Day 972 Cheers!

 

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with a day filled with family, pizza, adventure, and a little bit of nostalgia? This year, I had the brilliant idea to gather everyone together in New Haven, picking a spot halfway between my place and my daughter Bridie’s crew. That way, no one would have to spend the whole day driving, and we could enjoy the day without the hassle of long commutes. New Haven, just an hour and a half drive for us, and only forty five minutes for her, felt like the perfect place for a celebration!

To kick things off, my daughter Jess picked up Tim and me so we could ride with her and the boys. My son and his wife met us at the pizza place I had selected, and Bridie’s family joined us there as well. The twelve of us took over the small, cozy restaurant, filling it with laughter and chatter. Jess had brought cupcakes to share, and instead of the usual birthday song, we all cheered with our cupcakes. It was a simple, yet perfect, way to mark the occasion.

After lunch, with our bellies full and a sense of adventure in the air, we headed over to the Yale Peabody Museum. The museum had recently reopened after a renovation, and it had been years since I’d visited. I had fond memories of coming here as a child, then bringing my kids, and even taking my oldest grandsons many years ago (though they don’t quite remember it!). This time, it was the first visit for my youngest grandsons, as well as for Bridie and her husband Greg. Even Tim confessed that he had never been before, which surprised me since I’ve always loved this museum.

I’ve always been a fan of museums, and the Peabody at Yale ranks in my top picks. It was so much fun to show it off to everyone, especially the kids, who couldn’t wait to see the giant dinosaur skeletons. The museum is filled with cool fossils, rocks, gems, and ancient artifacts, and the large dioramas featuring taxidermied animals in scenes from their natural habitats are always a hit. It’s fascinating for a bit, but kids can only take so much, so after a couple of hours, we were all ready to head home. Admission was free that day, so there was no pressure to stay longer than we needed. 

Before leaving, we snapped a few family photos to remember the day, and then it was time to head back home. I think we were all happy there was enough time to get in a few Sunday chores done before round two of celebrations.

Back home, I had filled the crockpot with meatballs before heading out for the day, so it was a simple matter of adding some pasta to get ready for dinner. Tim ran out to grab some Italian bread, and before long, our Rhode Island crew arrived for round two of the celebration. We wrapped up the day with a delicious dinner, birthday cake, and a final toast to another year. My mom even joined us for the evening festivities, which made the gathering feel complete.

As the night came to a close, everyone went home with a little care package, ensuring there was no need for me to have so much cake hanging around the house! Though the weekend celebrations were officially over, I couldn’t help but smile knowing the birthday fun would continue for a little while longer.

It was a weekend filled with love, adventure, and the kind of memories that will last a lifetime (fingers crossed the kids will remember the day). Although the official Birthday weekend is over and celebrations complete, there's plans in the works for more, after all, turning sixty is kind of a big deal. Here’s to family, fun, and the simple moments and adventures that make life so sweet.