Memorable Birthday Moments 2007(2)

3] On my birthday:

·        Early in the morning, while I was doing whatever I had to do and totally forgot what day it was, Olivia woke up and the first thing that came out of her mouth was: “Happy birthday, mom.”   I was pleasantly surprised and touched as I know the first thing comes to a kid’s mind right after she wakes up must be very important to her, it must be something that has been on her mind.

·        After dinner, Olivia asked me to sit still and handed me a box with two cards in it saying it was the birthday card opening time. One of them was supposed to be from Daddy but Daddy told me that not only had Olivia signed the card but she also sealed the card before he could sign it himself.

So the card read: “Sometimes I wonder how someone so wonderful ever could possibly be my best friend, my partner, my heart’s own desire…Olivia, Evan and (Daddy’s name)” Hahaha…quite funny, isn’t it?

·        The second card was a musical card from the kids which was picked out by Olivia. I opened the card, it was a 70’s song sung by Ronnie Milsap “What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life” playing:

What a difference you made in my life
What a difference you made in my life
You’re my sunshine day and night
Oh what a difference you made in my life

While the song was playing, Olivia stood on my right side and Evan on my left and they nodded their heads and swung their bodies gently with the beat of the music. It was such a touching moment that I felt like I was going to cry.

·        Evan thought the card was a gift from Olivia to me since he didn’t pick out the card himself, so he grabbed a book we just borrowed yesterday and handed it to me: “Mommy, here is my present for you. It's a underwater animal book. Do you want to read it?”

“Sure!” so I read the book to them. After we finished it, Evan didn’t forget to ask me: “Mom, do you like my present?”

“Yes, of course I like it!” J

·        The three of them started to eat chocolate cookie after dinner which Daddy bought for each one of us. The cookie was huge and looked really rich so I didn’t eat it (I am not a big fan of sweet stuff).

Evan noticed that I was the only one not eating the cookie, so he grabbed the one left and handed it to me: “Here is your chocolate cookie, birthday girl!”

He called me "birthday girl"! I tried not to laugh and thanked him but told him I was too full to eat the cookie. To my surprise, he got very upset and “ordered” me: “No! You have to! You are the birthday girl. You have to eat the cookie!”

Seeing me not very enthusiastic about eating the cookie, he even started crying and it was genuine crying. Thinking that he really meant good, I picked up the cookie and started shoveling those sugar down my throat.

·        After the food was put away, Olivia said she had another surprise for me. Wow! She whispered to Daddy for a second and Daddy looked through the CD rack and placed a CD into the stereo. At this time, Olivia had already changed into her swim suit (she thinks she looks the best in bikini which I don’t know what to think of it J).

So along with the beautiful music and angelic voice of Sarah Brightman, Olivia gave me two personal improvisational performances. The “chirography” involved traditional ballet and modern dancing movements including a ballet jump from the top of a bench onto the floorJ.

I was very happy to see that after three years of dancing lessons, her movements are much gentler and she starts to express the music through her dancing and facial expressions. Who knows, she may just have the talent to become a good dancer if she puts her heart into itJ