Forever and No Time At All

It took him (and I, and his brother) ages to blow up all those balloons.
As you might expect though, with a backyard full of boys, they were all popped in half a heartbeat.

It took a good bit of time too, to cut and sew the bunting, but even longer to locate the hammer and hang the darn thing. I actually gave up the hunt after a while, swore a great deal, and finally settled for driving my nails with a meat cleaver.

In a blink, it was time to take it all down again.

There was, of course, the measuring and the pouring, the mixing and the beating and the baking and the frosting and the sprinkling.

And then they were gone, before I could say, "Who wants cake?"

It took several hilarious minutes for all the race participants to be on their mark and ready. Just about the time one would put his egg back on the spoon, another would drop.

In fact, the lining up for the races took about 20 times longer than the actual events.

When the pinata was popped and the games were played, the cake eaten and the presents opened, when all the guests had gone and at long last a tired birthday boy lay his little head on his pillow, he said, "Mama, I had a really great party." So of course, the time spent preparing for the party was repaid a thousandfold in joy for both boy and mama.

With a sleepy smile, he said, "It takes so long to get a year older, but parties are over so fast."

Isn't that always the way? We're in such a hurry to grow up, and then we find ourselves wishing so dearly that things would slow down a little.

To him, a year seems like forever, but I know that it will feel, to me, like no time at all.

Comments

[Anne]

What a perfect party! Yes, it does seem like no time at all for mom, but look at the lovely memories you are creating for them.
How did you make the cupcake cones?

[brit]

YOu are always making me cry and run into the next room to hug my babies....ahhhh sweet boys.

[Marjorie]

Looks like a great party. Life goes too fast. I want to make birthday bunting (very cute, btw) but it's the sewing part that always trips me up!

[erin]

it looks like a grand time even if it was over super fast!
good use of your meat cleaver, too!

[emily]

amen.

[Kelly]

Happy Birthday to your little guy! Looked like a fun party.

[Tracy]

As always, so astute. You make me smile, again.

[Molly]

This is a beautiful account. Really ... like the best scrapbook page ever. love those icecream cupcakes.

[Ellie]

Beautiful and fun looking party. Your boys sure do have a lot of wisdom to share - I'm glad that you're passing some of it on to us.
My 3 1/2 yr old keeps asking when his birthday is (not until October). We have to have parties quite often for him - at home, with just us, a candle, some singing and a little cake.

[Diane]

Excellent use of a meat cleaver, ma'am.

[Randi]

Happy birthday to your little man! I love the pictures!

[Maureen]

Beautiful photos and wonderful writing.

So true, so true.

[Mandy]

Wow, this actually made me very teary. I don't want my babies to grow up!

Happy Birthday to the handsome little boy you have!

Looks like a great party. One thing I will never forget is the time and effort my mom always put into our birthdays!

[kcb]

My boys had such a good time celebrating with your big little man. What a great party.

And now if I see you swearing and waving a meat cleaver I'll know you're just decorating! Hammers disappear here, too. I wonder where they all go?

[Julie @ Letter9]

Is that reddi-whip on the cupcakes? Because if it is you and I could hang out sometime. :) I love the pics -- all the color! Happy Birthday, Kiddo!

[dana]

amen sister.

[Grace]

OK, I'm tearing up more than a little bit now. Such an amazing, thoughtful post. We've got a birthday for a littler boy here in 2 days. Gearing up for that, but not in such a noticeable way as for your bigger boy. Anyway, so thoughtful, so bittersweet, so lovely and always perfect. And I love your ice cream cone cupcakes! Perfect!

[mountain mama]

Sounds like my kind of party!!

Already dreaming up ideas for my 6 year old's party in June. Love the birthday bunting and am seeing it all over blog-land! That's just the thing to use up all the fabric I discovered lurking about my house (I finally organized my crafty stuff and pulled together 5 (!) bins worth of vintage and new fabrics).

Pass on birthday greetings to your wise little man for us! :o)

[Jackie]

That was fabulous! I giggled with a tear in my eye. Lovely post!

[Sally]

I love this entry. I remember as a child thinking a year was such a long time and now I watch with amazement how quickly my little ones grow up before my eyes - life heh!
It looks like a great party.

[molly]

this is perfect. a year is forever to them isn't it? I was just thinking the other day how everything is about how old you are. whenever emma meets someone, the first thing she finds out is their age. and she always talks to me about things she'll do when she's seven, eight...

the party looks perfect, stef. and i love those ice cream cone cupcakes. we make those every year for mary. they are here favorites. it's become tradition.

[lolal]

In the current post, you talk about smells. But whenever I see cupcake cones, they take me back! I'm a kid all over again.

[Jade]

Lovely post and incredible pics! What did you use for icing on the cupcake cones? I've been meaning to make those.

[Jen b]

very sweet and well said mama.

[Our Green Nest]

Beautiful party...this is my first time to your blog - love it! Can't wait to visit more!!