays were like when I was a little girl – exciting and magical. I’m at an age when birthdays are not always anticipated, and sometimes even dreaded. But spending my special day with the girls made me forget about all that. I just had fun!

Ed came home for dinner, and I made sensible baked chicken breasts with potatoes and carrots.

Then Ed brought out a surprise…a turtle ice-cream pie from Oberweiss!

So much for the sensible dinner!