37
May 22, 2008
Happy Birthday to me!
I found this polaroid at my parents' house last month. It was my fifth birthday - I know because there was another picture with the cake and candles. I'm at my grandparents' house - the one at their dairy farm, not the newer one up the road. I remembered the chairs when I saw the picture. My brother Ryan and I used to have milk drinking races with our uncles - we always had milk straight from the barn in those small blue plastic cups. At the time, I didn't know it, but I was learning important life skills for college survival: I can chug. And speaking of beer, someone was having one here - my dad or grandpa, probably. I'm guessing it was Miller High Life. I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't have bangs, but, apparently there was a time. I'm pretty sure that I got a small treasure chest (out of a cereal box, no doubt) full of pirate's booty, including a genuine plastic pearl, on this birthday. Ryan promptly took the pearl and stuck it up his nose. 32 years later, I still hold it against him. My mom was always good about getting me redheaded dolls and our cakes always had lots of roses on them. In our family, if you talk while you are eating your first piece of birthday cake, you have to finish it under the table. That's a big piece for a five year old! But I didn't talk - I know that. I've only done that once and I was twenty-five and out at a nice restaurant with my parents'. They still made me go under the table.
I wonder what I will remember when I look back on thirty-seven. Good things, I hope. That I ate the cake Fatty's making me while sitting at the table and not under it would be a start. Fingers crossed and lips sealed.
My gosh you were a cute kiddo! :)
Happy Birthday, E.
Posted by: pink ric rac | May 22, 2008 at 12:12 AM
My gosh you were a cute kiddo! :)
Happy Birthday, E.
Posted by: pink ric rac | May 22, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Aren't you a beauty of a redhead! What a sweet smile on your sunny face! May you have a wonderful year birthday girl!!!
~Emily xx
Posted by: Ravenhill | May 22, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Happy birthday! Hope you're able to stay above the table!
Posted by: Amanda | May 22, 2008 at 12:48 AM
happy birthday!
Posted by: linda p | May 22, 2008 at 12:58 AM
Happy 37th Birthday Erin. I hope it's a year full of good health, oodles of love and good times!
I have to say that picture of you reminds me so much of my sister when she was little. She even had the same hair colour and cute little grin.
Posted by: Erin S | May 22, 2008 at 01:15 AM
Happy Birthday!!
Posted by: sally | May 22, 2008 at 01:22 AM
happy birthday ms. erin.
Posted by: Melana | May 22, 2008 at 01:24 AM
Happy Birthday, Erin! You share the same birthday as my Dad ;-)
Posted by: Berlinswhimsy | May 22, 2008 at 02:10 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: nicolette | May 22, 2008 at 02:41 AM
a big happy 37. to you! and i love that quirky tradition. if you do talk ... enjoy the solitude under the table!
Posted by: leslie | May 22, 2008 at 02:55 AM
Happy Birthday Erin
Posted by: Cass Ward | May 22, 2008 at 03:41 AM
Happiest of birthdays to you :)
Posted by: Felicia | May 22, 2008 at 04:46 AM
Happy birthday! Hope you got to sit at the table this year!
x
Posted by: Kajsa | May 22, 2008 at 04:49 AM
happy birthday!!
xoxo
Posted by: meg | May 22, 2008 at 05:25 AM
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birrrrttthhhdddday dear Erin! Happy Birthday to you!
In our house, my mom would come in at the crack of dawn and wake us by singing the birthday song. To this day, she calls bright and early on "the" morning to sing. For me, the kids, AND the hubby (and he likes it!). I really don't think it would BE a birthday without that song!
Make a wish!
Posted by: caroline | May 22, 2008 at 05:43 AM
Happy birthday Erin!
Posted by: Fiona | May 22, 2008 at 05:47 AM
oh, yay! happy birthday, erin! i hope you get a big piece of cake with lots of forsting roses on it today.
my mom always sings to all of us, too, and i love it as well.
xoxo
Posted by: jen j-m | May 22, 2008 at 06:31 AM
oh, yay! happy birthday, erin! i hope you get a big piece of cake with lots of forsting roses on it today.
my mom always sings to all of us, too, and i love it as well.
xoxo
Posted by: jen j-m | May 22, 2008 at 06:31 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: b from knitting harvest | May 22, 2008 at 06:40 AM
Happy Birthday Erin! go ahead and talk-i'm sure you have something good to say!
Posted by: Kristyn | May 22, 2008 at 06:58 AM
Happy Birthday! What great birthday memories.
Posted by: Danielle | May 22, 2008 at 07:05 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Account Deleted | May 22, 2008 at 07:16 AM
what a fabulous tradition! and so funny. i wonder where it came from...
happiness, erin. today and everyday.
Posted by: emily | May 22, 2008 at 07:21 AM
Happy, happy birthday! Could that picture *be* any more 70s?!!! Hope you had a great one.
Posted by: Rebecca | May 22, 2008 at 07:23 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Heather | May 22, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Happy birthday! What a great photo!
Posted by: beverly | May 22, 2008 at 07:44 AM
Happy Birthday! I am seriously thinking of implementing the no talking during cake eating around here - that's hilarious! Half my family would be under the table on the first bite. :)
Posted by: Nadine | May 22, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Happy Birthday! :D
Posted by: Liz | May 22, 2008 at 07:53 AM
Happy day!
Posted by: carol | May 22, 2008 at 07:57 AM
how sweet... happy 37!
Posted by: julie | May 22, 2008 at 07:58 AM
Happy Birthday!
Love the cake-tradition! I can't help thinking how funny it would be to see our whole family eating cake under the table...
Posted by: Geertrude | May 22, 2008 at 08:12 AM
How sweet were you!! Happy Birthday!!
Posted by: LauraJ | May 22, 2008 at 08:13 AM
How cute!
Warm regards,
Gabriela
Posted by: Gabriela Delworth | May 22, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Happy Birthday, Erin! I think that cake tradition is great!
The real question is, did you craft anything special for your birthday? I can't wait to see what you do with the quilts you've been working on.
Posted by: Meg Evans | May 22, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Happy birthday Erin!! You look just as great now as you did back then. Sending big birthday hugs your way.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | May 22, 2008 at 09:06 AM
i love that cake tradition!
happy birthday, and cheers to you miss erin!
Posted by: leslie | May 22, 2008 at 09:26 AM
So cute. Happy Birthday, chica!
You know what I love about this photo? You still look at the camera like that, kinda sideways-like. :)
Posted by: Tracy | May 22, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Happy Birthday, Erin! What a funny tradition!!
Posted by: beki | May 22, 2008 at 09:55 AM
Make sure you tell your girls all those memories. Have a wonderful day even if you have to eat your cake under the table.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | May 22, 2008 at 10:00 AM
happy happy birthday, erin!
love the photo - how cute are you?
i wonder who made up that under the table rule - and why. it's funny!
Posted by: kirsten | May 22, 2008 at 10:13 AM
happy sweet birthday erin! i just love that polaroid. i'm a '71 {april} baby too. you know, you share the same birthday as chase - he's 3 today. now go eat cake!
Posted by: Amy | May 22, 2008 at 10:15 AM
happy birthday sweet friend!
Posted by: heidi | May 22, 2008 at 10:19 AM
happy birthday, my dear. I hope it is fantabulous.
Posted by: amandajean | May 22, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Hapde Burfday!
Posted by: Sarah | May 22, 2008 at 10:32 AM
happy birthday!
Posted by: amy | May 22, 2008 at 10:38 AM
What wonderful memories! Happy birthday Erin!
Posted by: Anina | May 22, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Happy, happy birthday! :0)
Posted by: Charity | May 22, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Happy birthday! You're lucky to have a husband that's making you cake.
I hope thirty-seven is a good year - I'm sure it will be! Now I'll always remember how old you are (my husband is 37, too.)
By the way - such a cute picture!! I love how red your hair is, and that you have a doll to match.
Posted by: Tonya | May 22, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Happy birthday from one redhead to another!
Posted by: Heather | May 22, 2008 at 11:08 AM